With the vast physical area of DEA and
challenges to physically visiting
We hope to offer literacy programs for
adults in our communities. We will en-
deavor to establish learning programs for
both clergy and lay. Likewise, we need to
strengthen our program for continuing
education for church workers and lay.
“It cannot be that the people should grow
in grace unless they give themselves to
reading. A reading people will always be
a knowing people.” - John Wesley
Communication is a very powerful tool.
It promotes understanding, facilitates
healing of relationships, encourages
people to perform and achieve goals.
established local churches, more so
mission churches, let us exert our best
efforts to establish our own
communication network. I encourage all
clergy and lay people who are interest-
ed in becoming Ham Radio practitioners
to take qualifying exams and become
members of the ham radio network.
These are livelihood and skills training
programs for our less fortunate
brothers and sisters. We will help them
establish cooperatives and help them in
accessing financing for their small
business endeavors.
We will exert efforts to access
assistance both from government and
civil society organizations (both local
and international) for livelihood and
entrepreneurship projects
 Let every United Methodist family commit I challenge all United Methodist families,
to an “environment care” activity that both lay and clergy, who have vacant lot
they will do in their homes and can be spaces in your homes and churches to be
called their own, like waste segregation, more proactive in practicing a healthy
simple home-level reuse and recycling lifestyle by growing your own food! Or-
projects, composting, etc. . Let our gov- ganic garden modules that partially or
With Bishops from the Episcopal Church in
ernment officials know about our stand entirely support a family’s nutritional
the Philippines, Roman Catholic Church,
on environment issues such as Illegal- needs in terms of greens and vegetables
United Church of Christ in the Philippines,
mining, quarrying, kaingin, illegal have already been well established by
Iglesia Filipina Independiente, we have
logging, dynamite fishing, illegal fish many practitioners. We only need to fol-
been pushing an agenda of lasting PEACE!
cages, etc. based on our Social low their lead and DO IT OURSELVES!
I call on the different sectors of our church,
Principles.
both clergy and lay, to facilitate peace
building efforts in your localities by
involving in various activities that can re-
build or re-establish confidence among
parties in opposing sides to talk, respect
and protect non-combatants (especially,
women, children, the elderly and differently
abled), and “go the other mile” with any One of the marks of a Christian
form of localized peace initiatives. Methodist is a compassionate heart. We
Let us continue with our programs on
health and wellness by holding lectures can offer regular feeding centers and
and fora on health issues, especially on day care centers. With open hearts and
killer diseases. We can do Kalusugan- open doors, let our churches be
related activities on a regular basis, not sanctuaries for battered and abused
only during church anniversaries (e.g., children and women. Let us invite and
Health Fair Sunday, World Aids Day, mobilize church members and other
Nutrition Sunday, etc.). Local churches people in our communities into
and districts must do an inventory of organized and efficient rescue and
members and friends who are medical
Let us be “Vanguards of Mother Earth”. Let us disaster response teams. I encourage
and health professionals. Let us sup-
uphold the integrity of God’s creation! Let us churches to open their doors as
port both our general church programs
continue promoting awareness about caring evacuation centers and be ready with
like “Nothing but Nets”, the 3H Program
for our environment. This is the only earth or “Happy, Healthy, Holy”, and govern- first aid and survival kits. I encourage
that we have! ment programs like “blood donation”, districts or annual conferences to put up
and “breastfeeding”. relief centers for easy management of
collecting relief goods.