Adventist Nurses Symposium Highlights Spirituality in Care

A spirit of purpose, connection, and faith-filled inspiration marked the inaugural Adventist Nurses symposium, held September 3-5 at the Capital Adventist Church in Wellington, New Zealand. The event drew together nurses, nursing students, and nurse educators from across the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference (NZPUC) to explore the intersection of faith, nursing, and whole-person care.

This inaugural symposium was titled Te Manaaki Katoa—The ministry of whole-person care. Organized and hosted by Adrielle Carrasco, NZPUC Health Ministries director and experienced nurse of more than 25 years, the symposium provided a much-needed space for Christian nurses to reflect on their unique calling, organizers said.

“As nurses of faith, we’re called to be bridges—honoring our Christian values while extending compassionate care to all, regardless of their spiritual background,” Carrasco shared. “This isn’t about compromising our beliefs; it’s about living them out in their fullest expression.”

The symposium featured keynote presentations from Loma Linda University School of Nursing, including Anne Berit Petersen, associate professor and director of the Global Nursing Office. Petersen presented on the whole-person-care framework, detailed in the book Whole Person Care: Adventist Nursing in Action, published by General Conference Adventist Health Ministries.

Demonstrating the connections with Adventist history, Petersen reiterated that this is the first ever for nurses, as other similar symposiums have been geared toward nurse educators. This symposium, however, brought a unique opportunity to share. In her presentation titled “Caring as a Calling,” Petersen demonstrated the Adventist philosophy of caring in diverse nursing contexts.

Iris Mamier, also from Loma Linda, brought a practical dimension to the framework, exploring how prayer and spiritual presence can be authentically integrated into patient care.

Feedback from attendees reflected the impact of these sessions. One nurse shared, “These presentations have given me a vocabulary to express both my faith and my work in ways I hadn’t considered before.” Another said, “I wish I’d had this framework earlier in my career.”

Cultural relevance and local context were key themes woven throughout the symposium, organizers said. Victoria Jennings, with 25 years of experience as an educator and nurse, addressed how to honor Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) while walking in faith.

Adding a powerful Pacific voice, Jennifer Lumaavatasi Pereira-Sinapati presented “It’s More Than the Job: Being Pacific.” Drawing on Pacific research and traditional health models such as the Fonofale model, she demonstrated how the whole-person-care framework can be effectively applied in Pacific communities. Dressed in national attire from various islands, Pereira-Sinapati offered a vibrant and heartfelt cross-cultural perspective. She also brought a group of enthusiastic students who are already fundraising to attend future symposiums.

Autymn Kanuta William, a newly registered Māori Adventist nurse, told how deeply the symposium resonated with her. “I’ve been so blessed with all the kōrero and mātauranga (knowledge) that was shared,” she said. “I’ve been to many symposiums, but this one? It was amazing. I just felt as if I was able to thrive and actually learn. The vibe was so inviting; it was peaceful knowing I could open up about my spirituality without being questioned.”

Throughout the event church leadership voiced strong support. NZPUC president Edward Tupa’i affirmed the attendees on the opening day, acknowledging the critical role nurses play in both church life and outreach.

South Pacific Division Health Strategy director Geraldine Przybylko encouraged participants to engage with ELIA Wellness, the regional health ministry initiative, to further extend the reach of spiritually grounded health care.

The symposium concluded with a symbolic blessing of the hands led by North New Zealand Conference president Adrian Webster, Capital church pastor Kirsten Lundqvist, and Carrasco. A Jewish-inspired handwashing prayer served as a moving reminder of the healing role nurses play in their communities.

As participants departed Wellington, they carried with them a renewed confidence in their identity as nurses called by God, along with practical tools to integrate faith into daily practice.

“With heartfelt feedback, enthusiastic student involvement, and the strong support of church leadership, the first Adventist Nurses symposium has laid a firm foundation for a growing community of faith-informed, culturally aware, and spiritually grounded nursing professionals in the South Pacific,” Lundqvist said.

Until the next symposium planned for Auckland next year, the attendees will continue to engage with each other through social media, under the new name Adventist Nurses Aotearoa (NZ).

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