In light of current legislation threatening religious freedoms in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, leaders from the South Pacific Division (SPD) are inviting church members to attend a Religious Freedom Prayer Gathering on Friday, November 12, from 7pm to 8:30pm (AEDT).
SPD president Pastor Glenn Townend, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director Dr Nick Kross, Australian Union Conference (AUC) president Pastor Terry Johnson, AUC secretary and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty coordinator Pastor Michael Worker, and Trans Pacific Union Mission president Pastor Maveni Kaufononga will be attending the event, which will have a special focus on Adventist identity, equal opportunity, Pacific Adventist education and the value of life.
“Coming together to seek God’s wisdom and guidance in prayer is our privilege,” said Dr Kross. “Like many believers before us, who have had to rely upon God for guidance, we too can come together and combine our prayers asking God for His direction and protection as a church family.”
Specifically, Adventist education in both Australia and the Pacific is experiencing challenges, with proposed and new legislation in some territories making it increasingly difficult for schools to preference the employment of Adventist teachers or staff.
“For our schools to preserve our special character our teachers and staff need to be at the front line presenting the saving grace of Jesus, the soon return of Jesus and the value of our Adventist message to the world,” Dr Kross continued. “Our schools are one of the most precious training opportunities for more than 70,000 students across the Pacific and we need to protect our education system.”
“We desperately need to have the freedom to put our own Adventist teachers in our own schools to foster what we believe is the best education—Christian education for the children of our countries. God will hear our united prayers,” said Pastor Kaufononga.
“We need corporate prayer as a Church for God’s guidance as we negotiate these present times,” agreed Dr Kross.
To register for the prayer event, please visit https://forms.office.com/r/8vtNGZUgsY
