Lawyer appreciates Adventist effort for Paris Filipino community, recognizes the role of faith in life
The Philippine ambassador to France met with 11 Seventh-day Adventists at the Philippine Embassy in Paris on June 18, reaffirming that ‘it’s a small world.’
Honorable Rora Navarro-Tolentino related she never thought that the Adventist people would have a relationship with her childhood friend, Lourdes Ramos who has just accepted the Adventist faith.
Ramos secured endorsement letters from the office of the executive secretary of the Philippines, Eduardo Ermita and the Philippine ambassador to France so that a mission team member, Armon Tolentino, may be able to go to Paris for the evangelistic meetings even after being denied twice for lack of international travels prior to his Schengen visa application.
Navarro-Tolentino, a lawyer, welcomed 11 Filipinos coming from the Filipino Adventist Church of Paris: Pastor Ralph Seechurn, executive secretary of the Pastoral Association of the Northern France Conference (NFC); Ellen Apilado, Sabbath School superintendent; Romeo Apilado, Personal Ministry director; Mila Sanidad, wife of church Pastor Julio Sanidad; Alfredo Sabio, member; Jaireh Lasta, member; and from the Central Luzon Conference (CLC): Pastor Carmelito Galang Jr., president; Maria Lourdes Galang, president’s wife; Vicky Tobias, Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) Psychology professor; Rogelio Sabio, Health and Home photographer; and A. Tolentino, assistant director for news and publications.
Navarro-Tolentino appreciated the efforts of the Filipino Adventist community in Paris.
“I am happy to know about your Bible-based evangelistic efforts here in France, a place where it is very challenging to keep the faith.”
In the same event, Navarro-Tolentino asked Seechurn how he finds being a pastor for Filipinos as Seechurn hails from a different country of origin, Mauritius. “I find working with Filipinos excellent,” Seechurn answered. “They have good hearts and minds.”
Navarro-Tolentino shared how she cherishes the involvement of God in her leadership as she prays daily to gain the strength and wisdom to do all the tasks she is expected to do for Filipino communities in France, Portugal and Monaco, among many other calls of duty.
“I make time to read the Bible, pray and give homage to God on a daily basis,” Navarro-Tolentino said.
Meanwhile, Navarro-Tolentino’s visitors appreciated her style of leadership which shuns self-imposed restrictions and approves of relationship building with the members of the Filipino community.
“It is in your leadership that we are welcomed to come and talk at the ambassador’s residence,” said Lasta. “Needless of any validation coming from me, let me say that you’re a leader of a kind,” said A. Tolentino. “This day is remarkable because I met a leader like you who is in a very high position, not to mention that this is Paris, but who still sincerely and naturally mingle with commoners.”
The meeting ended with prayers led by Seechurn and Galang which focused on the continued blessings of God to the Filipino communities in Europe through Navarro-Tolentino’s leadership.
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