Hope VA, a virtual assistant who gives Bible and health studies using the social media platform WhatsApp, will be launched in Papua New Guinea at this month’s Pastors’ Symposium at Kabiufa.

Based on technology already in use in the South American Division, where more than 20,000 students are currently engaged in studies, Hope VA is a powerful discipleship tool with enormous potential. Here in the South Pacific Division (SPD), Hope VA is a collaboration between Adventist Technology Institute, the SPD’s Ministry and Strategy Team, the Adventist Church in PNG, the 10,000 Toes Campaign, and Hope Channel.

“We are excited about this project,” said Pastor Miller Kuso, Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM) Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director, “because we will reach many more people for Jesus!”

Using WhatsApp, students simply need to send the word “Bible” or “Health” to Hope VA’s number, and the conversation begins. Leaders anticipate that once Hope VA is launched at the PNGUM Pastors’ Symposium, more than 2,000 pastors in attendance will return to their churches and share the opportunity with them.

In preparation for the launch, the guide team that will manage students’ prayers and special requests completed training at the PNGUM headquarters in Lae.

Pastors Russ Willcocks and Matt Atcheson, from ATI, also shared the project at local churches in Lae and Port Moresby and with students at Pacific Adventist University. Hope VA’s number will be made public and shared widely at the launch at Kabiufa in July.

The original version of this story was posted by the South Pacific Division news website, Adventist Record.