Mission Refocus, Going Beyond Our Horizons
Twenty-five administrators from the Trans Pacific Union Mission joined other leaders from across the South Pacific Division (SPD) to attend the SPD Administrator’s Council from 11-16 July 2023. The event was held at the Watson Park Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia, where the plenaries and workshops focused on deepening understanding of ministry, leadership, governance, and disciple-making.
The council saw more than 135 attendees share their experiences in discussions. They were inspired by remarkable leaders who elaborated on the theme of “Mission Refocus, Going Beyond Our Horizons” and devotions centred on “Back to the Altar” initiatives. Evangelist Elder Dwain Esmond, currently overseeing the preparation and publication of White Estate-related content, led attendees through the development and application of the “Back to the Altar” initiative through devotional sessions.
After a seven-year hiatus, this Council marked a significant return, and recently elected administrators were delighted to participate. Pastor Clifton Mark, the General Secretary for the Solomon Islands Mission, stated that the event, “challenged us to refocus and move God’s movement in the Solomon Islands, preparing people for God’s kingdom”.
The Atoifi Adventist Hospital, which serves a population of over 166,000 on the island of Malaita, prioritises sharing the Gospel through service to others. Chief Executive Officer Mr William Baefua shared, “It's my first time to join such a conference. The SPD Administrator's Council helped to rethink how we are doing mission under the theme of Mission Refocus. It also provided a way for leaders from our missions and institutions to collaborate and partner with each other as a way forward. Finally, the challenge from the messages presented by Elder Dwain Esmond on repairing our personal family institutions and missional altars is the most appropriate message for our time.”
The Trans Pacific Union Mission is one of four key areas in the South Pacific Division, which has approximately 423,000 members in the Division. Leaders who attended the Council meeting were able to pray together and share experiences to support each other in leadership. The Chief Financial Officer, Mr Apisalome Seru, shared his experience, “The SPD Administration Council meeting this week provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect and network with leaders from across our division, gain a deeper understanding of the needs within our division and beyond the world church, experience spiritual rejuvenation through impactful guest speakers, and refocus our mission of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.”
The Trans Pacific Union Mission comprises 11 nations, and collectively they are committed to the “I Will Go” strategy to inspire and equip church members to use their God-given spiritual gifts in witness and service for Christ. Dr Gary Krause, director of Adventist Mission, shared the critical need for leaders to assist with reaching areas with no Christian presence. Approximately 41.6 percent of the global population remains unreached, indicating an absence of any Christian presence or resources in those regions. Furthermore, 27.2 percent of the world's population, while not Christian, does have access to Christian resources. This means that nearly 70 percent of the world's population has not yet been exposed to the transformative message of Jesus and His boundless love.
During the Council, leaders were presented with thought-provoking challenges. Elder Maurice Valentine, the General Vice President of the General Conference, addressed crucial subjects such as "Ministry Models Systems for Governance", "Biblical Ethics", and "Ministry Models Spiritual Leadership". These plenary sessions received significant support, complimented by engaging workshops. One such workshop featured Avondale University's Senior Lecturer and MBA course Coordinator, Dr Warrick Long, who delved into topics like "Board Governance" and "Challenging Leadership Norms."
Opportunities were given for attendees to reflect and consider how they were contributing to the movement of God. Invited guest, author and mentor to movement pioneers, Mr Steve Addison, inspired and encouraged participants with his expertise and experiences in fostering transformative movements. For Sabbath, the administrators went to share about God’s mission in surrounding churches in the South Queensland Conference. This served as a great opportunity to engage with the local church communities within the Australian Union Conference.
Back to the Altar is a movement within the Seventh-day Adventist community that promotes and encourages the daily, habitual practice of morning and evening worship. Its primary focus is to ignite personal revival, foster reformation, and enhance outreach efforts. One of its key objectives is to protect and nurture the spiritual lives of individuals and families by addressing the potential negative impact of digital media. Through the promotion of good digital hygiene and the sharing of healthy approaches to utilising media for fellowship and evangelism, Back to the Altar aims to provide guidance and support for a spiritually enriching experience. The Trans Pacific Union Mission has been encouraging families to include worship time at home and had launched its devotional 'I Will Go To My Family' to help support families and communities with their worship time with God.
During the gathering, President Maveni Kaufononga delivered the mid-year report for the Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM). Accompanied by TPUM administrators, who donned their respective national attire and waved flags representing their nations, they offered a heartfelt rendition of the theme song "Lord I Will Go" by Matthew and Bernice Brown. The performance resonated deeply with the audience, creating a warm and enthusiastic reception. Key leaders from Avondale University, Pacific Adventist University, Sanitarium, Adventist Media, Adventist Healthcare, New Zealand Pacific Union Conference, Papua New Guinea Union Mission, and Australian Union Conference demonstrated the amazing miracles God had performed across the Division. Leaders voiced their deep appreciation to the South Pacific Division led by President Glenn Townend for the Christ-centred occasion and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate and support the growth of the church as a disciple-making movement.
by Jane Gibson Opetaia