Let me start by saying, “It is God’s design that every living thing He created attain growth and maturity.” Look at the plants, animals, and humans (including the insects and germs). This phenomenon of development is made possible through the multiplication of the cell structure. Every living creature is made of cells. During growth, these cells, mature, divide, and multiply into new ones. This incredible process is called mitosis.
Mitosis is simply defined as the process by which a single cell divides into two identical cells. It happens in four major stages until it separates to form new units. This process explains why living things expand, mature, heal, and replicate itself. While mitosis runs its course automatically, it doesn’t happen instantly. Step by step it follows the script the Creator made. It depends on the Creator, too, for its sustenance.
Think of this similar pattern in the growth of the church and its mission.
Mitosis occurs in the church’s mission as well. Churches multiply into the sisterhood of churches and become a local mission. The conglomeration of local missions and conferences in turn becomes a union. As more members join the union family, it becomes expedient that mitosis continues—the union matures and divides. This time of mitosis has come to the North Philippine Union Conference (NPUC).
It becomes inevitable for NPUC to divide into two in order to grow and thrive. Unless it divides, management of people, resources, mission programs, and properties will be arduous if not impossible. In other words, NPUC’s mitosis will efficiently and effectively accomplish God’s commission. In fact, if it doesn’t happen, it will consequently die.
In the past few years, NPUC felt the Unseen Hands expand His mission in the establishment of new subsidiaries like Northeast Luzon provinces, Cavite, and recently, Mindoro. With the recent approval of the reorganization of the Central Luzon Conference and the creation of a new mission, the “fullness of time” has come for the bifurcation of NPUC into two new union entities— Northern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (NLPUM) and Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (SLPUM). This will consolidate the regions from Manila, Rizal to Batanes as NLPUM and South-Central and Southern Luzon provinces including the islands of Mindoro and Palawan will comprise SLPUM. All these developments were indeed unprecedented within a short time frame.
This is where God leads His work in this territory. God has placed this burden in my heart for the remainder of this quinquennium and I’d like to share this direction and vision with you. It’s not impossible with God leading us. It aligns perfectly with our global mission, I Will Go, in all its emphasis— spiritual, leadership, and mission. It connects very well, too, with the MY CHURCH initiative. Not to mention NDR’s Global Disciple-Making Evangelism. They all fall in one line eclipsing over each other without diminishing their respective emphasis.
Three things are evident when new denominational entities are established to attend to the growing demands of the work. They dramatically increase, among others—
- The involvement/participation of members leading to meaningful spiritual growth
- The leadership development, ratio on shepherding, and effective management
- The financial resources to aid the progress of mission (local and foreign)
Allow me to show you these congruous objectives:
Leadership
| I Will Go (#s 8, 9, 10) | Mitosis |
| To strengthen the discipleship role of pastors, teachers, and other frontline workers and provide them with regular growth opportunities | To develop capable leaders (pastors, teachers, LEs, etc) to occupy positions of trust as they are needed in the event of bifurcation of NPUC |
| To align world church resources with strategic objectives | To increase the management effectiveness and efficiency of church resources and administration of strategic objectives after bifurcation |
| To enhance the transparency, accountability, and credibility of denominational organization, operations, and mission initiatives | To enhance the transparency, accountability, and credibility of denominational organization, operations, and mission initiatives |
Spirituality
| I Will Go (#s 5, 6, 7) | Mitosis |
| To disciple individuals and families into Spirit-filled lives | To heighten intentionality of directing small groups as means of dynamic discipleship, evangelism, and advancing church planting |
| To increase accession, retention, reclamation, and participation of children, youth, and young adults | To increase involvement and training of church members (children, youth, and adult) in witnessing to new believers and reclaiming inactive members |
| To help youth and young adults place God first and exemplify a biblical worldview | To inspire the next generation of youth to exemplify biblical stewardship making God first |
Mission
| I Will Go (#s 1, 2, 3, 4) | Mitosis |
| To revive the concept of worldwide mission and sacrifice for mission as a way of life involving not only pastors but every church member, young and old, in the joy of witnessing for Christ and making disciples | To establish twenty-four (24) Adventist worship groups in municipalities that have no presence of Adventist churches in the areas of NELM, MPM, NLM and SLM |
| To strengthen and diversify Adventist outreach in large cities, across the 10/40 Window, among unreached and under-reached people groups, and to non-Christian religions | To enter unreached people groups or sectors (LGBTQ, non-Christian religions, urban-jungle) in three inner cities of Metro Manila with the Adventist hope, lifestyle, and mission |
| To make developing resources for mission to non Christian religions and belief systems a high priority | To launch, develop, and maintain a gated online portal for resources and courses on various, topics, ministries, and specialized services for members and leaders of small/care groups |
| To strengthen Seventh-day Adventist institutions in upholding freedom, wholistic health, and hope through Jesus, and restoring in people the image of God | To develop Adventist centers, programs, and initiatives for the communities in alleviating economic, health, and spiritual dilemmas |
Let’s get excited! I am on my toes eagerly waiting how God will unravel His mighty acts and miracles to advance His cause of saving humanity and restoring His sin-free world. Stir the work of our churches and brethren in all fields of labor and calling. They must catch the phenomenal mitosis of NPUC with their cameras. Ahead of us, in rapid succession, are events that tell God’s work is finishing soon and He’s coming with all His glory. We want to be part of this end-time happenings. We are chosen for this mission!
