Through the VOY EXPAND initiative, the Southern-Asia Pacific Division (SSD) Adventist Youth Ministries Department equips 1,215 Voice of Youth teams, totaling 32,326 young people, to reach out to communities for Jesus. Exponential Advancement via Nurturing and Discipleship (thus, VOY EXPAND) has led to the baptism of 23,154 new believers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Southeastern Union. In 2021, the young people were ignited; in 2022, the Holy Spirit increased their involvement in local churches.
Although Kenneth Dave Villahermosa was not yet an Adventist, Roldan Jay Bersonia, one of the VOY team members, invited him to join his VOY EXPAND team. The squad was tasked with the severely flooded areas of La Flora, Talacogon, and Agusan del Sur. Despite the flood, Roldan and Kenneth remained in the town because they were committed to spreading the gospel there. They used boats to visit people as they moved between homes. The team appealed to the villagers to accept Christ as their Savior and conveyed the truth of God's Word night after night for two weeks. Roldan specifically requested that Kenneth be baptized alongside the other attendees. Despite the waters that swamped the town, Kenneth was baptized at the end of the series, along with 42 other villagers.
German Ramos, South Philippine district pastor, discusses the effects of the VOY EXPAND campaign in his district. He says, "I am really pleased and joyful to see our young people carrying out God's job. I have observed how our young folks are growing spiritually. In my district, I've seen an improvement in the relationships or bonds between young people. I also see how committed our young people are to using their abilities, resources, and time for the glory of God.”
The AYM Voice of Youth Unstoppable (UNtiring Spirit-led Team Outreach, Preaching, and Church Planting through Adventist youth Bible-based Living and Literature Evangelism) 2023 initiative has been given the go-ahead by the SSD administration, under the direction of Pastor Roger Caderma, SSD president, to include all local churches in community outreach to carry out the great commission. The “youth are the church of today,” according to Pastor Caderma.
The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.
