The Work in New Zealand

Sister White in letter 9A 1893 stated, quote: “We see a great work to be done in this Field (NZ) and long to have facilities to work with, a church if even so humble should be erected.”

For nearly a year in 1893 Sis. White was in New Zealand. The first camp meeting was held here and the first SDA Church Building in the Southern hemisphere was erected in 1887 in Auckland. Elder S.N. Haskell also, who built up the Literature work in North America, did a great work here in NZ as well, being instrumental in the caption of IMS in which we now use in our registered Church name. In Melbourne Australia, the work was at a stand still, and no one seemed interested in the message. An idea was formulated to leave tracts on park rails. One was read by a man named Smith, who along with his family accepted the 3 Angels message. The work of God shot ahead seemingly. Brother Smith being a chosen vessel unto God as was apostle Paul.

We are told in the Spirit of Prophecy to distribute our literature as the leaves of autumn. As we are now in our autumn (fall) season this is what our church membership is doing to a great extent to keep in line with the instruction as laid down in the Spirit of Prophecy. When the New Zealand Field was organized less than three years ago we had a membership of only 4 members. We are now 15 members under the leadership of Brother Anton Salaviov from Bulgaria. Our South Pacific Islands Mission Field includes the South Pacific Islands with its over 30 000 islands and many millions of square miles having 47 in membership. We enjoy fellowship with many serious friends as well. We love them and pray for them with faith that soon they will be a part of the God’s Reform Movement.

Many brethren on the islands have been contacted mainly by brother Andrade and some others ministers in the past. In this way have been established and built up good memberships in New Caledonia, Tahiti and Fiji.

Here in New Zealand the work has progressed in places like Christchurch, Dunedin Motueka and also interests in the North Island. One member of our church is working in a prison with several inmates, doing our ” KNOW YOUR BIBLE COURSE”. The medical work is going forward also, with much health literature printed and distributed. The Canadian IMS Published ” Miracle Makeover” Course has had an opening success by being sold in shops with an SDA bookshop being interested in promoting the course.

So, we can praise the Lord for the progress in the work here in our South Pacific Islands Mission Field. May we in this day and age go forward in unity and let God’s power fulfill Sisters White’s desire that a great work will be done in this part of the World. We now have the facilities to do just this as it says in Isaiah 42: 12 ” Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his Praise in the Islands”
AMEN