Consultation Training Session for Church Departmental Leaders in Kiribati.

Korobu, Tarawa - 30 March, 2025

Today, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kiribati hosts a crucial consultation session for its departmental leaders, aimed at equipping them with the necessary tools to fulfill their roles in the church’s global mission outreach. The training takes place from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and will be centered around the theme for the church in 2025, “I WILL GO TO THE END OF THE WORLD.”

The consultation meeting today commenced with a devotional led by the General Secretary, Pr. Titau Tavita, who focused on Matthew 5:14-16. He emphasized the call to go out and be the light to the world, performing good works as demonstrated by the ministry of Jesus. The ultimate goal is for people to glorify God.

Following this, the Kiribati Mission President highlighted the Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) program for 2026, titled "TPUM for CHRIST." The program will culminate with the New Zealand Pacific Union in 2027, supported by Kiribati. In 2028, the program will extend to the Australian Union Conference.

Kiribati SDA Mission will be the first in this union to implement this initiative next year.

Over 180 international speakers are prepared to assist with the rollout of the "TPUM for Christ" program in 2026. Some of these speakers will travel to Kiribati, where they will be dispatched to all regions of the country, including the Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern areas.

The goal is to ensure that the entire nation is reached with the Three Angels’ Messages.

In preparation for this, the Kiribati Mission has established a committee, "Kiribati for Christ (2026)," which includes mission administration, departmental directors, and two lay members.

The focus of "Kiribati for Christ" is to expand the reach of the gospel to more remote islands, such as Tamana and Arorae, where 27% of the population remains unreached.

The baptismal target for 2026 is 1,000 individuals, based on the average number of baptisms conducted each year.

Additionally, five new churches will be established next year in regions of Kiribati where there is currently no SDA presence, including Makin, Tab South, Beru, Tamana, Arorae, and Kanton.

In Kiribati, the membership ratio of Adventists to the general population stands at 1 to 39, highlighting a relatively significant presence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country.

This ratio suggests that for every 39 people in the general population, there is one Adventist, making the church a prominent religious community in the nation. The ratio reflects the growing influence of Adventism in Kiribati, where the church’s focus on health, education, and community service resonates with many residents.

Despite the small population of Kiribati, the Adventist Church has established a notable presence, offering spiritual guidance and contributing to the well-being of the community, particularly through its emphasis on a healthy lifestyle and humanitarian initiatives.

Despite being the third Christian denomination to arrive in Kiribati in 1947, after the Catholics in 1888 and the Protestant Church in 1857, the Adventist Church has experienced stagnant growth in membership over the years.

Today, the Adventist Church claims a membership of just over 3,000 individuals, a modest figure when compared to the Catholic Church, which now encompasses more than 60% of the country's population of 120,000.

Interestingly, the Mormon Church, which arrived in Kiribati in 1972, now boasts more than twice the number of Adventist members.

This disparity clearly highlights the significant work that remains for the Adventist Church in Kiribati, as it faces challenges in expanding its influence and outreach in a religious landscape increasingly dominated by Catholicism and growing Protestant groups.