The cross-cultural mission experience
Murray House/Alex Green
Senior lecturer in ministry and theology/Bachelor of Ministry and Theology (Honours) student
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Theology students Rome Ulia and Sean Tavai had a rough introduction to Avondale College of Higher Education’s cross-cultural mission program. After a week of preaching in the village of Ringi in the Solomon Islands, they were told they had “disturbed a hornet’s nest.” They learnt what that meant when a mob stoned the house in which they were sleeping.
The ministry and theology students on the tarmac in Honiara, Solomons Islands.
Despite the threat, Rome and Sean continued preaching. At the end of the series, more than 40 people were baptised and a further 200 made decisions for baptism. Among these were those who had stoned the house. “God has not only brought us here to bless but has also sent us to be blessed,” says Rome.
On the nearby island of Gizo, students Moses Depaz and Daniel Christie were preaching when Daniel fell ill with dengue fever. Moses preached for the rest of the series. The daughter of the local church deacon asked why God would allow the evangelist to be sick at such a critical time. However, on the final Saturday, the hospital discharged Daniel, who then witnessed the 44 baptisms that came from the series. “God is still with us even when we don’t understand what’s going on,” says Moses.
As part of the same program, lecturer Dr Kayle de Waal ran a series with graduate Joel and wife and education student Rachel Slade at Sun Valley outside the capital, Honiara. A hot spot during the ethnic tension in the country, a gang still held influence. On the first Tuesday evening of the series, Kayle made a call for people to start their life anew with Christ. The raskol leader came forward; 20 others followed. Later when Joel made a call for baptism, the leader addressed the crowd, pleading for his mates to decide for Jesus.
In total, the five series presented by the students saw 172 baptised and 311 make decisions for baptism.
Avondale now requires ministry and theology students to complete at least one cross-cultural mission trip. Avondale’s Ministerial Training and Scholarship Fund provided $10,000 for the five series and continues to support the program. In June, a new group of students will travel to Malaysia to conduct several series there.—Adventist Record