In a profound declaration of faith and gratitude, leadership at the Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM) is praising God for His divine protection following a harrowing maritime emergency that threatened the lives of dozens of humanitarian workers on June 12, 2026. All 42 volunteers and crew members involved in a recent sea-bound relief mission have safely returned to their families.
The multi-agency team was composed of dedicated personnel from ASI SePUM (including ASI Davao Mission and ASI Southern Mindanao Mission), media crews from Hope Channel Southern Mindanao and Hope Channel Davao, youth volunteers from AYP Davao Mission, SMM church officers, local church members, and the yacht’s operating crew. The team was actively transporting emergency supplies to the isolated coastal community of Margus in Glan, Sarangani Provinceโan area heavily impacted by the recent devastating earthquake.
Tragedy struck mid-journey when the vessel carrying the team and the cargo caught fire. While the intense blaze resulted in the total loss of the yacht and the primary shipment of relief goods, church leaders are celebrating what they call an undeniable miracle: not a single life was lost. SMM leadership expressed their deepest gratitude for God’s mercy and extended heartfelt thanks to the local coastal residents who noticed the emergency and immediately rushed out in their own boats to assist in the rescue.
Though the loss of the vessel significantly impacted the original logistics plan, church officials stressed that the accident has far from stopped their humanitarian mandate.
“The incident may have affected the original shipment of supplies, but it has not stopped the mission,” the SMM statement read.
Large swaths of Southern Mindanao remain in critical condition following the earthquake, with multiple remote communities still facing severe challenges due to fractured roadways, landslides, and highly restricted access. Recognizing the urgency on the ground, SMM, alongside its resilient ministry partners and volunteers, is already actively preparing the next phase of relief operations. To bypass the maritime loss, teams are reorganizing logistics to transport a fresh wave of food packs and cash assistance via passable land routes.
This continuous, high-stakes relief effort is made possible by the unwavering generosity of church members, donors, and global supporters who continue to flood the mission with resources, time, and intercessory prayers. As the deployment groups move forward into the next phase of recovery operations, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose, trusting that the same God who protected them at sea will continue to open doors and provide the resources needed to bring healing and hope to Southern Mindanao.
Photos by Hope Channel Southern Mindanao Mission and Davao Mission | Serene Shekinah D. Boncavil
