Prepared the Ground, What’s Next?

Over the past three months, something powerful has been growing. There is a deep excitement in being part of something greater than ourselves—something that goes beyond what the senses can grasp, rooted in the joy of sharing hope in a world that often feels lost and uncertain. From January to March 2025, thousands of Adventists across the Southern Asia-Pacific have been quietly yet intentionally preparing for Harvest 2025, a yearlong evangelistic campaign that begins with one simple but important step—ground preparation.

This first phase wasn’t just about big meetings or a series of trainings. It was also about starting from the roots—reconnecting with God’s purpose, building relationships in the community, and creating a space where the gospel can grow. Over the past three months, Adventist churches across the Southern Asia-Pacific focused on laying a strong spiritual foundation for their upcoming evangelistic campaigns—anchoring everything in prayer and dependence on God.

How important is this phase? A study in project management reveals that around 39% of project failures result from inadequate planning, highlighting the crucial role of thorough preparation in achieving success. While rooted in a corporate context, this principle holds true in ministry as well. Any meaningful initiative—especially one with eternal significance—demands thoughtful, strategic, and prayerful preparation. That’s why this phase was strongly encouraged for all members across our region: to ensure that every step forward is grounded in God’s guidance and a united sense of mission.

Churches took the challenge to heart. Pastors, elders, youth, and even children stepped up to the challenge. In North Luzon, leaders empowered families by equipping both children and their parents to use Vacation Bible School as a tool—not only to engage their communities but also to build meaningful connections and introduce gospel-centered lessons to children in their local areas.

In a predominantly Buddhist country like Cambodia, training is essential as it equips the church to build lasting relationships and meaningful connections with a non-Christian population. Harvest 2025 is not just a one-time campaign—leaders in Cambodia are intentional about creating a lasting impact that will extend far beyond the duration of this initiative.

A key component of the training in Cambodia was the opportunity for participants to collaborate in small groups, developing tailored strategic plans suited to their respective ministry areas. Each group then presented its strategies, allowing others to adapt and implement similar approaches in their communities.

In Indonesia, church leaders view small groups as a vital tool for connecting with the community. Located in the heart of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, the church sees small groups, health seminars, and outreach initiatives as essential pathways for building trust and sharing hope with those around them.

Meanwhile, in the South Philippines, immediately following a large-scale leadership equipping seminar in Cebu, church leaders launched a provincial caravan to visit various regional headquarters. Their goal: to personally share the vision of Harvest 2025 and invite every member to take an active role in this yearlong evangelistic movement. The call for commitment was clear—everyone, young and old, is needed in this mission.

“This is about cultivating faith, not just promoting events,” said Pastor Arnel Gabin, NDR-IEL director and vice president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. “We’re preparing lives—our own and others’—for an encounter with Jesus.”

For a generation that craves authenticity and impact, this season echoed the biblical picture of spiritual farming. Luke 8:15 talks about good soil—people who are ready to receive truth, grow in it, and share it with others. That’s what ground preparation is all about: breaking hard ground, planting seeds of hope, and trusting God to bring the growth.

It’s not always visible, but it’s deeply meaningful. Quiet prayers and acts of kindness are all part of it. It’s the work that happens before the spotlight—but without it, there’s no harvest.

And now, the next phase begins.

Starting this April, local church elders are stepping forward to lead evangelistic campaigns in their own congregations. The invitation is open to everyone—professionals, young parents, widows, introverts, students, and retirees. No matter your gift or background, there’s a place for you in this movement.

“This isn’t just a program. This is a calling,” said Pastor Roger Caderma, SSD President. “We’re asking every church member to be part of something that could change lives forever.”

Philippians 1:27 says it best: “Stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” This is the spirit of Harvest 2025—unity in action.

So here’s the invitation: bring your talent, your passion, your time. Whether you preach, write, teach kids, or simply show up for someone in need—your involvement matters. You don’t have to do it all, but do something.

As Jesus said in Matthew 9:37–38, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” That call still rings true. The question is, will you answer it?

Harvest 2025 is already here. And it’s growing—one prayer, one conversation, one step at a time.

by Edward Rodriguez | March 24, 2025

The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.