Oracle Master Guide Club Shares Christ’s Love in South River

Some mission experiences stay with us long after we return home. For me, the South River Mission Trip, held from October 16-18, 2026, was one of those unforgettable experiences. As a Master Guide trainee with the Oracle Master Guide Club of the First Filipino-Canadian Seventh-day Adventist Church of Ontario, I returned home with a renewed understanding of what it truly means to be “Ready to Serve.”

Our mission brought Master Guides and Master Guide trainees together for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and community outreach under the theme “United in Mission, Rooted in Christ.” While we had activities and responsibilities to fulfill, what made the experience truly meaningful were the people we met, the moments we shared, and the reminders we received of God’s love at work through simple acts of service.

Our Sabbath worship service was a special time of spiritual renewal. Master Guide trainees were given opportunities to participate in different parts of the service, allowing us to put our training into practice while serving together in faith.

MG Sam Adriatico led the Sabbath School lesson. During the divine hour service, MG Ethel Cerezo and her son, Marcus, blessed the congregation with special music, while ACMG Rod Bernal delivered the divine service message entitled, “WANTED: Human Support.”

Each part of the program reminded us of the importance of keeping Christ at the centre of our ministry and allowing Him to guide everything we do.

During Sabbath afternoon, we put on our OneVoice 27 shirts, prepared 20 food bags, and went around knocking on the doors of retirement homes in the neighbourhood, offering prayers and a small expression of care and encouragement. Each encounter was different, and not everyone responded in the same way. Yet every interaction reminded me that meaningful outreach requires patience, humility, and a willing heart.

Of all these moments, one touched me particularly deeply. As we sang to a retired couple, I noticed tears in their eyes. Seeing their emotional response reminded me that sometimes, people need more than food or material assistance. They need to feel remembered. They need to know that someone cares enough to visit, sing, listen, and spend time with them.

After the retirement home visit, we also went to the Main Street of South River to distribute the rest of the bags.

We may have offered only a simple song and prayer, but their response reminded me that even the smallest gesture can carry a powerful message of love and hope. I left that encounter reflecting on how God can use ordinary people and seemingly simple moments to touch hearts in ways we may never fully understand.

That experience became one of the weekend's most meaningful lessons: service is not always about how much we give, but how sincerely we show God’s love to others.

Our mission continued on Sunday as we cleaned the church grounds and cut down the plants to prepare for the coming winter.

We ended our mission with a lunch get-together with the families that hosted us during our weekend mission trip. We were blessed with the hospitality of these two families.

The experience deepened my appreciation for our Master Guide Ministry motto: “Ready to Serve.” To me, these words are more than a statement printed on a uniform or a responsibility attached to a position. They represent a commitment to maintaining a willing heart and being ready whenever God calls us to help someone in need.

Jesus gave us the greatest example of what true service looks like. Mark 10:45 (KJV) reminds us:

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Perhaps one of the most important lessons I brought home from South River is that we do not have to wait for another mission trip to serve. The mission continues wherever God has placed us, in our homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.

People around us may be quietly longing for encouragement, kindness, or simply someone who will make them feel seen and valued. We may not always know what others are going through, but we can choose to be present, to listen, and to offer compassion.

We do not serve simply because we are Master Guides; we serve because we belong to Christ. And we do not need to do something extraordinary to make a difference. Sometimes, a visit, a meal, a song, or a few minutes of genuine attention can become a beautiful expression of God’s love.

In the end, the true measure of our mission is not simply what we accomplished, but the love we shared, the connections we made, and the lives we touched along the way.

Lord, here I am. Use me to bless others and lead them closer to You.

Ready to Serve. Rooted in Christ. United in Mission. One Voice, One Heart, All for Jesus.

Michelle Dane Cortez
MGT Oracle Master Guide