Adventists in the South Pacific joined the Enditnow campaign to oppose violence. The campaign, running from August 23 to 31, 2024, aims to raise awareness and advocate for an end to violence worldwide.
On August 29, in Fiji, Pathfinders, Adventurers, Fiji Mission, and Trans-Pacific Union Mission staff marched with the Fiji Police band for a change. They expressed their commitment to protecting the vulnerable and creating a world where love, respect, and safety prevail.
An online summit in Australia also focused on understanding trauma and how the Adventist Church can respond. The August 23 summit featured Dr. Torben Bergland, Adventist General Conference Health Ministries associate director. His keynote presentation was followed by a panel of experts who discussed the issues and answered questions from the online audience. The event also included a helpline for those who wanted to speak to a counselor during the summit.
A rally and barbecue were also held for the first time at Mountain View Adventist College in Sydney on August 24, which was enditnow Sabbath. The event was led by Sylvia Mendez, Australian Union Conference Women’s and Family Ministries director.
“End it now is not just some words,” Mendez said in a video clip posted on social media.
“It’s actually an important movement, and it’s important because we, as Adventists, are saying no to violence. No to family violence. No to abuse. The only way we’re going to make a change is if we actually come together and talk about this. If we actually educate our churches on the importance of ending family violence.”
Daron Pratt, Greater Sydney Conference Children’s Ministries director, echoed her sentiment.
“It’s been a conference-wide initiative,” Pratt said in the video. “We’ve had our general secretary, ministerial, family, children and women, and men’s ministries all here together saying that we need to end it now. Our country continues to be impacted by violence in all its forms, and we as a Church are here to say it’s time to draw a line in the sand and end it now,” he said.
Churches across Papua New Guinea also came together to rally against violence.
About Enditnow
The Enditnow initiative is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness and advocating for an end to violence around the world. It seeks to mobilize Seventh-day Adventists globally and encourages other community groups to join in addressing this critical issue. Launched in October 2009, this initiative, spanning more than 200 countries and territories, is a collaboration between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Women’s Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Enditnow Sabbath is observed annually on the fourth Sabbath in August.
The original article was published on the South Pacific Division news site, Adventist Record.
