An evangelistic series presented in Melbourne, Australia, by staff members and students from the Avondale University Seminary has helped 31 people solidify commitment to Jesus Christ through baptism.
The seminarians partnered with seven local Seventh-day Adventist churches to present ReThink Life on June 16–24, 2023, reaching second- and third-generation Samoans in Australia and their friends.
Dr. Erika Puni and Pastor Neil Thompson, ministry practicum directors, each led a team of five students, one based in St Albans in the west and the other in Campbellfield in the north. The students, enrolled in a unit called “Discipleship and Evangelism,” presented half the meetings, with Dr. Puni and Pastor Thompson presenting the rest.
Lusi Sione spoke on the first Sabbath of the series, employing Daniel 2 as the basis of his presentation. According to the Bachelor of Ministry and Theology student, public evangelism still has its place because it leads people to make a commitment. “If something I said encouraged a decision for baptism, I praise God, because it’s the moving of His Spirit that brings transformation.”
A banquet on Thursday appealed to 180 people attending to learn about relationship enrichment. Then both sites gathered venue for the final meetings: a Sabbath celebration that included the baptism. Some of the 31 who got baptized were church-attending young adults; others had not attended since their youth; some were of other faiths or no faith. “All wanted to change the story of their lives and to walk with Jesus,” said Pastor Thompson.
Pastor Graeme Christian, president of the Victorian Conference, attended the baptism and praised Avondale for supporting local church mission in the conference. Dr. Puni praised ministers Tauae Poasa and Apelu Tanuvasa, who, with their church members, organized the series and led the pre-campaign work.
According to Pastor Thompson, the series changed perceptions about public evangelism and the ability of students to present it. “At the beginning of the year, the church members didn’t want to try public evangelism and didn’t want the students to speak. At the end of the series, they didn’t want the meetings to stop. They loved every student’s presentation.”
The original version of this story was posted on the South Pacific Division website, Adventist Record.