A special South Pacific-wide Sabbath of Prayer has been called for July 4 as the Seventh-day Adventist Church prepares for a major evangelistic push across the Trans Pacific region later this year.
The call was made by the four South Pacific Union presidents and South Pacific Division (SPD) officers during the SPD Administrators’ Council at Watson Park, Brisbane, following the launch of the South Pacific for Christ initiative.
The South Pacific Sabbath of Prayer will take place one day before the Trans Pacific for Christ harvest programs officially begin in the Solomon Islands on July 5.
Part of the South Pacific for Christ strategy is for the entire Division to support one union each year in its disciple-making focus. The sequence begins with Trans Pacific for Christ in 2026, followed by New Zealand Pacific in 2027, Australia in 2028, Papua New Guinea in 2029 and Southern Asia-Pacific in 2030.
More than 500 volunteers from across the South Pacific are expected to travel to the 11 nations of the Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) to support harvest programs during July and August.
Pastor Danny Philip, president of the Papua New Guinea Union Mission, spoke on behalf of the union presidents and reflected on the role prayer played in the success of PNG for Christ in 2024.
“The PNG for Christ program was successful in 2024 because of the years of fasting and prayer from the local people and the prayer support from all over the world but especially the South Pacific Division,” he said. “Prayer makes a difference.”
TPUM president Pastor Charlie Jimmy said the timing of the prayer initiative was significant.
“The timing for the special Sabbath of prayer is so important; it is right before the actual public preaching harvest programs in the first country to start the programs—Solomon Islands,” he said.
“This day of prayer will affirm and bless all the community service, health support and small group work in the lead up to the harvest. We realise all our work is empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
SPD president Pastor Glenn Townend said Psalm 2:8 had become a key focus text for the year.
“Psalm 2:8 is the verse that we have committed to praying this year for the Trans Pacific,” he said.
“I am praying every day for the 11 nations—Solomon Islands, Nauru, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati, American Samoa, Samoa, Tokelau, Niue, Tonga and Fiji—that they become the inheritance of King Jesus as the text promises.”
Resources for the July 4 South Pacific Sabbath of Prayer will be made available through the South Pacific for Christ website, including world mission stories and video messages from General Conference president Erton Köhler and Pastor Glenn Townend focusing on mission and prayer.
