The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vanuatu recorded more than 2,000 baptisms nationwide in 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s largest Christian denominations.

The baptisms brought total Adventist Church membership in the country to 31,245, according to figures reported during the year.

According to the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the second-largest Christian denomination in the country, after the Presbyterian Church. With a national population of about 335,000, close to one in 10 people in Vanuatu identify as Seventh-day Adventist.

The baptism figures were recorded across all provinces during 2025 and were formally presented as part of the Mission secretary’s report at the Vanuatu Mission constituency session held from December 16 to 20.

Outgoing Mission Secretary Max Senembe said the results reflected the collective involvement of pastors, elders, and church members at the local level.

“This growth shows that people are responding to God’s call and that our members are actively sharing their faith in villages, towns, and islands across Vanuatu,” Senembe said.

He noted that small group ministries, health outreach programs, and public evangelism campaigns contributed to the baptismal results recorded during the year.

Youth and lay members also played a significant role in outreach efforts. Youth-led evangelism initiatives, music ministry, and digital outreach were among the approaches used to engage communities, alongside radio programs and local visits aimed at sharing Bible-based messages.

The Adventist Church in Vanuatu also continues to operate schools, health initiatives, and community services across the country, which leaders say support ongoing engagement with local communities.

In 2026, church leaders said the focus will include strengthening discipleship programs, training local leaders, and supporting new members, with particular attention given to rural areas and harder-to-reach islands. The Church in Vanuatu is also preparing to take part in Trans-Pacific Union Mission for Christ, a major evangelistic initiative set to mobilize members across the Trans Pacific Union Mission from July 5 to August 30. In Vanuatu, the campaign is planned for August 9 to 22, alongside local preparation and outreach activities leading up to the event.

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