Communication and media leaders from across the South Pacific Division (SPD) gathered at Adventist Media on March 16–18 to discuss strategy, collaboration and mission.
The SPD Media and Communication Advisory brought together representatives from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, French Polynesia, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia, and was held at the start of the quinquennium to strengthen networks and align media efforts across the region.
The advisory focused on major upcoming initiatives, including South Pacific for Christ and OneVoice27, and featured workshops on crisis communication and reputation management, digital evangelism and storytelling, technology and artificial intelligence in ministry, Adventist identity and branding, and the role of literature in mission.
Participants were introduced to new developments and tools designed to support their work in media ministry, with presentations from the Adventist Media team and guest presenters, including Hope Channel International vice president Pastor Robbie Berghan, who shared insights into Hope Channel’s strategic direction and future opportunities.
Concluding the advisory, Adventist Media CEO Dr Brad Kemp challenged attendees to recognise the significance of their role in the Church’s mission.
“I think it’s an exciting time—a time full of possibilities and opportunities,” he said. “God has brought us to this point at this time. What are we going to do with the stewardship we’ve been given of media?”
Dr Kemp emphasised the importance of collaboration across the region.
“Across this team we have a unique and complementary set of skills. If we can bring that together, we can make a significant difference. That’s what I’m hoping for—a team of people working together to achieve the mission God has given us.”
Media and communication associate director for the Solomon Islands Mission, Travis Ronnie, said the advisory was a valuable experience.
“I left the advisory feeling inspired and more affirmed in the mission of Adventist media,” he said. “It reminded me that our work is about sharing hope, wholeness and leading people to have an experience with Christ.
“I also valued the strong sense of collaboration with other leaders across the South Pacific and gained practical insights into storytelling, strategy and digital tools to strengthen our impact.”
Pastor Eric Toleafoa, president of the Cook Islands Mission, said he appreciated gaining a deeper understanding of the role of media.
“Everything fits into what we are doing with local churches,” he said. “Media is not going off on our own; we’re doing this together—it’s all part of the big picture.”
Verly Faaruia, director of the Adventist Media Centre in French Polynesia, said one of the key highlights was the clear positioning of media as a primary driver of mission, rather than as a supporting tool.
“The emphasis on a digital-first approach, combined with intentional storytelling that speaks to spiritually curious audiences, really resonated,” she said.
“One of my main takeaways was the importance of thinking in terms of an integrated media ecosystem where content, platforms and local church engagement are intentionally connected. It reinforced the idea that media is not just about producing content, but about creating meaningful pathways for connection, engagement and transformation.”
According to Ms Faaruia, the advisory also highlighted how valuable it is for French Polynesia media to be connected to the wider Hope Channel ecosystem.
“Not only for content distribution, but also for access to tools, workflows and collaborative opportunities that can significantly strengthen both efficiency and mission impact,” she said.
“I also found myself reflecting on how we could further strengthen regional collaboration. It seems that having a regular touchpoint—perhaps through quarterly online gatherings, complemented by a biennial in-person event—could be a meaningful way to share progress, align on objectives, address common challenges and foster a stronger regional dynamic.
“This kind of rhythm could also support greater consistency and clarity in how we communicate across the region and help strengthen the visibility and understanding of the Adventist message.”
Dr Steve Stephenson, manager of Spiritual Care Services at Adventist HealthCare Limited, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be included in “such an important and forward-thinking conversation”.
“I found the advisory to be deeply insightful and enriching, particularly in how it shaped my thinking about communication, storytelling and mission,” he said. “The discussions were of great value to me personally and have also provided meaningful insight that I can apply within my ministry at AHCL.”
The advisory concluded with a season of prayer, as participants gathered in small groups to seek God’s guidance for the road ahead—particularly for the success of South Pacific for Christ and OneVoice27.
