Creators from across the South Pacific were among the influencers, designers, social media managers and communication leaders who participated in the inaugural Creator Summit from July 20 to 23 at the General Conference office in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they helped shape the global OneVoice27 initiative.
Representing all 13 world divisions and the General Conference’s attached mission fields, participants collaborated, shared ideas and explored new ways to reach people for Christ through today’s digital platforms.
General Conference president Pastor Erton Köhler said the Summit was held at the Church’s world headquarters to affirm that digital creators are valued partners in the Church’s global mission.
“You belong here,” Pastor Köhler told participants. “Your experience, your creativity and your passion are needed as we continue finding new ways to share the everlasting gospel.”
Throughout the Summit, speakers encouraged attendees to see themselves not simply as content creators but as digital missionaries called to make disciples in an increasingly connected world.
Australian creator Jonathon Ginn, from Reedy Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church on Queensland’s Gold Coast, shared how authentic storytelling has enabled his violin performances to reach audiences of up to 17 million people online.
“The secular world is longing for a people who live as if creation is sacred, rest is possible, bodies matter, community is healing and Jesus is coming again,” he said.
Among the keynote speakers, Centre for Urban Mission director Manuel Arteaga challenged attendees to rethink traditional approaches to evangelism.
“The world is changing faster than our methods,” he said. “Our methods remain rural, while the world is becoming increasingly urban.”
He added, “We’re slowly becoming missionaries to yesterday.”
For Rikka Barbosa-Morta, representing the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference, the Summit provided an opportunity to connect with creators from around the world while learning practical ways to engage people in meaningful conversations about faith.
Ms Barbosa-Morta’s online ministry frequently explores topics such as identity, value and self-worth with people in her Auckland community. One of the Summit’s recurring messages was that creators must never measure their worth by followers, views or online engagement.
“Your value doesn’t come from what you do,” Ms Barbosa-Morta reflected. “It comes from the One who made you.”
La’Tanya Wong, a dietitian from Fiji, said the Summit helped her see her passion for creating in a new light. She expressed that the experience left her feeling commissioned to serve as a digital evangelist, using her creativity to share the hope of Jesus online.
General Conference Communication director Alyssa Truman closed one of the sessions by encouraging creators to rely on the Holy Spirit as they use digital platforms to share their faith.
The Summit is part of the global rollout of OneVoice27, an initiative that seeks to unite Seventh-day Adventists in proclaiming Jesus across digital platforms. Participants contributed ideas that will help shape the movement while reflecting the unique needs of their own cultures and mission fields.
