American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware

Hopevale Commemoration Sunday

 

ABCUSA Hopevale Commemoration Sunday
December 2023 / January 2024

In response to the 75th Commemoration (in 2018) of the Hopevale martyrdom in the Philippines in which missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (now International Ministries) died heroically for their faith, the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC) approved a resolution to designate the Sunday nearest to December 20 (the anniversary date of their deaths) as Hopevale Commemoration Sunday. This action of the CPBC Board was inspired “by the thought that we need to preserve faith stories and traditions that connect us to the Hopevale event so that we will not lose track of its rich meaning and significance in our lives as Baptists. Furthermore, we want to inspire and educate future generations on the life, faith, struggles, hopes, and triumphs of our Hopevale Martyrs, so that they may become faithful to the heavenly vision of doing God’s mission in the world."

Accordingly, CPBC has invited the American Baptist Churches USA to join them in this annual observance, which demonstrates the strong bonds of spiritual friendship between us. In commemorating this anniversary each year, ABCUSA is affirming, along with Filipino Baptists, our common missiological identity and our mutual support and solidarity in doing God’s mission.

The ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary (OGS), in partnership with American Baptist International Ministries (ABFMS), the American Baptist Historical Society (ABHS) and the Green Lake Conference Center (GLCC), has produced a variety of resources, featuring written and video accounts of the Hopevale story, missionary biographies, bulletin inserts and a Hopevale poster. (See Below)

Recognizing that December 20 is just before Christmas and thus many churches may not be able to dedicate a portion of the Sunday service closest to that date for Hopevale, we are encouraging churches to commemorate it at whatever event or service that fits their schedule best in December or January.

Please note: there is no offering connected to this commemoration. It is meant to serve as a historical memorial event, and to inspire new generations of American Baptists to be faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ. The Hopevale story is inspiring, calling us all to a higher level of sacrificial devotion and service.

Hopevale Memorial Cathedral in the Glen
Green Lake, WI


HOPEVALE COMMEMORATION RESOURCES

Resources

A Letter of Support from CPBC General Secretary Dr. Jerson Narciso

The 75th Anniversary of the Hopevale Missionaries – A Reflection by Rev. Dr. Elmo Familiaran

Hopevale Reflections by Carolyn Predmore

Go with the Lord! by Sharon Dumas

Hopevale Martyrs 75th Anniversary: Tragedy to Victory by Gordon and Lee Ann Hwang

International Ministries Bulletin Insert

Hopevale Commemoration Poster (print on 11×17” paper)