Eighteen months ago the Baptist World Alliance held its South Pacific Living Waters Conference in Cairns (May 2009) where representatives of National Baptist Associations from across the South Pacific attended.
They came from Western Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, the Solomons, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia and they were encouraged to be part of this Hawaii 20th Baptist World Congress.
And so they are. There are two specific people that have been drawn to his attention, and who were delegates in Cairns in which he and his wife Delma were likewise involved.
One of the privileges they had in Cairns was to video thirty (30) 'Talking Heads' of South Pacific persons of significance for the Australian Missionary News IPTV. They each gave their testimony. These Talking Head interviews can be viewed at
http://tv.bushorchestra.com
Having engaged in this video ministry, one of the consequences, is that they have enjoyed a recognition of names and faces which has been most providential.
One of those who immediately came up to them to reacquaint themselves on arrival at this Hawaii Baptist World Congress was David Moko, the New Zealand Baptist Minister, Maori Ministries national identity.
David Moko has a very effective ministry and he is a highly recognised identity throughout New Zealand Baptist work.
A second person was Dr Ken Ngangan from Papua New Guinea. Ken is a senior Baptist layman in Port Moresby and highly distinguished Government official in his nation's financial security.
It was such a honour to also have Ken Ngangan chase them up as Ken was one of the "Talking Heads" videos from Cairns eighteen months ago.
One of the marvellous experiences of any Baptist World Congress is the re-connecting with other Baptist people from around the world. It is good to see so many South Pacific delegates in Hawaii.
At least Hawaii is in the South Pacific region which certainly made things a little easier. Chatting with several delegates from a number of East Coast US States, it seems as though took them 12 hours to reach Hawaii. Even from Australia, the trip to Hawaii was only an eight hour flight. For once, the venue worked in the South Pacific's favour!