Grace Overflows is this year’s SMO Anniversary theme.
On its 34th year of campus ministry in the Philippines, the month-long celebrations kicked off on August 19, 2011, with the 11th Foundation Day of SMO Bible Training Institute (SMO-BTI). Students participated in friendly competitions in Preaching, Musical Interpretation, Bible Quiz, Storytelling, and Singing. Pastor Alex Hong, visiting missionary from Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Los Angeles, gave a challenge to the students focusing on The Gospel
This was followed by an Alumni Night Fellowship Dinner on August 21, 2011, where Pastor Hong challenged the alumni members of their role in the spreading of the Gospel. That night, SMO received offering and pledges from the alumni, and a brand new sound system equipment was donated by a missionary couple and their church they represent.
Pastor Hong, who is also a student of Master’s Seminary in California, lectured on August 22, 2011, to SMO staff, SMO-BTI faculty and students, and guests on The Gospel, Evangelism, Apologetics, and Hermeneutics.
The main event of the August celebrations was the 34th Anniversary Gathering on August 28, 2011 where students from 12 public and private schools were represented. Pastor John Todor of First Baptist Church of Quartzsite in Arizona preached The Gospel to more than 200 students, alumni, and guests. Pastor Todor used Romans 3:23-24 (“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”) as his main text. He is married to former Mythyl delos Reyes, who is an alumni and used to be one of the staff of SMO before. The event was filled with singing of worship songs, song numbers from the Afterglow singers, fun and games, and skit presentation from SMO-BTI students.
