The new Division Executive Committee met for the first time officially on Friday morning (July 2) and their first important task was to nominate the new secretary and CFO for the South Pacific Division (SPD).
Due to pandemic restrictions, the meeting was held via video conference. The significance of the meeting was evident by the attendance of world Church president Pastor Ted Wilson and other General Conference leaders.
After prayerful discussion, the committee nominated Pastor Mike Sikuri as the SPD secretary and Francois Keet as the SPD CFO.
Pastor Sikuri is currently the president of the South New Zealand Conference and has been in ministry for 23 years. He has worked as a pastor, Adventist Media manager (Fiji Mission), Trans Pacific Union Mission departmental director and South NZ ministerial secretary. He is married to Sara and they have four adult children, all living and studying in NZ. Pastor Sikuri will be based in Christchurch.
“I feel deeply humbled to be approached to serve in this capacity,” Pastor Sikuri said. “What is clear to me is that the Lord is leading and I have to trust Him.
“My family and I have come to love the people and the work within the South New Zealand Conference and I feel sad to be leaving. This Conference has given me opportunities for growth and development for which I’ll forever be grateful. While feeling overwhelmed at present, I look forward to serving our South Pacific family in whatever way God continues to lead.”
Mr Keet has served the SPD as associate CFO for the past four and-a-half years. Prior to that he was CFO at the Australian Union Conference for a year and-a-half, CFO for the Trans Pacific Union Mission for five years and vice president of finance at Avondale University for five years. He is married to Monique and they have four children.
“I am truly humbled by this appointment,” Mr Keet said. “It was absolutely an honour to work alongside [outgoing CFO] Rodney Brady for the last four and-a-half years, and no doubt he will continue to be my mentor and friend.”
Mr Brady, who has served as CFO for 21 years, will relinquish the role at the end of July to work part-time on special projects. Former Division secretary Pastor Lionel Smith resigned in September 2020 for personal reasons.
SPD president Pastor Glenn Townend said he is delighted by the appointments. “Francois is a real innovator, has a heart for people and a focus on mission,” he said. “And Pastor Mike has great people skills, is insightful and is a strategic leader.
“Please join me in praying for these new appointments as they orient themselves in their new roles and as we work together to expand a disciple-making movement in the South Pacific.”
As these roles are General Conference appointments, the nominations of Pastor Sikuri and Mr Keet will now be presented to the General Conference Executive on July 22 for approval.
