From September 28 to October 3, 2025, the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Zamboanga City District 3 hosted a week-long evangelistic series titled “The Secret of Living in Hope and Wholeness in Christ.” Participants from various barangays across District 3 gathered each evening at the Talisayan National High School Covered Court from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., eager to experience the transformative power of God’s Word and witness His grace in action.
The series aimed to cultivate lives grounded in hope and truth, offering guidance amid a world saturated with deception and despair. Organizers ensured that the event would do more than educate about the Gospel, thus, it sought to inspire personal transformation, encouraging participants to reflect on God’s mighty Word and embrace a renewed life centered on faith and wholeness.
The series was made even more special by the presence of the week-long guest speaker, Sir Victor S. Palin, Director of the Education Department of Zamboanga Peninsula Mission. His lectures went beyond traditional teaching, addressing the holistic needs of participants such as; mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Attendees gained a deep appreciation for the relevance of the Gospel in their daily lives, seeing how it illuminates personal well-being and strengthens faith. Sir Palin covered a wide range of topics, including the Bible, Creation, God’s law and the Sabbath, hope after death, the deception of Satan, stewardship, the true church, and baptism. One notable message from the guest speaker was a call to transform one’s thinking: “We need to replace the lies in our minds with truth (Biblical truth).” This reminder encouraged participants to examine their thoughts and align them with God’s Word.
The impact of the lectures was evident as over 50 attendees as they showed up every night despite the unfavorable weather condition. In addition, the event highlighted remarkable unity among the churches in District 3, as members worked together to prepare prayers, worship songs, and program logistics under the leadership of the district leader, Pastor Jose F. Nacis. Participants experienced the combined efforts of the brethren, who actively nurtured attendees, provided warm snacks, and offered genuine hospitality. Attendees were also joyfully blessed with prizes and awards prepared for each night, adding to the celebratory and uplifting atmosphere. Thereby, the collective care fostered meaningful fellowship creates an environment of warmth and spiritual connection that resonated throughout each evening.
Children were also actively engaged through a variety of activities, including storytelling, action songs, coloring, crafts, and more. These sessions were led by Ms. Ellynlou Nacis, an elementary teacher and wife of Pastor Nacis, ensuring that the young participants were both entertained and spiritually nurtured.
As the series drew to a close, the profound presence of the Holy spirit was made evident as eleven souls stood up to embrace the blessing of baptism, Hence, stepping into a renewed life filled with hope and wholeness in Christ. Although not all attendees chose to receive it at this time, it is believed that the series remains an avenue for them to see life in a new light and that the Holy spirit will continue to work in their hearts, allowing the gospel to take root and flourish over time. Moreover, this evangelistic series served as a blessing not only to the attendees but also to everyone who was involved and contributed to the event. Finally, through every prayer, message, and act of fellowship, God’s guidance and intervention were manifest, transforming hearts and bringing the community closer to His purpose, hence, it was indeed a victorious journey.
Writer
ZC District 3
