The 2025 Worship Leaders Summit gathered 251 participants from Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Australia, and the United States at the Sofitel Hotel, Nadi and included representatives from more than 19 different religious backgrounds, including two young Seventh-day Adventists. The annual gathering is organised by Pentecostal churches to bring together worship leaders from various denominations across Fiji and the Pacific.
“We were warmly welcomed and recognised as the first Adventist representatives in the history of the Worship Leaders Summit,” said Michael Qiokata, chaplain at Vatuvonu Adventist College. Mr Qiokata was invited by Alipate Gonerogo, who had attended the previous year’s summit to present information on a social financial program developed to serve businesses in the Pacific. Mr Gonerogo’s General Manager for IT approached Mr Gonerogo with an offer to sponsor two Seventh-day Adventists to attend the summit as attendees.
“For us, this was a tremendous opportunity not only to connect with fellow believers but also to witness and share our faith among worship leaders from different backgrounds,” said Mr Qiokata.
Mr Gonerogo agrees: “We grew up in Seventh-day Adventist families, and the way of worship [at the summit] is totally new for the both of us. [But] we managed to break that barrier and join our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The summit serves as a platform for worship leaders to discuss ways to enhance their ministry and better serve people through worship
“One of the key lessons we took away from this experience is that God’s people are everywhere—in different places and within different denominations,” said Mr Qiokata. “As Adventists, we are called to love and connect with all people while remaining firm in our beliefs and values.
“We thank God for granting us this opportunity to be a light in such a setting, testifying of His truth while embracing the unity of believers in Christ.”
The Adventist Church in the Trans Pacific Union Mission is currently embracing the theme of “I Will Go”, with strategic goals of sharing their faith intentionally in different spheres of influence, including their families, their villages, their workplaces and more. Mr Gonerogo reflected on the opportunity they had been given and shared some personal encouragement.
“Most of the time we are not practicing the word ‘I Will Go’—many times we just use it in our own comfort zone but are not going out. We need to stand up and go out to the world and mingle with people of different beliefs.”
“This experience has reinforced the importance of engaging with others in love, finding common ground in worship, and standing as witnesses for Christ wherever He leads us,” said Mr Qiokata. “We praise God for this privilege and look forward to more opportunities to share His truth.”
