Fifty chaplains, pastors and teachers from around the Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) were inspired by a chaplaincy training conference in Port Vila (Vanuatu) from August 19-30.
“Be transformed” was the theme of the conference, which was designed to encourage and empower the participants in their important role of nurturing the spiritual wellbeing of students, teachers and parents.
Participants came from American Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Presenters included South Pacific Division education director Dr David McClintock, North NSW chaplaincy coordinator Pastor Alvin Schick, South Queensland Conference ministerial association secretary (education) Dr Mel Lemke, and TPUM education director Dr Bev Norman.
The conference provided opportunities for group hands-on activities, sharing of ideas and experiences through presentations and forums, personal reflections and prayer sessions.
The attendees received certificates of completion at the end of the conference. There are plans to run the program in Solomon Islands and Fiji.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the wealth of experience shared by our presenters,” said one of the participants. “It wasn’t just theoretical but supported with real life experiences and examples. Secondly, the topics discussed really addressed the struggles that most chaplains go through.”
