It was March, 2011 when the Korean missionary couple, Mr. and Mrs. Han Jong Suk, arrived in the MDIA District, Zamboanga Peninsula Mission. District Pastor, Vilmar Mantos Mandalupa met the missionaries with excitement. The church members were very happy when welcoming them because they believed that they were sent by God to do a sacred taskto help and support the work of the church, especially in the medical mission and evangelistic programs of the church. Pastor Mandalupa and the missionaries planned for one year all the activities that the missionaries would undertake.
In April, 2011, they started to conduct a youth camp that would include five Districts around the MDIA Mission field.As a result of the activities, 17 precious souls were baptized. One of the sponsors was the missionary couple.
The following month, the local district planned to have a big crusade sponsored by the Riverside Korean Adventist Church in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. It would be led by Pastor Young Ho Park, the Senior Pastor of the church. During the one week crusade, a medical outreach was conducted. The medical team was led by doctors, dentists and some nursing students from Loma Linda University to do the assessment at the outreach. The medical outreach was able to serve more than 2,000 patients coming from five different Municipalities around the MDIA District. The climax of the crusade was the mass baptism on Sabbath afternoon. More than 500 precious souls were baptized and brought to the feet of Jesus. We praised the Lord for the success.
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Mayor Welter Yap Palpa, and a Municipal Mayor of Diplahan Zamboanga Sibugay, extended their support and thanks to the missionaries who gave their love to the people in the town, and also for the interesting messages given by Hon. Board Cris S. Jore of Zamboanga Sibugay during the crusade.
A church elder and his wife of Diplahan SDA Church gave their untiring support for the food preparation throughout the crusade. All the church members of the Diplahan Adventist church participated in the crusade to make it successful.
Three months later, another crusade was done. It was sponsored by the Korean brothers from the Sahmyook Adventist Church, Seoul, Korea. During the one week crusade, there was also a medical outreach, a Vacation Bible School and Community Services that were conducted at many Public Schools. The team from Sahmyook Adventist Church was led by Pastor Yoo, Dae Gyun, and Dr. Park, the head elder of the church.
After the one week crusade, they were able to baptize 89 precious souls for God’s Kingdom. People praised the Lord for His unfailing love. After the crusade, the two missionaries continued their work under the supervision of Pastor Vilmar Mandalupa. They did door-to-door visitations, fed school children, ran a Vacation Bible School, conducted clothing distributions and performed oriental medical treatments.
During the ten months of their stay, Elder Han and Ma’am Mary were able to meet with more than 2,000 patients and treat them. The Han’s were able to build two new church buildings and renovate three other church buildings. The total baptisms in the MDIA district for 2011 reached up to 1,003 souls. It is so wonderful to realize that God sent these missionaries to the mission field. Because of God’s calling and their earnest prayers with untiring efforts, Mr. and Mrs. Han Jong Suk were able to lead people to know the truth and the love of Jesus. When the little seeds of love and truth are planted in the heart of the people, the seeds will surely grow.
When we do our best for the Lord and for his work, God will declare, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”
This article was sent by Pastor Vilmar Mantos Mandalupa, MDIA District, Zamboanga Peninsula Mission, Philippines