DAVAO EPISCOPAL AREA

Philippines Central Conference

The United Methodist CHURCH BISHOP RODOLFO A. JUAN
Resident Bishop

DEA Bishop’s Office, Spottswood Methodist Center, Quezon Blvd., Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Philippines 9400
Tel: (6364) 572-7331 / 0946-739-6226 / 0955-405-4511 Website: https://umcdea.wordpress.com/ Email Address: dea.umc@gmail.com

The DEA 7K Program

1. KAPAYAPAAN PROGRAM – It is saddening to note that the initial unilateral ceasefire of

both the GRP and CPP-NPA-NDF camps have been suspended and that both camps
have announced a return to military offensives. What this will mean is that women,
children, the elderly, and differently abled in communities where fighting will happen will
be the most hardly hit. Our church must be willing to proactively bridge this impasse.
During the various courtesy calls I had with Governor Lala Mendoza and Vice Governor
Shirlyn Macasarte of Cotabato, Mayor Joseph Evangelista of Kidapawan City, Mayor Rudy
Caoagdan of Makilala, and Mayor Herlo Guzman, Jr. of Kabacan, I intimated with them
the idea of remembering the “Kidapawan Incident” thru a Prayer For Peace Celebration
right within the compound of SMMC.
I call on the different sectors of our church, both clergy and lay, to facilitate peace
building efforts in your localities by involving in various activities that can rebuild 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 form of localized peace initiatives.

2. KALIKASAN PROGRAM – Time and again we experience the wrath of nature, so they
say. This is because of our own doing—we neglect God’s creation! The Vacation Church
School’s theme in 2015 was “Climate Change, Lifestyle Change”. How much have we
changed our lifestyle? Let us continue promoting awareness about caring for our
environment. This is the only earth that we have!
We can have activities like “Run for Creation”, “Bike for Mother Earth”, and
“Caravan for Environment”, waste management workshops, coastal clean-ups, and Tree
Planting. I’m enjoining all local churches in DEA to plant a total of 300,000 trees within the
quadrennium. Let us consciously observe Earth Day. Let our government officials know
about our stand on environment issues such as Illegal mining, quarrying, kaingin, illegal
logging, dynamite fishing, illegal fish cages, etc. based on our Social Principles. Our
Church and Society will spearhead these activities.
 DAVAO EPISCOPAL AREA
Philippines Central Conference
The United Methodist CHURCH BISHOP RODOLFO A. JUAN
Resident Bishop

DEA Bishop’s Office, Spottswood Methodist Center, Quezon Blvd., Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Philippines 9400
Tel: (6364) 572-7331 / 0946-739-6226 / 0955-405-4511 Website: https://umcdea.wordpress.com/ Email Address: dea.umc@gmail.com

3. KALUSUGAN PROGRAM – Let us continue with our programs on health and wellness
by holding lectures and fora on health issues. One major health and wellness concern in
the Philippines today is the rise in cases of HIV-AIDS, especially among the youth and
young adults. Let us have our own “Botika” in our local churches or districts or annual
conferences. My lovely wife Leigh, a professional optometrist, is more than willing to help
in MODEL (medical, optical, dental, evangelistic, and livelihood) ministries or “Klinika ng
Simbahan”. I also brought with me the MODEL Bus that I was able to solicit from Genesis
Transport Services, Inc., which operates in Luzon. We can do Kalusugan-related activities
on a regular basis, not only during church anniversaries. Let us support both our general
church programs like “Nothing but Nets”, the 3H Program or “Happy, Healthy, Holy”, and
government programs like “blood donation”.

4. KAHIRAPAN PROGRAM – One of the marks of a Christian Methodist is a compassionate

heart. We can offer regular feeding centers and day care centers. With open hearts and
open doors, let our churches be sanctuaries for battered and abused children and women.
I intend to tap Bridges of the North Georgia Conference (NGAC) for feeding programs.
The perennial typhoons that enter the country usually passes thru, and worse bring
devastation to many areas within the jurisdiction of DEA. Let us invite and mobilize church
members and other people in our communities into organized and efficient rescue and
disaster response teams. I encourage churches to open their doors as evacuation centers
and be ready with first aid and survival kits. I encourage districts or annual conferences to
put up relief centers for easy management of collecting relief goods. I also call on local
church workers, DSes, and lay leaders to be actively involved in disaster risk reduction
management councils of local government units within your areas so that assistance can
be easily facilitated, whether coming from our efforts or those going to church members
who are survivors of disasters.

5. KARUNUNGAN PROGRAM – Let us allot scholarships in church-related schools.

Remember that our schools are outreach ministries of our churches. We hope to offer
literacy programs for adults in our communities. We will endeavor to establish learning
programs for both clergy and lay. For as John Wesley once said, “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.”
 DAVAO EPISCOPAL AREA
Philippines Central Conference
The United Methodist CHURCH BISHOP RODOLFO A. JUAN
Resident Bishop

DEA Bishop’s Office, Spottswood Methodist Center, Quezon Blvd., Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Philippines 9400
Tel: (6364) 572-7331 / 0946-739-6226 / 0955-405-4511 Website: https://umcdea.wordpress.com/ Email Address: dea.umc@gmail.com

Likewise, we need to strengthen our program for continuing education for church workers
and lay. We can design or adopt trainings and seminars for skills development, and
encourage and support participation during convocations, congresses, and other major
church activities.

6. KOMUNIKASYON PROGRAM – Communication is a very powerful tool. It promotes

understanding, facilitates healing of relationships, encourages people to perform and
achieve goals. But it can also be misused to instigate confusion and chaos, break down
interactions and bonds of friendships and family, and serve as stumbling block or barrier
to extending much needed ministries to those in need.
During my term in MEA, the United Methodist Communication (UMCOM) partnered
with the Bishop’s Office and organized a communication group to improve connectivity
between church agencies and institutions. We also established a Ham Radio Group
Network for the purpose of direct communication especially during times of disaster and
calamity. With the vast physical area of DEA and challenges to physically visiting
established local churches, moreso mission churches, let us exert our best efforts to
establish our own communication network. I encourage all clergy and lay people who are
interested in becoming Ham Radio practitioners to take qualifying exams and become
members of the ham radio network.

7. KABUHAYAN PROGRAM – 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
such as those related to cottage industry (e.g., food processing, recycled/repurposed
goods, etc.), service-based skills trainings (e.g., massage/”hilot”, beauty-industry related
skills, etc.), agriculture and agri-business (e.g., value addition to agri produce,
consolidation of produce to achieve economies of scale, etc.), as well as technical skills
trainings. In addition, we shall assist intended beneficiaries to meet qualification
requirements.