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South Pacific Division - “Move With The Power”
July 6, 2000
Toronto, Canada .... [Cherie Bowman / ANN]
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“While some people brought choirs, we brought young people.” With this statement the theme of the International Festival of Mission presentation by the South Pacific Division (SPD) was set.
The challenge of this division was stated from the outset - to penetrate the secular world with the gospel. In 1970, 40 % of SPD membership was from Australia and New Zealand, with the remaining 60% comprised of the South Pacific islands. In 1999, this figure had dropped to only 18% being from Australia and New Zealand.
As the SPD enters the new millennium though, they are ‘rising to the challenge of the cyberworld to make contact with a post-modernist generation’, and as a result the young people are ‘beginning to move with a power.’
This movement is being demonstrated across the five unions comprising the SPD. The Papua New Guinea Union Mission now has a membership of more than 300,000. Matt Byrne from the Trans-Australian Union Conference shared that the reason he spent four years teaching at an Aboriginal mission school was that ‘when you know Jesus and are open to what he wants you to do, miracles happen.’
Kalisto Wane, an ex-prisoner from the Western Pacific Union Mission (WPUM) is now a baptized member of the church and has trained as a health worker. He said that he is now ‘leading people to change their lives.’ From the Central Pacific Mission, ex-prisoner Henry shared how he and his wife have now begun a cell group which meets every Sabbath. When asked why he had given his life to God he said, ‘if we are not with God, all we build is in vain.’
Nowhere is the movement of the youth within the church more evident than the Trans-Australian Union Conference. It is here that the concept of StormCo (Service to Others Really Matters) is making an impact. “StormCo is all about getting out and getting in touch,” said Adam Sparke.
Zara Bichard said that “StormCo brings a fresh understanding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It gives young people a chance to be involved and make a difference.” While twenty-one of these young people are present in Toronto for the General Conference, more than 500 young people have given up their holidays and are working for the Lord around Australia.
Preceding an inspirational performance of The Lord’s Prayer by Mario Gentil, Dr. Barry Oliver, executive secretary for the SPD stated that ‘there are many jungles and deserts that continue to challenge us, but by the grace of God we will see great things in the coming years.’ |
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