Leaders Inaugurate Ellen G. White Research Center in Thailand

Asia-Pacific International University (AIU) celebrated a significant milestone with the grand opening of its new Ellen G. White Research Center on February 21. Located on the third floor of the AIU Library, the center aims to preserve and promote the extensive writings and historical contributions of Ellen G. White, a cofounder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, regional leaders said.

The inauguration ceremony featured a keynote address by Merlin D. Burt, director of the Ellen G. White Estate at the General Conference (GC). Burt emphasized the center’s role in enhancing engagement with White’s prophetic ministry, particularly within Southeast Asia. He expressed gratitude for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s (SSD) support. “I commend SSD’s deep understanding and appreciation for the Spirit of Prophecy. We fervently pray for God’s blessings upon this center as we progress together,” he said.

This research center is the result of a collaborative effort between the GC, the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), the Southeastern Asia Union Mission (SEUM), and AIU. It stands as a testament to six years of planning and prayers, demonstrating the commitment of church leaders to providing greater access to White’s writings in this region, leaders said.

One of the highlights of the event was Burt’s formal handing over of two original letters written by Ellen G. White and a duplicate edition of the 1822 family Bible, now entrusted to the research center. The occasion also saw the signing of a memorandum of agreement, symbolizing the ongoing collaboration between the participating institutions.

Guests included Tim Poirier, vice director of the Ellen G. White Estate; Roger Caderma, SSD president; Edgar Bryan Tolentino, director of Adventist Heritage and Spirit of Prophecy in the SSD; Donny Chrissutianto, director of the Ellen G. White Estate Branch at Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS); and others. Numerous special invitees and esteemed guests from neighboring missions and affiliated organizations also attended.

The establishment of this research center marks the nineteenth globally and the third in Asia, underscoring its significance in a region with limited access to such resources, leaders explained. The initiative was first proposed during the 2024 General Conference Spring Meeting, in which the Ellen G. White Estate Board recommended its creation at AIU to make White’s extensive works more accessible to churches in Southeast Asia and neighboring areas.

Mahaingam Varah is the founding director of the new center. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first division research center in SSD territory, playing a key role in advancing the mission of Spirit of Prophecy research in the region. The EGW Research Center in AIU follows in the footsteps of AIIAS in the Philippines, which upgraded its facility to an official Ellen G. White Branch Office in 2014.

In conjunction with the inauguration, a symposium sought to deepen an understanding of Ellen G. White’s writings and the heritage of the Adventist Church. Sessions took place on February 21 and 22 at the Church Fellowship Hall, featuring presentations by Burt entitled “The History and Purpose of the Ellen G. White Estate.”

The Ellen G. White Research Center at AIU is dedicated to safeguarding and fostering a deeper appreciation of White’s contributions, serving as a vital resource for scholars, students, and church members, regional church leaders emphasized. “It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Ellen G. White and her impact on the Adventist faith,” they said.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.