THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP

The UMYAFP MOVEMENT in The United Methodist Church of the Philippines started in 1952 during the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference (NWPAC) Session at Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. With a group of visionary youth leaders spearheaded by Emmanuel Cleto, Jacobo Clave, Felimon Fernandez Jr., Anastacio Ortiz, and Daniel Javier, the UMYAF was organized. The first National Christmas Conference of the UMYAFP that was found to be on

On the conference level, UMYAF in PAC was led by President Rodrigo Estrada. The NWPAC on the other hand was led by President Anastacio Ortiz, Jr. Records also show that there were representatives from NPAC and MAC.

“TO SERVE THE PRESENT AGE, THY CALLING TO FULFILL,” was well chosen to be the THEME of the conference. Social Action resource persons were the following: Dr. Benjamin I. Guansing, Dr. L. Elbert Welhengton, Dr. Isidro Panlasigui, and Rev. Franscisco Galvez, Sr. challenged the young adults on the day’s complex social problems in the light of the Gospel of the

Lord Jesus Christ to find the most effective way in bringing testimony to the Christian Faith in the affairs of Human Society.

No available records were found on the activities of the UMYAFP for the years that followed the convention. However, it is common knowledge that the pioneers of the young adults movement in the United Methodist Church continued to be prime movers not only in the church but also in the community and beyond the shores of our country. It was in the 1967 National Biennial Convention that the UMYAFP was reactivated through the leadership of Engr. Manuel Gonzales. It was in this convention that the following were introduced and approved:

1. The UMYAFP EMBLEM, which is made up of a Latin Cross, the Maltese- Pattee Cross, and Three (3) Circles; and
2. The UMYAFP MOTTO, “In JESUS’ STEPS”.

The Young Adults of the United Methodist Church through the existing UMYAF organization since then have unwaveringly responded to the call to serve even without official recognition from the United Methodist Church, unlike the organization such as the UMYFP, the UMM, and the UMWSCS. In many ways however, the undefined status of the UMYAF in the UMC structure has limited the full participation of the members in decision making process within the church.

Recognizing this limitation, the National UMYAFP Executive Council 1978-1980 visited the different Annual Conferences in the Philippines to campaign for the legal status of the organization in the United Methodist Church. The PAC, NWPAC, and the NPAC voted that the petition be sent to the UMC General Conference in 1980 to include the Annual Conference UMYAF President as full voting member of the Annual Conference.


On February 28, 1980, the President of the National UMYAF 1978-1980, Brenda J. Fernandez, found no record. The petition for the UMYAF was sent through proper channels to the General Conference Secretary. On February 29, 1980, Bishop Paul Locke A. Granadosin, on the advices of Dr. Emerito P. Nacpil, sent a cable gram to inform Dr. John B. Holt of the petition to give the UMYAF Annual Conference President full voting status in the Annual Conference.

In April 1980, the UMYAF petition to the General Conference held in Indianapolis, USA was strongly approved. Thus, the UMYAF has achieved since then full status and recognition as an official organization of the United Methodist Church.

The UMYAF of today on its 23rd year of OFFICAL existence in the structure of the United Methodist Church continues to grow as prime movers in the life of the local Church, and in the community as well. It continues to contribute in the strengthening of the whole church through Deep Christian Commitment and active participation in churchmanship. Just like the tree that was planted by the waters, the UMYAF as an integral part of the United Methodist Church remains unshaken with the MOST PRIME MOVER as the SOURCE of its life, our LORD JESUS CHRIST as our guiding star on all undertakings for the development of HIS church.
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Some of the developmental experiences of UMYAF are:
1. Leaving home and achieving freedom from parental authority.
2. Leaving youth patterns and learning the tasks and roles of adulthood.
3. Forming new relationships and finding a sense of belonging.
4. Realizing the freedom to examine, to evaluate and decide.
5. Learning the meaning of existence and determining one’s destiny and life’s goals.
6. Making decisions as to a style or pattern of life, middle class standards, organization man, playboy sophistication, etc.
7. Choosing or changing one’s vocation.
8. Achieving economic independence and determining the use of one’s material resources.
9. Finding a mate, marriage and parenthood, or adjusting to singleness.
10. Achieving sexual maturity and learning one’s sex role.
11. Making moral decision based on religious beliefs.
12. Learning to accept oneself where one is at a particular moment in life.
13. Finding life meaningful and having a sense of purpose of destiny.

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The UMYAFP Emblem is made up of the Latin Cross, the Maltese-Pattee Cross, and Three Circles.

The LATIN CROSS signifies the growth of the United Methodist Young Adult Fellowship from the UMYF. What used to be the inner cross, limited by the end sides of the Maltese-Pattee cross is now stretched out for a greater service and responsibilities, the UMYAF is now entering a life of maturity.

The MALTESE-PATTEE CROSS is super-imposed at the center of the Latin Cross. It has eight points which stand for the eight beatitudes. The UMYAF recognizes these eight points as its way of life.

The THREE (3) CIRCLES binding the two crosses together symbolize fellowship. The inner circle represents our fellowship with Jesus Christ; the middle circle, our fellowship with one another, and the outer circle, our worldwide fellowship.