Kiribati Mission

First phase of Kiribati for Christ concludes with 206 baptisms

The Kiribati for Christ campaign will continue local pastors and preachers now conducting programs on other islands through November.

September 26, 2026

Kiribati

Juliana Muniz | Ashley Jankiewicz

The first phase of Kiribati for Christ 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 15–29. Taabua Rokeatau, Kiribati Mission president, said it was the first time Kiribati 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.”

Tewiiti Aata was one of the 139 people baptized in Tarawa. Photo: South Pacific Division

The largest baptism took place in Tarawa, where 139 people were baptized following programs held at multiple sites. Another 24 people were baptized on Kiritimati.

Among those baptized 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,” 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 the Kiribati Mission’s efforts to share the gospel and hoped to continue doing so.

On Abemama, 43 people—mostly students and staff—were baptized following a week of worship at Kauma Adventist High School, the Adventist Church’s only school in Kiribati. The boarding school is attended by 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. Alice Kaisuva, Trans Pacific Union Mission children, women, and family director, 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 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.’”

Rokeatau said the conclusion of the international speaker program was “just the beginning”, with local pastors and preachers now conducting programs on other islands through November.

“We are going to all the islands,” Rokeatau said, including four where the Adventist Church does not yet have an established church or minister.

On those islands, the Kiribati 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.

Baptism candidates, speakers, and church leaders after the baptism ceremony in Betio, Tarawa. Photo: South Pacific Division

The Kiribati Mission is also developing a retention program for newly baptized 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.

David Filo, Solomon Islands Mission president, remained in Kiribati for a week following the campaign to assist with developing and implementing the program. 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.