The first phase of Kiribati for Christ has concluded with 206 baptisms across Tarawa, Abemama and Kiritimati (Christmas Island), a result Kiribati Mission leaders described as unprecedented for the Church in the country.
Eleven international speakers joined local churches for the first phase of the campaign from August 15 to 29. Kiribati Mission president Pastor Taabua Rokeatau said it was the first time the Mission had conducted an initiative of this scale with international guest speakers.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s really something that has inspired our people.”
The largest baptism took place in Tarawa, where 139 people were baptised following programs held at multiple sites. A further 24 were baptised on Kiritimati.
Among those baptised was Tewiiti Aata from Bikenibeu church, who had been actively involved in the campaign, assisting with evening health talks as well as media and livestreaming at the meeting sites.
“I know this is not the end of my journey. It’s the beginning of my journey,” Mr Aata said after his baptism. “I’m very interested in going to tell the gospel all over the world.” He said he was happy to have been part of Kiribati Mission’s efforts to share the gospel and hoped to continue doing the same.
On Abemama, 43 people—mostly students and staff—were baptised following a week of worship at Kauma Adventist High School, the Adventist Church’s only school in Kiribati. The boarding school has more than 260 students from across the country, with school staff estimating around 80 per cent come from other faith backgrounds.
The school hosted Abemama’s only Kiribati for Christ site, adapting the program to the school setting and opening it to the surrounding community. Trans Pacific Union Mission children, women and family director Alice Kaisuva presented two messages each day, condensing the two-week evangelistic program into one week.
“God gave me the strength, wisdom and vigor to be able to preach two sermons a day. And these sermons are not short!” said Mrs Kaisuva. “Some of them would ask, ‘You’re not tired?’ And I said, ‘I don’t feel tired. I just feel the arms of God around me every day as I prepare and as I read and as I pray.’”
Pastor Rokeatau said the conclusion of the international speaker programs was “just the beginning”, with local pastors and preachers now conducting programs on other islands at different times through November.
“We are going to all the islands,” Pastor Rokeatau said, including four where the Adventist Church does not yet have an established church or minister.
On those islands, the Mission plans to begin with music ministry and health initiatives, including 10,000 Toes screenings and follow-up support. Preaching programs will continue in places where the Church is already established. Teams will be supported by MiracleAir, an independent Adventist aviation ministry based on Abemama.
The Mission is also developing a retention program for newly baptised members and others who expressed interest during the campaign, including Bible studies and prophecy seminars led by local church members. Bible study resources are also being translated into Kiribati for the program.
Solomon Islands Mission president Pastor David Filo remained in Kiribati for a week following the campaign to assist with developing and implementing the program. Pastor Rokeatau said the Kiribati Mission hopes to learn from retention strategies used by larger missions across the Trans Pacific Union Mission, particularly Solomon Islands Mission, and adapt them to the local context.
