Aldersgate Mission Conference
Daliasat
Intentional Discipleship and Evangelism Conference
Days before the AMC 2025
Day(s)
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Hour(s)
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Minute(s)
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Second(s)
Foundation and Process of The United Methodist Church Disciple-Making
Read. Share.
Status of Discipleship in the Church (The UMC)
Read. Share
Discipleship is a lifestyle The Discipleship Process (Lakbayin)
Read. Share.
Pastoral Care And The Care Provider: Presence And Personhood
Read. Share.
Moving Forward Discussion (The Planning)
Read. Share.
Main Objectives of the Aldersgate Mission Conference:
- To experience the ‘heartwarming experience’ of John Wesley.
- To revive, renew, and rekindle the fire of our Wesleyan heritage and Christian traditions.
- To experience the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Goals of the Aldersgate Mission Conference 2025
- Encounter God through our revival worship and retreat.
- Learn and adopt an intentional disciple-making system/process and strategies.
- Learn and focus on Pastoral Counseling and Self-Care.
PLENARY SPEAKERS
(Click the image to see their Profile)
Our Venue
We each embark on a journey that commences at birth and lasts until we reunite with our Creator. This journey persists as long as we live, choose to grow, and strive to make our lives meaningful and fruitful.
Throughout our journey, many experiences shape us. Change is unavoidable, and challenges can make our path more difficult, exciting, and enriching with lessons. Transformation occurs as we navigate this journey, making us stronger and enhancing our resilience to thrive, not merely survive. Similarly, our Church is also on a journey. As a living entity, it is growing and evolving under the guidance and provisions of our Lord Jesus Christ. This transformation makes our Church more relevant, disciplined and focused on the truths established by Him.
The theme for the Aldersgate Mission Conference 2025, “Daliasat“—which translates to “Journey” in English—echoes our Christian journey to transformation rooted in God’s Word. Daliasat emphasizes our Church’s spiritual journey, aiming to revive, renew, and reignite the fire of our Wesleyan heritage and Christian lifestyle.
In an era of rapid social and cultural changes, where church divisions and relevance can feel overwhelming, deepening our commitment to intentional discipleship is essential for thriving.
One of the enduring legacies of the Methodist movement is its influence on social transformation, grounded in evangelism and discipleship. We are recognized for our balance of theology and spirituality. Our founder, Rev. John Wesley, highlighted that there is no holiness but social holiness. As Dr. Steven Manskar, a retired clergy member and author of the Book on Accountable Discipleship: Living in God’s Household, articulated:
The General Rule of Discipleship (To witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.) shapes the life and work of Covenant Discipleship groups, class leaders, and the congregation. It helps them live as witnesses to Jesus Christ in the world as they follow his teachings, summarized by him in Matthew 22:37-40
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15) and “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). The Christian life is shaped by obedience to Jesus’ teachings.
When Christians “watch over one another in love” (John 13:34-35) and help each other to grow in holiness of heart and life they keep this new commandment (love one another). Congregations keep Jesus’ new commandment when they intentionally develop a path to discipleship that meets people where they are and provides guides along the way in the form of small groups and the guidance of seasoned disciples.
This is what John Wesley meant when he wrote:
Solitary religion is not to be found there. “Holy Solitaries” is a phrase no more consistent with the gospel than Holy Adulterers. The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love, is the length and breadth and depth and height of Christian perfection[1].
[1] No Holiness But Social Holiness by
Steven Manskar – https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/blog/no-holiness-but-social-holiness
Therefore, prioritizing social holiness is about rekindling and revitalizing our spirituality, fostering transformed hearts and minds that can lead to societal change. Our daliasat as Christians revolves around turning our faith communities into beacons of hope and unity, grounded in our Methodist heritage, which acknowledges the supremacy of God’s truth found in His Word.
As we engage more deeply in intentional discipleship, we can transform challenges into opportunities, division into connection, and our faith into a powerful force for change—not conforming to worldly standards but to the standards of His Word. Indeed, our daliasat will become more Christ-centered as we commit to deepening our spiritual journey through spiritual discipline (2 Timothy 1:7; Joshua 1:8).
Let us unite in our daliasat, driving and striving to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, rooted in Wesleyan discipleship and evangelism.
All glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ!
Pastor Joel comes from a long line of United Methodists, having been born and raised in a family deeply rooted in the tradition. As a fifth-generation United Methodist, his ancestors served as lay preachers, Vacation Bible School teachers, Sunday School Superintendents, and Sunday School educators. He was ordained as an elder in 2008 and has been a UMC pastor since 1998. Currently, he is in his eighth year as District Superintendent of the Ilocos South District.
He graduated from the Union Theological Seminary (UTS) with a Master of Divinity in 2005.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Joel is a prolific writer, editor, and translator of various discipleship resources, including Sunday School materials, Bible studies, confirmation classes, membership courses, and leadership training resources. He is an active member of Discipleship Resources-Philippines, serves as the editor of Siled ti Kararag (Upper Room Ilokano Daily Devotional), and is a member of the General Board of Church and Society.
Dr. Glenn Roy’s work includes leading a Methodist health facility, Mary Johnston Hospital, that espouses a Wesleyan view of a health system – doing good, doing no harm, and staying in love with God.
He likewise advocates in creation care by tackling the ill effects of plastic use in the health industry and adapting renewable energy for health equities. Engaging in the Lay ministries, he is presently the lay leader of The Central Conference and his local church. He is a member of their local church choir, also of His Sounds Chorale, and, more recently, Hymnos Chorale, singing for the Lord.
In life partnership with Gemini Pattugalan-Paraso, they have two beautiful children, Dr. Patricia Paraso engaged to Jan Ellis and Aldrin Daniel Paraso, married to Ronalene. He enjoys mindful conversations, tends to three dogs and bonsai plants, loves to read books, and has a passion for coffee, jazz, and classical music. He is constantly amazed at how God’s grace and peace operate in and through people to bring about their greatest potential.
Pastor Elijah has been serving as the Northeast Nueva Ecija District Superintendent in the Middle Philippines Annual Conference since 2019, and he currently leads the Nauzon United Methodist Church, located in the mountainous region of Laur, Nueva Ecija. He has been happily married to Evelyn Era Lopez for 15 years, and they are blessed with three children: Elijah Wesley, Elijah Yosef, and Eliyannah Atarah.
With 24 years of experience in ministry as a pastor, he is also a writer of books and online devotionals, a campus minister, evangelist, and disciple-maker. He holds the position of Coordinator for the Manila Episcopal Area Discipleship Committee. He has authored two books: “Eliyannah Atarah: The Journey of a Princess who Refused to Surrender” and “Wake Up in the Land of Hope.”
One of his favorite quotes is by Jim Cymbala: “I despaired at the thought that my life might slip by without seeing God show himself mightily on our behalf,” from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.
Pastor Jestril Alvarado is one of the current District Superintendents of the Manila Episcopal Area. He entered the Ministry in 1991 and finished his Master of Divinity in 1996. He is a licensed Mechanical Engineer.
Pastor Jestril is married to Claire Ocampo Alvarado and they have two children – Gian Paulo and Hana.
He is a lecturer on Discipleship, Church Growth, and Planting, Evangelism, and Preaching.
He is a writer. He writes Bible Study materials, Discipleship Resources, and Sermons.
Pastor Caroline is an ordained elder of The United Methodist Church. While currently assigned at Fiona United Methodist Church she is also a part-time faculty at Wesley Divinity School – Wesleyan University Philippines.
Pastor Caroline is a licensed counselor and is currently writing her dissertation for her PhD in Counseling Psychology at the De La Salle University, Manila. She finished her Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, and Advanced CPE at Queensland Institute of Clinical Pastoral Education, Brisbane, Australia.
Program
Day 1 – January 7 Tuesday
5:00 am Arrival | Free Time
7:00 am Registration
10:00 am Opening Worship
12:00 nn Lunch
1:00 pm Room Check-in and Freshen-Up
4:00 pm Plenary 1: Foundation and Process of UMC Disciple-Making
5:30 pm Plenary 2: Status of Discipleship in the Church (The UMC)
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 2 – January 8 Wednesday
5:00 am Dawn Prayer (c/o NWPAC)
6:00 am Breakfast
7:30 am Plenary 3.1: Discipleship is a Lifestyle The Discipleship Process (Lakbayin)
12:00 nn Lunch
1:15 pm Plenary 3.2: Discipleship is a Lifestyle The Discipleship Process (Lakbayin)
4:30 pm Testimonies and Sharing of Best Practices
5:00 pm Early Dinner and Revival Worship Preparations
6:30 pm Revival Worship Celebrations
Day 3 – January 9 Thursday
5:00 am Dawn Prayer (c/o NCPAC)
6:00 am Breakfast
7:30 am Plenary 4: Pastoral Care And The Care Provider: Presence And Personhood
10:00 am Plenary 5: Moving Forward Discussion (The Planning)
10:30 am Closing Worship
12:00 nn Lunch
1:15 pm GEMS E Network Credit Coop General Assembly
Be intentional. Read with comprehension.
Attire:
Day 1: Smart Casual | DSes (Black Coat and Tie)
Day 2: Smart Casual
Day 3: Smart Casual | DSes (Barong)
Officers of the Day (District Superintendents)
Day 1: PPAC, CLPAC
Day 2: NELPAC, NCPAC
Day 3: HIPAC, TARPAC
REMINDERS
- Follow the dress codes
- No transferring/changing of room assignments
- Strictly, NO CHILDREN allowed
- Strictly, NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION
- Strictly, NO ID-NO ENTRY TO THE CONFERENCE HALL
- (NO Walk-in and NO Sit-in)
PARTICIPANTS: Clergy, Deaconesses, Lay Ministers, Lay Servants, and Lay Volunteers
- Attend all the Conference activities.
Foundation and Process of The United Methodist Church Disciple-Making
The foundation of The United Methodist Church has consistently centered on answering God’s call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We pursue this mission through various approaches and in diverse locations.
Our Wesleyan heritage, a fundamental aspect of our identity, emphasizes the principle of “holiness of heart and life.” John Wesley articulated this as “universal love filling the heart and governing the life” in his work, Advice to a People Called Methodist. This dual focus on both our beliefs and our conduct remains vital to the essence of United Methodism today.
Furthermore, Methodists worldwide, irrespective of their specific denominational affiliations, acknowledge the Wesleyan concept of grace, which encompasses Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying Grace. This understanding is a significant cornerstone of our faith and a distinctive element of our heritage.
Holiness in both heart and life is an expectation placed upon us. John Wesley emphasized the concept of “solitary religion,” stating, “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.”
This underscores the notion that our faith is not a private matter; rather, it is meant to be actively lived and shared within a community – and this is discipleship.
An article published by United Communications stated that,
Early Methodists lived into this understanding of faith by opening schools, feeding the hungry, healing those who could not afford to see a doctor, speaking out against slavery, and so much more. Today, United Methodists remain connected not only to the people in their small groups and congregations but also to a church of millions around the world. Together we tell people about Jesus, protect people’s health, assist victims of disaster, stand up for those living on life’s margins, and watch over one another in love.[2]
In this plenary session, we will revisit our foundational principles as Methodists while also examining the current Wesleyan disciple-making process. This session will serve as a framework for developing a cohesive and intentional disciple-making system for the entire Baguio Episcopal Area.
Status of Discipleship in the Church (The UMC)
It is important and relevant to see where we are now as United Methodists when it comes to our disciple-making.
Let us answer the following questions together:
1. How many members do we have?
2. What is the trend in our membership? Is it increasing or decreasing? What factors contribute to this trend?
3. How many small groups or discipleship groups are currently active? Is disciple-making a primary focus of our church?
4. In which locations do we engage in disciple-making activities? Are these in mountainous areas, urban centers, or educational campuses?
5. What ongoing initiatives are in place to consistently grow our membership?
Discipleship is a lifestyle The Discipleship Process (Lakbayin)
Discipleship or disciple-making is at the core of our beliefs as Methodists. It must continue and to have a continuous cycle, there should be a process (or a system) that everyone must follow.
When we have a solid process, then it becomes a lifestyle – what does that mean? The discipleship lifestyle encompasses both following Jesus as a disciple and actively engaging in the process of making disciples.
The plenary will span an entire day, featuring lessons, the exchange of best practices, and the development of our discipleship process. This comprehensive agenda will include a mix of lectures and workshops, allowing participants to engage deeply and recognize the necessity for intentionality in our Church’s discipleship ministries.
Pastoral Care And The Care Provider: Presence And Personhood
Pastoral Care And The Care Provider: Presence And Personhood
The term “pastoral care” encompasses all pastoral activity pertaining to the upbringing and nurturing of individuals and interpersonal relationships, including casual displays of concern and care that may arise during a variety of pastoral relationships and activities. It is an act of sincere devotion to the well-being of other people. This act of caregiving, according to Clinebell, can help save those areas of people’s lives that are shipwrecked in the storms of daily living, broken on the hidden reefs of evil and tragedy, injustice and despair. Effective pastoral caregiving requires three basic resources in addition to a deep theological-biblical foundation:
(1) a comprehensive, systemic, holistic guiding model;
(2) a current understanding of the varied dynamics of problems and contexts; and
(3) competence in fundamental caregiving skills.
In addition, pastoral care does not only focus on an individual’s suffering stories but also the cultivation of one’s strength, hopes, faith, and life goals. Another essential element of pastoral care in upholding wellness and wholeness is the care provider. The church workers who are the primary church care providers carry the unique gift of personhood that validates both human experience and God’s role in human experiences. The use of personal experiences, self-awareness, acquired knowledge, and self-care as a resource for pastoral care has been proven effective.
Plenary 4 will focus on basic to intermediate-level lessons on pastoral care with additional emphasis on the personhood of the care provider.
Moving Forward Discussion (The Planning)
What we have learned from this Conference must be shared and practiced. We expect every participant to embrace the role of a disciple-maker, committed to fostering disciples of Jesus Christ.
During Plenary 5, delegates are encouraged to engage in meaningful discussions. Collaborate with your teams to formulate a strategic plan that aligns with the discipleship system presented in Plenary 3. It is imperative that we see tangible outcomes following the conference. Our church must adopt a more intentional approach to disciple-making, and we urge all participants to take the lead in this vital initiative.