TONGA
Sanitarium Weet-Bix Will Fuel Tongan Rugby Union Teams
Following its successful partnerships with the New Zealand All Blacks and Fiji Rugby Union, Sanitarium has committed to a sponsorship agreement with Tonga Rugby Union. Taking effect in September, the partnership will see Weet-Bix fuel the Tonga Rugby Union men’s, women’s, and 7s teams.
“Sanitarium and Weet-Bix are thrilled to be on board to empower, develop, and fuel the current and next generations of male and female rugby athletes in Tonga,” said Lindsey Abrahams, Sanitarium Health Food Company’s senior business leader, international. “At Weet-Bix our purpose has always been about nourishing communities and supporting healthier futures. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to supporting the wholistic well-being of Pacific Island nations both on and off the field. We share Tonga Rugby Union’s passion for resilience, teamwork and grassroots growth, and we’re proud to fuel their athletes from the breakfast table to game day.”
In Nuku’alofa, Tonga Rugby Union CEO Aisea Aholelei said he was delighted to form this new partnership with Weet-Bix. “As official sponsors of Tonga Rugby, Sanitarium Weet-Bix will support our players’ nutrition and our grassroots programs across the islands,” Aholelei said. “We are proud to welcome Weet-Bix to the Tonga Rugby family.”
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Applauds Adventists’ Positive Impact in the Territory
U.S. Virgin Islands governor Albert Bryan, Jr., speaking at the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Croix, congratulated Seventh-day Adventists for their efforts and commended church leaders and members for making a positive difference in society. His remarks came during the opening ceremony of the North Caribbean Conference’s (NCC) fifteenth session on August 20, where delegates gathered to review mission progress and to set priorities for the next four years.
He extended his gratitude to Adventist members. “Every day you are doing it. Keep spreading love; I thank you. Love is so important in the world today. People need love,” Governor Bryan said. Reflecting on the church’s influence, he added, “You don’t get credit for what you stop doing. You are stopping a lot from happening. When you think of the kinds of people you are turning out from this church, you are doing a lot.”
Kern Tobias, president of the Caribbean Union Conference, which oversees the work of the church in the NCC, welcomed the governor’s remarks, emphasizing that strong partnerships between civic leaders and faith communities are essential to promoting moral values and improving the lives of residents.
MALAYSIA
Young Girls’ Ministry Kick-Start Program Cements Its Regional Impact
The Women’s Ministries Department of the Peninsular Malaysia Mission (PMM) recently concluded the young girls’ ministry kick-start program with its final session at the Petaling Jaya Chinese church.
The three-part series, based on the General Conference’s My Sister, My Friend curriculum, brought together 24 girls and 10 Women’s Ministries leaders and parents from across the Klang Valley for interactive discussions on identity in Christ, emotional growth, and self-esteem. Participants were also encouraged to practice daily affirmations rooted in biblical truth. Earlier sessions were held in March at the Penang Adventist Church and in June at the Johor Bahru English church, with a total of 55 young girls participating.
Women’s Ministries’ broader mission includes the program, which equips young women to serve their churches and engage in outreach.
In June a parallel initiative, Daughters of Grace: A Mother-Daughter Journey in Christ, was organized by the Adventist Church in Sabah. Under the theme “Rooted in Faith, Growing in Love,” the program brought together 155 participants for activities and messages. Highlights included scripture reflections, art therapy, and interactive bonding activities designed to strengthen faith and family ties.
PARAGUAY
Families Raise Thousands for School and Indigenous Community in Paraguay
Members of the Brazil Adventist University São Paulo (UNASP) Church in Engenheiro Coelho, São Paulo, Brazil, participated in a mission project to Paraguay in early August. More than 80 volunteers, including 30 children, assisted hundreds of socially vulnerable residents. The bus trip to the indigenous community and the East Paraguay Adventist Academy, where the group served, took about 15 hours.
A group of Adventist physicians assisted the school staff, their families, and 90 people of the indigenous community, organizers reported. “In total, 150 people received health care. Some were diagnosed with chronic diseases, were medicated, and continue to be treated. The health team also carried out blood pressure measurements, blood glucose tests, and other relevant exams,” they shared.
Volunteers raised more than 45,000 Brazilian reals (more than US$8,300) to support the initiatives there. The funds raised were applied to house renovations and a classroom, purchase of mattresses for the school, and shoes for the indigenous community.
“The members of the UNASP Church were fully involved in mission,” one of the organizers said. “When informed about the needs, they promptly sent donations and financial resources, so we managed to exceed our goals.”
GERMANY
Hope Camp Welcomes 640 Participants From Across the Country
From August 5 to 10, 640 people, including 200 children, gathered at the Hope Camp, held in Friedensau, Germany, an initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany and Hope Media. The event offered a rich and varied program catering to all age groups, organizers said.
The central theme revolved around the concept of voice—exploring foreign voices, one’s own voice, and the voice of God. “The challenge is to discern the voice of God amid this noise and to find one’s own voice,” organizers explained.
The event included multiple activities for children of various ages and for adults, such as alpaca walks, horseback riding, creative workshops, sports, and cooking classes. It also featured workshops designed to explore the Bible and delve into faith and life topics, including Christian ethics, prayer, biblical stories, personal resilience, family love, parenting, and health. The Hope Café, set up in open-air tent pavilions during the evenings, became a popular gathering spot, offering a variety of culinary delights.
“Hope Camp is a grand family reunion,” said Alexander Kampmann, Hope Camp leader. “Here you can meet many people and, in doing so, expand your own biological family.”
