Avondale University researcher, Prof Tracie Mafile’o, urged more than 1000 church leaders from across Australia, New Zealand, PNG and the Pacific to empower families. Adventist church leaders gathered last week in Brisbane for a 5-day regional-wide launch of “South Pacific for Christ”. Prof Mafile’o gave a plenary presentation about Avondale University-led research on Adventist families, titled “From Small Circles to Big Impact: Family Ministry that Grows the Church”. The talk unpacked how research demonstrates that a family ministry approach has exponential missional potential, and should be applied across all church endeavours. Such a family ministry approach realises the importance of families on young people’s faith and church engagement, the importance of extended families in Pacific contexts and the importance of relationships over events. Prof Mafile’o says, “It was a privilege to present to the key decision-makers in the church across the South Pacific, but also to have our world church President, Pr Erton Köhler, in the audience! Research needs to be communicated back to leaders to inform church decision making and mission efforts.”
