At the conclusion of the 6th Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) Session, leaders urged delegates to turn their attention to TPUM for Christ, a major evangelistic initiative set to mobilise members across the Pacific.
Scheduled for July and August 2026, TPUM for Christ will involve more than 1800 sites across the Pacific. TPUM president Pastor Charlie Jimmy said preparations are already in motion.
“After this session, when the newly appointed leaders settle into office, it will become a priority,” he said. “We are using the farming cycle of discipleship—cultivation, harvest and multiplication—as our roadmap.”
South Pacific Division president Pastor Glenn Townend explained that TPUM for Christ is part of the wider SPD for Christ strategy, set to launch at Watson Park in Brisbane from April 28 to May 3, 2026.
“With TPUM for Christ, we will have preachers from Papua New Guinea, from Australia and from the New Zealand Pacific come to the various countries of TPUM and preach, just like we did in Papua New Guinea in 2024,” said Pastor Townend. “In that way we see how God is working in the different countries and understand the cross-cultural ministry, but also learn the enthusiasm and the joy of working together and seeing what the Holy Spirit does.”
SPD vice-president Pastor Maveni Kaufononga, who led the TPUM for the past 15 years, said it was fitting for the Union to host the first of the Division-wide evangelistic initiatives. “Even though TPUM for Christ is next year, each mission is already running Harvest programs this year,” he explained. “We are following the farming cycle and if you follow the farming cycle, there must be harvest every year.”
Institutions are also preparing to take part. Fulton Adventist University College has identified 10 sites—six in the Nadi area, three in Fiji’s interior and one in Tonga.
“All our theology department will be involved, including me and the pastoral team,” said vice-chancellor Dr Ronald Stone. “We have already started talking with the pastoral team to start preparing the ground for them. So next year we’ll all be going out during the month of July with our students as part of their practicum and also to fulfill the TPUM for Christ strategic plan.”
Atoifi Adventist Hospital in Solomon Islands will also be one of the sites. “The influence of our staff and students will really boost preparation for Solomons for Christ,” said CEO William Baefua.
Pastor Jimmy emphasised that the true measure of success will go beyond numbers. “More than results in baptisms, I want to see total member involvement,” he said. “Evangelism is not something initiated from the top level of the Church—it is a local church-owned program. If more members embrace it and run with it, that would be a great outcome for TPUM for Christ.”
