The Seventh-day Adventist Church has begun responding to the tragic incident at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, with prayer gatherings and messages of solidarity, as communities across Australia continue to process the shock of the attack.

Authorities are continuing to investigate a shooting that took place during a Hanukkah gathering, which left 16 people dead and others injured, prompting widespread concern across Australia.

Woollahra Seventh-day Adventist Church, the closest Adventist church to Bondi Beach, held a special prayer meeting on December 15, with the invitation extended to the wider community. Local pastor Tim Shelton said the Adventist Church felt it was important to respond pastorally and visibly in the wake of the tragedy.

“Woollahra is the closest Adventist church to Bondi, and some members of our congregation have close ties to the Jewish community,” Shelton said. “We also have church members who live near Bondi Beach, including some who witnessed the aftermath. We felt it was important to uplift our community in prayer. As a rabbi friend of mine recently shared, ‘Light overcomes darkness.’”

Other Adventist churches and pastors have also been engaging with the wider community following the incident, including being in contact with local representatives to explore ways churches can take part in broader expressions of support. 

Church leaders are also responding to the tragedy. South Pacific Division president Glenn Townend said the incident was deeply distressing and called on Australians to respond with compassion and prayer.

“No human being deserves to have experienced the violence the two gunmen inflicted,” said Townend.  “All humans are made in the image of God and created equal. Such unprovoked focused violence is abhorrent. I call all Australians and Seventh-day Adventists to pray for all those who have been tragically impacted by this shooting and to follow Jesus’ golden rule, ‘Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you’ (Matthew 7:12).”  

In an official statement, Australian Union Conference president Brendan Pratt said the Adventist Church was grieving with those affected by the attack, particularly the Jewish community. He also condemned the attack. 

“Acts of terrorism embody darkness and demonstrate the worst of our humanity. At the same time, seeing citizens, our police, and health professionals step up to protect and help one another highlights some of the best values of our community. We thank and commend those who have responded with courage and compassion,” said Pratt.

Pratt also encouraged practical expressions of support, including prayer for victims and emergency services, and donating blood where possible.

Greater Sydney Conference also shared a message of condolence on Facebook, saying they are praying for the victims, their families, first responders, and the wider Sydney community in the aftermath of the attack.

The original article was published on the South Pacific Division news site, Adventist Record.