Across the Pacific, Thousands Are Trained in Evangelism and Bible Reading

By: Petero Navosailagi, Adventist Record, and Adventist Review

Young people from across the Trans-Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) in the South Pacific are being trained in how to read their Bibles, prepare a sermon, conduct cell-phone evangelism, and offer discipleship training to families. These initiatives are part of the TPUM World Changers Bible and Youth Preachers Training events across the Pacific.

The first event was held in Fiji on the weekend of January 24-26, 2020, and was attended by more than 1,500 people. Subsequent events have been held throughout February in Vanuatu and Kiribati, with 400 and 60 attendees, respectively.

“I am incredibly humbled.… [Attendance] just exploded beyond any of our expectations. It’s certain confirmation that God has pointed us all in the right direction,” said Hope Channel South Pacific director Wayne Boehm.

The training was led by TPUM president Maveni Kaufononga in conjunction with TPUM’s Discipleship Ministries Team (DMT). It includes TPUM youth director Charlie Jimmy, Nasoni Lutunaliwa, Roger Stone, and others. From the South Pacific Division (SPD), Nick Kross and Litiana Turner of the Discipleship Ministries Team also supported the event.

During the programs, Kaufononga shared the importance of modeling discipleship on a “farming cycle” process. Jimmy challenged youth to dedicate their lives to prayer.

“Set your alarm to 10:02 a.m. every day as we pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our youth, and pray that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.… A church that does not love sinners should close their church,” Jimmy said.

“It is important to read, read, read, read, read the Bible passage many times to understand and draw out key points the Holy Spirit has revealed to you,” Stone said.

A theme song entitled “Go Forward,” composed by the Miracle Singers from the Solomon Islands, was performed at the events.

Other World Changer Bible Training events will take place in the following weeks: in the Solomon Islands, American Samoa, and Samoa (February); Tonga (March); and Tuvalu and Nauru (April).

Especially in Papua New Guinea, every July is the regional “harvest month” of evangelism. In light of this training, leaders said that this year’s focus will be on youth involvement in evangelism.

The original version of this story was posted by Adventist Record.