Kahayagan, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur – August 24, 2025
Driven by a personal mission to bring God’s message of hope and promise to his friends, family, and classmates near his birthplace of Salawagan, Attorney Evin Villaruben, CPA and Associate Treasurer of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, spearheaded an evangelistic crusade in Barangay Kahayagan, Bayog from August 17–23, 2025.
Dubbed “The Greatest Story Ever Told: Walay Makalupig,” the weeklong crusade culminated in a remarkable harvest of faith, with 150 individuals baptized—109 from the main crusade and 41 from a satellite series held a week earlier.
The evangelistic effort was organized through the combined support of the Bayog Rural District, under the leadership of Pastor Jovet Maghanoy, and the Bayog Adventist Church, headed by Pastor Arnel Sarona and Pastor Gauvin Canarecio. Local church leaders and members worked hand in hand to support the event through music, prayer, and pastoral visitation. Each night, the gospel was proclaimed with conviction, drawing hundreds of attendees who were inspired by messages of salvation, restoration, and God’s unfailing love.
The culmination of the crusade was highlighted by the launching of the Zone 6 Voice of Prophecy (VOP) program, graced by no less than Zamboanga Peninsula Mission (ZPM) President Pastor Arnold Sombilon and Executive Secretary Pastor Vilmar Mandalupa. Their presence heightened the wider mission’s support and commitment to spreading the gospel throughout the region.
Attorney Villaruben, reflecting on the success of the event, shared that preaching in Kahayagan—just five kilometers away from his hometown of Salawagan—was a deeply personal calling. “It is my prayer that those I grew up with, my classmates, and my family may also experience God’s love, filled with hope and promise,” he said.
With hearts moved and lives transformed, the evangelistic crusade stands as a testament that indeed, God’s story is the greatest one ever told—“Walay Makalupig”—none can defeat it.
Communication Department
