I will never forget what happened in 2018. Just the thought of it sends shivers through my body. Something good and exciting. You may recall an important sporting event that happened in 2018: the FIFA World Cup.  From June 14 to July 15, 64 football (soccer) matches were played in 12 venues across 11 cities between 32 teams—of which 31 came through qualifying competitions before the big event, while the host nation Russia was automatically in.  Only 31 out of 209 countries who applied to enter the qualifying process that started three years prior made it to this event. In the soccer ..read more

Neurodivergent children had a special place to go to at this year’s North New South Wales Conference (NNSW) Big Camp, held from April 19 to 27 at Yarra Holiday Park in Stuarts Point. For the first time in an Australian Big Camp, the NNSW Children’s Ministry introduced a dedicated program tent for children with Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions. The Hyperactive Faith tent was designed to teach children aged 6-16 about Jesus, while meeting their needs. It provided a calming corner with a sensory swing, various breathing strategie ..read more

Hidden in a valley on the outskirts of Honiara City, in the Solomon Islands, is a small church called Wind Valley Seventh-day Adventist church. Wind Valley is a church plant of the White River Adventist church, which began in late 2008. What started as a small meeting place for church members living in the neighbourhood became a semi-permanent church which meets every Sabbath, providing a variety of programs. Photo of the church in late 2008. Denver Newter, one of the current church elders, recalls the humble beginning of the church as a journey of faith. “It’s a miracle when one day, a neighb ..read more

My minister son and I visited Israel in November 2015. One Friday while we were there, we found ourselves in the square in Jerusalem, facing the western wall along with some other members of the tour group. We were seated on a bench that provided a good view of all that happened in the square. There were many people there that late afternoon, from tourists to orthodox Jewish men when, suddenly, a group of young and not-so-young Jewish people, close to the western wall, joined hands and in joyful anticipation of the Sabbath, danced and sang in a circle of happiness. They were happy that, once a ..read more

As I’m married to a wonderful Mauritian woman, I attend my fair share of Mauritian get-togethers. If you know anything about Mauritians, you’ll know to expect two things: a lot of food and a lot of singing. Curry, rougaille, lentils, potato dauphinoise, stew, fresh bread, fried noodles—such is the exciting mix of a cuisine that is part French, part African, part Asian, part who-knows-what-else. All I know is that it’s all delicious.  The second obligatory part of the Mauritian gathering is singing. Whether they are the traditional songs of yesteryear, favourites from the ‘70s or beloved h ..read more

Pacific Adventist University (PAU) has held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 12 new staff houses at Kinakon—a part of the university campus. The ceremony on May 13 signifies PAU’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional living and working environments for its faculty and staff, and allows for the fast growth at PAU. The groundbreaking ceremony was witnessed by guests including Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific president and PAU chancellor, Pastor Glenn Townend, former vice chancellor Dr Harold Peters, current vice chancellor Professor Lo ..read more

After two weeks of programs run across Papua New Guinea, the PNG for Christ program has officially finished. While official baptismal numbers are still being reported, the number is expected to surpass 200,000. At Minj, where General Conference president Pastor Ted Wilson presented the Revelation of Hope series, 3708 people were baptised during the 16-night program. A further 3000+ baptisms took place at Ela Beach, Port Moresby, in the Central Papua Conference, and these numbers represent just a small portion of the overall impact that was felt across the country. Stories of drug lords burning ..read more

An American Samoa student has won the state finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition for the second consecutive year. Hazel Ipuniuesea Leo, a junior at Iakina Adventist Academy, competed alongside 10 other high school students in the state championships. She placed first overall after reciting the poems “Propositions” by Stephen Dunn“, Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood and “Friendship After Love” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This earned her a spot in the nationals, which were held in Washington DC earlier this month, and were won by a student from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville ..read more

More than 70 women from Aitutaki, Cook Islands, gathered in fellowship for a weekend of empowerment from April 26 to 28.  The event, held at Tekaaroa Adventist School, was organised by Aitutaki pastor, Sarah Arati, and led by visiting pastor from Wellington, New Zealand, Kirsten Oster Lundqvist. Pastor Lundqvist shared Bible stories on women being empowered and are called to reach out. “Some women expressed how going deeper into the stories of biblical women brought forth surprising lessons, all pointing to how Jesus continually calls women to reach out and share His Gospel,” Pastor Lundq ..read more

Invercargill Adventist Church celebrated 100 years of ministry in Southland, New Zealand, on February 10.  Due to the pandemic, the celebrations were delayed but they were finally able to celebrate this milestone together.  Pastor Victor Kulakov, the director of missional development strategy for the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference, gave the address, referencing the southern lights that are often visible in Invercargill, encouraging attendees to continue to be a light to the community. There were special messages and greetings from many of the pastors who have served in Invercar ..read more