The opening of the Adventist Heritage and Archives Centre at Fulton Adventist University has marked a significant milestone in preserving the Adventist story in the Pacific.
Officially opened on April 26 by South Pacific Division (SPD) president Pastor Glenn Townend, the centre is located beneath the Fulton Chapel and represents the first substantive outcome of the Pacific Adventist Identity Records (PAIR) project initiated by the Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM).
In his remarks, Pastor Townend affirmed the importance of intentionally preserving the Church’s history and legacy, noting that safeguarding records and stories is essential to strengthening identity and mission for future generations.
TPUM president Pastor Charlie Jimmy highlighted the strategic significance of the initiative, describing the new centre as “not just a records system, but a discipleship tool—one that strengthens identity, connects generations and ensures that the faith journey of our people is not lost, but multiplied”.
Speaking at the opening, SPD Pacific human resources manager Jane Gibson‑Opetaia reflected on Psalm 145:4: “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts”, capturing the heart of the initiative initiated by the TPUM secretariat in 2024 through a collaboration with missions, institutions and the SPD Adventist Heritage Centre.
She acknowledged the leadership of SPD Adventist Heritage Centre director David Jones, whose collaboration with Fulton University dean of research and innovation, Professor Elisha Marfo, helped bring the project to fruition. Through their shared commitment, union and mission representatives were welcomed and supported as partners in telling the story of the Adventist Church’s gospel mission across the Pacific.
The opening program reflected a spirit of intergenerational worship and witness, featuring items from the student cohort at Fulton University through the brass band and group Resounding Faith, highlighting the role of young people in carrying the Church’s story forward.
Chairman of the SPD Adventist Heritage Committee, David Potter, expressed appreciation during his prayer for the dedication of all involved, drawing on the account in Joshua 4 where 12 stones were set up as a memorial for future generations. He noted that, in a similar way, the Adventist Heritage and Archives Centre stands as a testimony—so that when future generations ask about the journey of faith across the Pacific, the story can be faithfully told.
Vice‑chancellor of Fulton University, Professor Ronald Stone, said the university was committed to creating a space where the stories of mission across the Pacific could be displayed and shared.
The PAIR project provides meaningful work‑line opportunities for students, enabling them to assist with digitising records while gaining a deeper appreciation of the Church’s heritage. It also establishes a strong foundation for future heritage centres, satellite exhibitions and collaborative research across the Pacific, as identified by TPUM missions and institutions.
The Adventist Heritage and Archives Centre marks the first step toward the formation of a full Heritage Visitors’ Centre, to be incorporated into the Fulton Auditorium currently under construction adjacent to the chapel.
