Lost in the heart of Manila stands the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It stands as a testament to faith’s enduring power. Did you know that the roots of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Philippines trace back to 1905?
Robert Caldwell arrived in Manila then. He was a literature evangelist missionary. Caldwell pioneered the literature ministry. He sold books in Spanish which people understood.
People bought books. They spread the word to their friends. The Philippine Mission was organized in 1906. It operated under the Asiatic Division. Its headquarters were in Shanghai China.
E.H. Gate visited Caldwell. He suggested placing a minister in Manila. He recognized the field’s readiness. He said, the sooner we begin, the better.
American missionary couple McElhanys accepted the task. They initiated evangelistic work in 1907. They focused on the English-speaking community. Mrs. McElhany’s health forced their departure after two years.
March 11 1911 marked a milestone. Twelve individuals were baptized. The first Adventist Filipino church was organized in Sta. Ana Manila. Finster noted a new race was united to the people of God. The congregation included new converts. It also included missionary couples Finsters and Caldwells.
Until 1913 gospel work remained within the Tagalog Provinces. New missionaries arrived. They expanded operations into Ilocos Cebu and Iloilo provinces. Rapid progress ensued. The message reached other regions. By 1916 membership grew from 300 to 846 Sabbath-keeping individuals. Eleven churches were established across the islands.
The Philippine Union Mission’s founding year has inconsistencies. There was confusion between PUM and the Central Southern Luzon Conference. They shared headquarters and a president. In 1951 the YB listed PUM’s founding year as 1917. Coincidentally CSLC’s founding year was 1916.
Despite discrepancies the Philippine Mission referred to the same entity. It was established in 1906. J.L. McElhany served as its first director and minister. A significant reorganization occurred in 1951. It led to the formation of the North Philippine Union Conference.
A.G. Daniels clarified the relationship between the general mission. He also clarified the local organizations in 1917. The Tagalog Mission was the oldest. It served as the headquarters. Church membership reached 300 at the close of 1914.
In 1914 land was purchased. A mission home was erected. This centralized storage for mission supplies. Before items were scattered across the city incurring storage fees.
The need for a fuller organization was studied. This would address rapid growth particularly in the Tagalog field. Pastor Daniels and Knox visited churches. They assessed the feasibility of organizing a conference. Their visits confirmed sufficient membership.
On December 14 1916 members from eleven churches attended a meeting in Manila. They voted to organize a local conference. It was known as the Central-Southern Luzon Conference. This marked the first local conference in Asia. The conference managed work across several provinces.
Pastor Finster was elected president. He also served as superintendent of the Philippine Mission. Pastor Bibiano Parus became vice-president. J.S. Barrows served as secretary and treasurer.
A request was made to split the Philippine Union Mission. Leaders believed two unions would strengthen work. The request was approved in 1941. World War II delayed implementation. On January 1 1951 the Philippine Union Mission was divided. The South was headquartered in Cebu. The North was headquartered in Pasay City Manila.
The union in Manila became the North Philippine Union Mission. Church membership stood at 15251. It spanned 307 churches. NPUM supervised gospel work in 6 mission fields. It managed three institutions.
The North Philippine Union Mission achieved conference status on July 1 2009. The General Conference granted this status on April 6 2009. Since 2005 NPUM pursued conference status.
In 1911 there were 22 members. Membership surged to 254121 when it became a conference. It peaked at 463233 in 2022. Today membership stands at 286385. They congregate in 1639 churches and 466 companies.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church stands tall. It is a beacon of faith. It is a testament to community. It continues to serve. It enriches the spiritual lives of countless individuals in Manila and beyond.