More than 200 teachers and publishing workers have come together to equip themselves for better service during the 1st Adventist Teachers and Publishing Access Club (ATPAC) National Convention. With the theme “Serving Together: Integrating Our Gifts”, the program commenced on Thursday night, October 22, 2015 at Muek Lek Forest Resort in Saraburi Province.
ATPAC is a newly-organized group composed of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) teachers and publishing workers. It was organized by Pastor Demetrio “Jun” Taotao, a Filipino minister together with other Filipinos and Thai leaders. Pastor Taotao works as Publishing Director at Thailand Adventist Mission (TAM), the headquarters of SDA denomination in the kingdom.
The three-day convention aims to bring together foreign and Thai Adventist teachers and publishing workers to integrate and consolidate ideas to further improve the teaching profession and help in the development of the education system in general.
“About 90 percent of foreign teachers in Thailand are Filipinos and a large number come from the Seventh-day Adventist denomination”, according to a Thai speaker who attended the opening program.
Taotao, who also gave the keynote address at the opening program, recalled the publishing ministries’ humble beginnings and he narrated how printed pages became instrumental in acquainting with the locals.
The event has received an overwhelming response from participants who are mostly teachers and those who have had experiences in canvassing work. They are employed in international schools, universities and technical colleges, and private and public schools all over Thailand. The attendees are from 23 different Seventh-day Adventist churches, schools and hospital all over Thailand.
They represented the following cities and provinces:
Asia Pacific International University (APIU) in Saraburi, Bangkok Adventist Hospital, Bangkok International Church, Trinity Adventist International Church, Ramkamhaeng International Church, Tiwanon, Muang Thong Thani, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Korat, Omnoi, Min Buri, Pattaya, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Rayong, Chantaburi, Singburi, Sriracha, and some guests from the USA.
Thai and foreign guests from the United States are scheduled to speak on Friday and Saturday. The convention will end on Sunday, October 25 after the closing program.
