Pacific Hub Mini Conference

By Major Beth Campkin

In our Pacific nations, we have been blessed with many children and youth who come to Jesus through our Sunday schools, youth groups, junior soldiers and corps cadets and outreach programmes in our communities, like the literacy programme in Samoa, the psycho-social support network in Tonga and the Joy Hours at the HART villages in Fiji.

From March 25 to 27, the Samoa children and youth team, Captains Eric and Julie Turner, Teuila Faimanu and Pati Niusulu, hosted the Fiji and Tonga children and youth teams, of Captain Varea Rika, Major Beth Campkin (Fiji), and Sesilina Palu and Mele Vaea (Tonga), for a Pacific Hub Mini Conference.

Over three days, the Pacific Hub team spent time discussing and sharing about the importance of child safety, curriculum ideas that fit the Islands without too much translating of context or language, ways to engage children and youth in worship and leadership, as well as how to run children and youth events effectively that suit our children and youth within the Pacific context.

Another important part of our gathering was to strengthen the bonds between the Pacific Island children and youth teams as we serve together across our respective nations. It was a joy to experience Samoa as a local and feel included into the family culture there. Faafetai tele (thanks heaps) to the Samoa Regional Headquarter’s team, Samoa Addiction Services and Apia Corps for hosting so well.

We want to honour and thank Lt-Colonel Debbie Clark and Major Mat Badger for sowing the seeds in 2023 and to Leslie D’Mello, Lieutenant Alana LePine and THQ 2024 Next-Gen Mission for the generous support and for providing us with this opportunity to gather to further the kingdom of God in Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

Please join us as we pray that God will continue to bless the children, youth and our nations of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa as we journey together to better the future through the growth of the kingdom of God across our beloved islands.