January 9, 2023 - The Southern Asia-Pacific Division just got a few new members, a recent change. Pastor Stephen Salainti and Dr. Canadian Panjaitan, who has a lot of experience as an associate education director, are joining the division's staff. Pastor Stephen Salainti, the former president of the South Sulawesi Conference, takes over for Pastor Johnny Lubis, who retired from denominational work in 2022. On the other hand, Dr. Canadian Panjaitan takes over as Associate Education Director as Dr. Bryan Edward Sumendap accepts a new mission in the United States.
“It is with joy that we welcome new members to our workforce. These individuals are here to contribute to different fields of ministry in the division. We pray that their presence will bring encouragement and impart hope to prosper the Lord’s work in this region,” said Pastor Roger Caderma, president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.
Salainti held a variety of positions before joining the division. He began his denominational service in Makassar and Kendari as a church pastor. He then became the Adventist Durian School's chaplain. He was the Youth Director for the South Sulawesi Conference in 2006 and the East Indonesia Union Conference in 2011. He did this because he cared a lot about young people and was excited about them. Salainti was elected president of the Luwu Tana Toraja Mission in 2014. Before being appointed vice president at the Division office, Salainti was chosen president of the South Sulawesi Conference.
Dylan and David are Salainti and Marshela Pondang's two children.
Dr. Canadian Panjaitan worked in the education field for more than 30 years. He has the experience and is a skilled teacher. He was ready for his current job because he had worked in the education field for years and learned much about educational leadership. He worked in various capacities in the education field before being chosen in 2013 as the Associate Education Director of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division and was again chosen in 2023. Panjaitan began his work in the Adventist education in 1981 at the Universitas Advent Indonesia (UNAI). Before moving to the division as the assistant education director, he spent eight years as the university president, vice president for academic affairs, and dean of biology and education.
She is married to Dr. Ivonne Panjaitan, who also worked in the division as a health educator. Currently. Dr. Ivonne Panjaitan is a member of the Universitas Advent Indonesia School of Science's teaching staff (UNAI). They have two sons, Canadian Panjaitan Jr., who just graduated from Northern Philippine University's Medical School, and Czar Panjaitan, who majored in information technology at Adventist University of the Philippines and graduated in 2021.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department