About 1,300 church leaders and Care Group leaders from three provinces gathered for the Mission Reach: Care Group Empowerment Seminar, a joint initiative of the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference and the Northeastern Mindanao Mission. The event served both as an orientation to the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s quinquennial theme “Mission Reach” and as an empowerment seminar designed to equip church leaders to strengthen and multiply Care Groups as centers of discipleship and mission. The gathering emphasized an intentional call for every believer to be a disciple and to make disciples for Christ, using the biblical framework of Care Groups as a foundation for spiritual growth, evangelism, and nurturing.
The seminar opened on Friday evening with a keynote message from Cirilo S. Ba‑al, president of the Northeastern Mindanao Mission, who highlighted the vital role of Care Groups in fulfilling the church’s mission. He emphasized that small, relational groups provide a practical structure for nurturing members, strengthening families, and reaching communities with the gospel. Throughout the seminar, leaders were reminded that Care Groups are not merely programs but intentional discipleship environments where believers grow spiritually and actively participate in God’s mission.
Guest speakers from the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference provided instruction and inspiration on various aspects of Care Group ministry. These included Max Dante Obbus, executive secretary; Jerrymil Pamonag, vice president for Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle–Northern District; Lemuel Nietes, publishing director; and Junifer Colegado, youth director. The seminar addressed key topics such as Empowering Care Group Leaders, Missional Framework, Spiritual Leadership, Sustaining Care Groups, Care Group Financial Support, Incarnational Ministry, and Program Implementation—all designed to equip leaders with practical tools to guide their groups in spiritual nurture and mission engagement.
Morning and devotional messages were delivered by Rafael De Domingo, executive secretary of the Northeastern Mindanao Mission, and Gerald Repuelo, mission treasurer. Their reflections encouraged leaders to remain grounded in Scripture, prayer, and personal devotion as the spiritual foundation for effective ministry and discipleship.
The event concluded with a commitment message from Jerrymil Pamonag, who called participants to dedicate their lives anew to the mission entrusted to them. In a moving response, about 1,300 registered leaders stood together, committing themselves to allow God to guide them in strengthening and sustaining Care Groups, with the intention of multiplying disciples and expanding the church’s mission outreach. The gathering reaffirmed the church’s commitment to the Mission Reach initiative—empowering believers to serve as faithful disciples who nurture others and extend Christ’s ministry one home, one family, and one Care Group at a time.
