20/12/2025
What a truly meaningful and empowering lecture we shared at the Manikan-Lund Mission and Leadership Institute with Rev. Dr. Cris Amarsolo V. Sian as he led us into a deep reflection on
“Cultivating a Culture of Care: Mobilizing the Church Toward Shalom.”
The session reminded us that care becomes culture when it is shared, consistent, and passed on—when love, concern, and trust are no longer occasional acts but the very character of the church. We were challenged to imagine congregations no longer marked by division or conflict, but by pagkabalaka, pagtamdanay, kag pagtatap—a community where care is embodied and incarnated in everyday life.
Grounded in Scripture, lived experience, and pastoral wisdom, the lecture powerfully addressed the growing mental health crisis, especially among children and youth, and affirmed the church’s vital role in spiritual peer helping—listening without judgment, responding with empathy, and offering presence that leads toward healing and hope.
Indeed, ministry is incarnation and meaning-making—helping people rediscover life, purpose, and hope even in their darkest valleys. As we were reminded, helpers may not have all the answers, but relationship wins, friendship wins, and care transforms.
Our deepest thanks to Rev. Dr. Cris Amarsolo V. Sian for equipping and inspiring us to build churches that truly shepherd, hear, and remember—churches that move together toward shalom and wholeness of life.