The 33rd Delegation Session 2013 of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement Australasian Union Conference at Elim Heights in New South Wales, Australia has brought about a very significant historical event at the height of its deliberation, giving birth to its newly established unit, the South Pacific Union Mission of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement. The SPUM will be setting up its temporary headquarters in Vanuatu.
The first pioneering delegates as pictured above (Left to Right):
Back Row: Wells Nimbwen (VAN); Seti Hunt (Observer (SAM)); Navitalai Rokotuitai (FJ); Tom Jack Deison Usamoli (VAN); Andrew Pakoasongi (VAN);
Middle Row: Puari Tuariihionoa (FrP); Lerry Van Bastolaer (FrP); Fernandez Cruz Tungale (SI); Clement Garnet Kuki (SI); Joseph Tome (SI); Pasene Wily (SAM); Terry Kui Gono (PNG); Tevita Rokobaro (FJ); Manila Tutuila (SAM); Tevita Batiwale (FJ); Andy Yaimas (PNG); Alain Romea (NC);
Seated: Rolly Dumaguit (Pacific Region Secretary); John Dumambi (PNG); Davi Paes Silva (GC President); Benjamin Thiel (SPUM President); Tony William (VAN); Brian Jaksic (Retired Pacific Regional Secretary)
The Origin of South Pacific Union Mission of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement
The new Union is made up of several mission fields in the various island nations and territories of the South Pacific, namely, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia and other islands.
Historically in yester-years the Pacific Island Field Missions were under the administration of the Australasian Union Conference and have in so many ways been blessed with spiritual guidance and financial assistance both from the AUC as well as the General Conference. This started way back in 1998 when the first two island field missions in the likes of Fiji and Papua New Guinea were being adopted under the guidance of the AUC. Then in 2002 the Church was registered in Vanuatu, and in Samoa in 2002, and in 2010 the Church was also being registered in Solomons. Although the French island territories in the Pacific were directly under the General Conference, the SDARM Church in French Polynesia and New Caledonia were registered 1983 and 1984 respectively. However, they have now been included into the fold as members of the newly formed union in the Pacific. From those early days of our establishments until today we find ourselves being weaned out of our cradle and now being given the opportunity to take a giant leap into the future with the pastoral guidance of the Australasian Union Conference. In the mission work accomplished throughout the South Pacific, we recognize the realisationof the prophecy spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands ofthe sea” (Isaiah 11:11).
The Spirit of Prophecy also enlightens us on this prophecy in saying, “So widely separated from other continents by the broad waters of the Pacific……Numerous islands cluster about it (Australia), and dot the Pacific. In many of these islands missionary work has been established through the efforts of various denominations, and English-speaking people are found even in the islands where the majority of the inhabitants are little better than heathen. To these islands of the sea many publications have been carried, and these silent messengers of the truth are doing the work to which they were appointed. The Lord has stirred the hearts of his people to make the efforts that have been made, that the inhabitants of these far-away islands may know the truth, and understand the times in which we are living.”---{HM, September 1, 1892 par. 1}
Inaugural Pioneer Officers of the South Pacific Union Mission
President - Br. Benjamin THIEL(AUC)
Vice Presidents - Br. John DUMAMBI(PNG)
Secretary - Br. Lerry VAN BASTOLAER (Fr Polynesia)
Treasurer - Br. Tevita BATIWALE(Fiji)
Missionary Leader - Br. Thomas NGUNTS(PNG)
Sabbath School Leader - Br. Terry KUI (PNG)
Youth Leader - Br. Pasene WILY(Samoa)
Health/Welfare Leader - Br. Andrew PAKOASONGI(Vanuatu)
Literature Leader - Br. Tevita K. ROKOBARO(Fiji)
Education Leader - Br. Andy YAIMAS(PNG)
Auditor - Br. Br. Terry KUI(PNG)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
President - Br. Benjamin THIEL(AUC)
Vice President - Br. John DUMAMBI(PNG),
Secretary - Br. Lerry VAN BASTOLAER(Fr. Polynesia)
Treasurer - Br. Tevita BATIWALE(Fiji)
News Letter Coordinator - Br. Tevita K. ROKOBARO(Fiji)
Union Delegates to the General Conference - Br. Benjamin THIEL (AUC)
Br. John DUMAMBI(PNG)
1st Reserve Union Delegate to the G.C. - Br. Tevita BATIWALE (Fiji)
The South Pacific Union Mission will have its Delegation Session every three (3) years as from the date of its establishment (23rd December 2013), and the officers thereof will have a term of three (3) years in office and will be due for re-election or replacement to their respective positions during the deliberation of each South Pacific Union Delegation Session.
In its first ever session the South Pacific Union Mission has taken the initiative in setting its calendar of events to include the following important events:
At this point we wish to thank God for His guidance and His divine grace that we are able to be enlightened with the truth that His Church has been commissioned to preach to the whole world, and we also wish to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation of the so many years of service the Australasian Union Conference has given to the South Pacific Islands at large. We therefore pray that our most gracious loving Father in heaven will continue to bless the AUC and its hard working officers in all their future endeavors, and may they continue to be a source of blessings to the needy souls in the vast maritime region of the Pacific Ocean.
As Christians in the body of Christ we are being called by Christ, our Master, who is the head of the Church, to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Amen. (Mathew 28:19, 20).
The first pioneering delegates as pictured above (Left to Right):
Back Row: Wells Nimbwen (VAN); Seti Hunt (Observer (SAM)); Navitalai Rokotuitai (FJ); Tom Jack Deison Usamoli (VAN); Andrew Pakoasongi (VAN);
Middle Row: Puari Tuariihionoa (FrP); Lerry Van Bastolaer (FrP); Fernandez Cruz Tungale (SI); Clement Garnet Kuki (SI); Joseph Tome (SI); Pasene Wily (SAM); Terry Kui Gono (PNG); Tevita Rokobaro (FJ); Manila Tutuila (SAM); Tevita Batiwale (FJ); Andy Yaimas (PNG); Alain Romea (NC);
Seated: Rolly Dumaguit (Pacific Region Secretary); John Dumambi (PNG); Davi Paes Silva (GC President); Benjamin Thiel (SPUM President); Tony William (VAN); Brian Jaksic (Retired Pacific Regional Secretary)
The Origin of South Pacific Union Mission of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement
The new Union is made up of several mission fields in the various island nations and territories of the South Pacific, namely, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia and other islands.
Historically in yester-years the Pacific Island Field Missions were under the administration of the Australasian Union Conference and have in so many ways been blessed with spiritual guidance and financial assistance both from the AUC as well as the General Conference. This started way back in 1998 when the first two island field missions in the likes of Fiji and Papua New Guinea were being adopted under the guidance of the AUC. Then in 2002 the Church was registered in Vanuatu, and in Samoa in 2002, and in 2010 the Church was also being registered in Solomons. Although the French island territories in the Pacific were directly under the General Conference, the SDARM Church in French Polynesia and New Caledonia were registered 1983 and 1984 respectively. However, they have now been included into the fold as members of the newly formed union in the Pacific. From those early days of our establishments until today we find ourselves being weaned out of our cradle and now being given the opportunity to take a giant leap into the future with the pastoral guidance of the Australasian Union Conference. In the mission work accomplished throughout the South Pacific, we recognize the realisationof the prophecy spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands ofthe sea” (Isaiah 11:11).
The Spirit of Prophecy also enlightens us on this prophecy in saying, “So widely separated from other continents by the broad waters of the Pacific……Numerous islands cluster about it (Australia), and dot the Pacific. In many of these islands missionary work has been established through the efforts of various denominations, and English-speaking people are found even in the islands where the majority of the inhabitants are little better than heathen. To these islands of the sea many publications have been carried, and these silent messengers of the truth are doing the work to which they were appointed. The Lord has stirred the hearts of his people to make the efforts that have been made, that the inhabitants of these far-away islands may know the truth, and understand the times in which we are living.”---{HM, September 1, 1892 par. 1}
Inaugural Pioneer Officers of the South Pacific Union Mission
President - Br. Benjamin THIEL(AUC)
Vice Presidents - Br. John DUMAMBI(PNG)
Secretary - Br. Lerry VAN BASTOLAER (Fr Polynesia)
Treasurer - Br. Tevita BATIWALE(Fiji)
Missionary Leader - Br. Thomas NGUNTS(PNG)
Sabbath School Leader - Br. Terry KUI (PNG)
Youth Leader - Br. Pasene WILY(Samoa)
Health/Welfare Leader - Br. Andrew PAKOASONGI(Vanuatu)
Literature Leader - Br. Tevita K. ROKOBARO(Fiji)
Education Leader - Br. Andy YAIMAS(PNG)
Auditor - Br. Br. Terry KUI(PNG)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
President - Br. Benjamin THIEL(AUC)
Vice President - Br. John DUMAMBI(PNG),
Secretary - Br. Lerry VAN BASTOLAER(Fr. Polynesia)
Treasurer - Br. Tevita BATIWALE(Fiji)
News Letter Coordinator - Br. Tevita K. ROKOBARO(Fiji)
Union Delegates to the General Conference - Br. Benjamin THIEL (AUC)
Br. John DUMAMBI(PNG)
1st Reserve Union Delegate to the G.C. - Br. Tevita BATIWALE (Fiji)
The South Pacific Union Mission will have its Delegation Session every three (3) years as from the date of its establishment (23rd December 2013), and the officers thereof will have a term of three (3) years in office and will be due for re-election or replacement to their respective positions during the deliberation of each South Pacific Union Delegation Session.
In its first ever session the South Pacific Union Mission has taken the initiative in setting its calendar of events to include the following important events:
- Youth Congress/Workers’ Seminar/Council Meeting - December 2015, Fiji
- Delegation Session/Spiritual Meetings - December 2016, Vanuatu
At this point we wish to thank God for His guidance and His divine grace that we are able to be enlightened with the truth that His Church has been commissioned to preach to the whole world, and we also wish to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation of the so many years of service the Australasian Union Conference has given to the South Pacific Islands at large. We therefore pray that our most gracious loving Father in heaven will continue to bless the AUC and its hard working officers in all their future endeavors, and may they continue to be a source of blessings to the needy souls in the vast maritime region of the Pacific Ocean.
As Christians in the body of Christ we are being called by Christ, our Master, who is the head of the Church, to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Amen. (Mathew 28:19, 20).