More than 400 programs are ready for television as a result of Project Hope, a partnership between Hope Channel South Pacific Division (SPD) and the Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM).
The initiative brought together volunteers from Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Solomon Islands in an attempt to produce more than 300 television episodes for the community. Technical experts from Hope Channel International, Hope Channel SPD, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea also flew into Suva, Fiji, to help train the volunteers in camera operation, lighting, editing, audio recording and other aspects of production.
“I am just amazed at what God has done,” said Pastor Wayne Boehm, director of Hope Channel SPD. “The day I landed in Fiji there was a category 3 cyclone. The country was still recovering from a category 5 cyclone, branded as the strongest tropical cyclone to ever make landfall in Fiji. There were earthquakes while we were there, and tsunami warnings as well. Five weeks later we left the country having completed 410 programs on the Bible, health, family, music and relationships. God helped us exceed our expectations. It’s nothing short of miraculous.”
Pastor Boehm paid special tribute to the volunteers, saying that it was heart-warming to see people who were willing to serve and leave their families, friends and countries to be available for Project Hope. He was particularly inspired by the youngest presenter from Fiji who was just six years old. “It shows you’re never too young to start being involved in discipling.”
The conclusion of Project Hope was marked by a special ceremony on May 6, attended by Fiji President Jioji Konrote, TPUM president Pastor Maveni Kaufononga, TPUM secretary Pastor Bob Larsen, TPUM CFO Kingsley Wood and Project Hope coordinator Dr Ronald Stone.
President Konrote thanked the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its leadership in media ministry and presented the volunteers with certificates commemorating the initiative.
Adventist Media production editor Nick Lindsay appreciated the Project Hope experience, saying it was good to feel like he was contributing content that would make a difference and bring people to Jesus.
“This is the largest Project Hope that has ever been done,” he said. “And it’s a bit different because we trained technical staff from each mission and they were the ones who did the production.”
“I don’t see the need for us to run Project Hope in the near future,” added Pastor Boehm. “Each mission is now trained and equipped to produce quality programs to be broadcast in their own countries and for their own communities, spreading hope around the South Pacific.”
Vania Chew is PR/editorial assistant for Adventist Record.
