Keep sharing Jesus within a 'circle of love' to peoples in the Pacific region was a key theme of the Assemblies of God, as they commemorated the 50th anniversary of gospel witnessing in the Cook Islands.
Commenting to Christian Daily International, Paul Kauri, AOG General Superintendent for Cook Islands, explained the unique missional challenges for believers who are based in the heart of the Pacific Ocean with 15 atolls spread out over two million square kilometers.
The Polynesian Triangle, a geographic triangle connecting Hawaii to New Zealand to RapaNui, also known as Easter Island, presented a formidable challenge due to the sheer vastness and remoteness of the area, according to Kauri.
“The Polynesian Triangle measures at 40 million square kilometers,” he explained. “However, the Pacific Rim of the pacific ocean is not only the largest tectonic plate but it is also the largest area at 166 million square kilometers.
“It connects Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians, Asia, Australasia, South and North America, including Europe due to the French and Spanish ruled countries.”
Kauri highlighted the practical challenges of churches reaching out to the peoples living across the Pacific islands.
“God has called us to reach to places that are only accessible by boat and once on those islands you can’t leave for at least a month, unless the boat has been specially chartered.
“The isolation of some of these islands makes even internet connection incredibly challenging. But the greatest challenge that we face at this moment is the faith to go!”
Kauri referenced the decision of Paul and Peter to set out in differing geographical areas of mission, as recorded in Galatians 2:8. That is why the Jubilee celebrations have been a launchpad for the AOG community and co-pilots in the mission work, giving a “response to God’s call to us to the Pacific rim, to launch the Vakas again [Vaka is a Polynesian boat].”
Meanwhile, the celebrations have seen events heralding the historic five decades of the AOG church network serving the region, including a national retreat in May, and quarterly celebration services hosted by four churches in Rarotonga island.
Arepua Gateway Church in Happy Valley Road, Takuvaine Tapere, of Rarotonga, pastored by Kauri with his wife Tania, hosted the main National Jubilee Conference under the banner ‘His Vision Our Mission’, a four-day event at the end of July, with an AOG women’s combined retreat.
The main conference had a lineup of speakers in honor of 50 years of “God’s goodness, faithfulness and blessings.” The event advertised “together advancing God’s Kingdom across generations, fulfilling His Will, according to His Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
Speakers included New Zealander pastors Michael and Alison Nicholas, of Faith City Church in Manukau, and compatriots Cliff and Nova Cherry of Redemption Point Church in Havelock South; and Paul and Monika Zanardo, pastors of Melbourne Lights Church in Melbourne, Australia.
The first evening of the conference, led by Paul Zanardo from Melbourne Lights Church, taught on the fivefold gifting for leadership noted in Ephesians 4:11 and launched a “circle of love” mission focus, according to Arepua Gateway Church’s Facebook page, “encompassing islands in the Pacific, bound by a three-stranded rope that conveys freedom, unity and the message to share the gospel.”
“There was a stirring in people's hearts to receive what Jesus died to give us, freedom and restoration,” the Arepua church said in a social media post. “Freedom from sin and bondage, and restoration of identity in Christ. God is awakening a fearless, courageous next generation, raising generals and prayer warriors to bring revival.
“Hungry to see God's kingdom advance and to co-labor with Him to see sons and daughters restored into Sonship. There is revival in the body of Christ, marked by confession and repentance in the hearts of people.”
Kauri referred to the AOG Cook Islands newsletter, written after the main conference, in which testimonies from participants were recorded. Murielle Poheroa from Tahiti watched the event online and received healing for neck pain. Mama Ina went forward to receive prayer for her painful knees. Nothing seemed to happen until she took a tissue to someone crying and she noticed herself walking normally. Three girls from Rotorua Girls High School also received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“The Sunday evening of our Jubilee Celebration, felt like we went into another realm of God’s presence and glory that even a few of the worship team members, and speakers of the conference could not play, sing or stand in His presence,” Kauri noted in the newsletter.
Kauri cited deaf ears opening, miraculous healing of limbs, a “seismic shift in people’s spirits”, various other miracles, moments of salvation, alongside “songs and dances, our children, the hospitality, the fellowship, Tahiti & Moorea, the food, people surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus.” Kauri praised “youthful joy returning to the elderly and reverent awe in the hearts of the young.”
Partnerships from six different ministries for the celebrations were also lauded by the AOG general superintendent. These were listed as AOG Cook Islands, Aretanutanu Church, Celebration Church, Melbourne Lights, Faith City Church, Moorea AOG, and Edualdo and Aline Cicero in Tahiti.
