Kiribati for Christ is currently underway across the country’s far-flung islands, with Church members actively involved in the campaign. There are eleven sites across the Tarawa Atoll and Abemama and Kiritimati Islands, with speakers from Australia, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
The campaign opened with strong interest from community members. While the official opening of Kiribati for Christ took place on August 15, the Church in Kiribati prepared a two-day program, the Two Days of Fire, to introduce the community to who Seventh-day Adventists are.
“There is a translation of Seventh-day Adventists in Kiribati, Kaitibong, which just means ‘seventh-day’”, said Kiribati Mission president Pastor Taabua Rokeatau. “I don’t think it really explains why we are Seventh-day Adventists.”
The Two Days of Fire ran right before the official Kiribati for Christ meetings began. Day one discussed why the Church worships on the seventh day and day two discussed the Advent.
“From those two days people wanted to hear more about who Seventh-day Adventists are,” said Pastor Rokeatau. “Then we had the opportunity to visit people in their homes and invite them to join the main Kiribati for Christ program.”
The official opening of Kiribati for Christ also featured strong governmental support with the attendance of the Kiribati president Taneti Maamau and two Ministers. According to Pastor Rokeatau, the Kiribati government recognises that the Church plays a major role in helping the nation.
“We’re raising awareness regarding health issues through 10,000 Toes as well as being very family-focused, and we bring peace to people in the face of what is happening in the world right now,” Pastor Rokeatau said. “That’s why the president is so supportive of these kinds of programs.”
The theme for Kiribati for Christ is “I will go to the deeper waters”. Pastor Rokeatau explained how the people of Kiribati were very passionate about this metaphor because they are on an island. “Deeper water means to go beyond the shallow water and really see what’s happening everywhere and see how the Church can assist the nation and bring people to Jesus.”
There have been several initiatives to meet the needs of community, such as beach clean-ups and health screenings, continuing into the second week.
“10,000 Toes is a major part of the program,” said Pastor Rokeatau. “People come to the health screenings and then because they are invited, come to the evening programs.”
