16 April 2009

"Historic" Festival to focus on mission

Wahroonga, New South Wales
Nathan Brown

Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific's Festival of Mission have spoken of their enthusiasm and expectations as preparations continue for this landmark event. Some 1300 church members from across the South Pacific are expected to participate in this five-day program.

"Never in the history of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific has a regional-wide event like this been organised," says Pastor Barry Oliver, president of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific. "The concept of a Festival of Mission arose out of the desire to have a significant regional-wide event at intervals of approximately five years. With the Adventist Church in the South Pacific no longer holding business sessions, there has been a growing conviction that a program such as this is a special opportunity for church members from across the South Pacific to come together."

According to Pastor Oliver, it is natural for such a gathering of church members and leaders to focus on mission. "Mission is the life blood of the Adventist Church," he says. "It has been so since the early days and will continue into the future. It is therefore imperative that we gather together to celebrate what God has done, and be inspired together as we create plans and strategies to work together with the Spirit of God into the future."

One of the visiting speakers for the Festival of Mission is Pastor Jose Rojas, director of Volunteer Ministries for the Adventist Church in North America. He shares the enthusiasm for talking about, sharing and doing the mission of the church.

"When I hear the word ‘mission,' I first think of my family, because it begins there," says Pastor Rojas. "Then I think of my front door because when I open my front door it begins there. Too many people think of mission as something someone else does, more than likely in another country. But never in the Scriptures do you find that to be the case. Mission is you and me filled with the Holy Spirit, sharing Christ we have experienced with other people. That is the passion that we call mission.

"So this event is geared toward provoking people to do this ministry. Enough talk, it is time to act."

And Pastor Rojas is a man of action. In the past four years, he has been involved in evangelistic campaigns that have seen more than 30,000 people baptised. But he is quick to point out that this has not been his doing, but rather that of many people who have chosen to make mission part of their everyday lives.

"The Holy Spirit is moving on the hearts of individuals who are not content to call someone else a missionary," he explains. "They see themselves in a personal journey with Christ in which the truths of the gospel become real to the point that they share them with others-using their own gifts and within the sphere of influence that they have, they're sharing Christ.

"And then they have a reaping series for one week and invite me or one of thousands of other preachers to come in for their reaping series. And thousands are being baptised at a time-not because it's easy to baptise in that country but because people are responding to the gospel through the discipling they are receiving from other people."

According to Pastor Oliver, the South Pacific's Festival of Mission will be focused on this aspect of mission, as well as hearing reports of mission that is happening around the South Pacific and contributing to plans for the future of the mission of the church in the region.

"As well as provide opportunities for worship and Bible study, this will be opportunity to listen to each other and learn from each other as we seek the most appropriate ways to reach out to our communities," he says.

Also among the featured presenters for the Festival of Mission are Dr Hyveth Williams, one of the first women to be a senior pastor of a large Adventist congregation, and Dr Lyell Heise, director of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific's Institute of Worship, who will lead the times of worship at this event.

The Festival of Mission is planned for September 8 to 13 at the Watson Park Convention Centre to the north of Brisbane (Qld). Registration closes of May 31 and church members interested in participating should contact their local conference or mission office.

Download the registration form.

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