The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Timor-Leste, where the Adventist religion was planted in 2009 and has since grown to 655 members, is visited by Pastor Ted Wilson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. More than 1.3 million people live in Timor-Leste, and the majority of them (90%) adhere to Catholicism, and the remainder is mostly Protestant, Muslim, and Hindu. This was the first time the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church visited the country.
Coming from a short visit to Australia, Pastor Ted and his wife Nancy spent the first part of their visit straight to the Timor-Leste Adventist International School in Dili, Timor-Leste, to grace the inauguration of the 13th Sabbath Offering funded project in Timor-Leste. Administration from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, Timor-Leste Adventist International School faculty and staff, and the leadership of the Adventist Church in Timor-Leste welcomed Wilson on his first state visit to Timor-Leste. Representatives from the Timor-Leste government and the Ministry of Education were also in attendance during the meeting.
“We appreciate the establishment of the Timor-Leste Adventist International School for its contribution to improving the educational system in Timor-Leste and equipping our students to be holistically competent,” said Antoninho Pires, General Administrative Director of Management and Finance.
Shortly after Wilson’s arrival at TAIS, several individuals who played a significant role in the establishment of the school were recognized. Peter Koolik, Development and Construction Consulting Service volunteer coordinator David Stafford, volunteer Missionary Architect from Australia, and the whole RMS team, TAIS Contractor, were recognized and appreciated for their dedication and hard work in completing the project.
On Sabbath morning, more than 300 church members attended Pastor Ted's sermon at Timor-Leste Adventist International School Auditorium in Dili, where he shared God’s message during worship. Pastor Ted encourages the church to be involved in the mission. He also reminded everyone about the gift of education and how it can be an avenue to reach out to many people searching for hope and healing.
“Seventh-day Adventist Education is quality education,” Ted Wilson said. “We focus on scholastics, being socially responsible to others, and being physically equipped to perform tasks efficiently,” Wilson added.
The Sabbath program was filled with testimonies and stories of encouragement shared by people who have been a part of the Timor-Leste Adventist International School’s development through the years.
Pastor Wilson and his group were cordially welcomed the following day in Los Palos as the team graced the inauguration and the dedication of the Timor-Leste Adventist International School branch in Los Palos and the newly established church in the same city. The new church in Los Palos is the second church establishment in the city and will be home to more than 30 members in that region.
Pastor Ted Wilson’s visit sparked encouragement for the church in Timor-Leste. Leadership from the Adventist Church in Timor-Leste expressed sincere gratitude for the leader's visit. Members expressed their appreciation for the leader for his humility in reaching out to shake hands and spend Tim with the church members and for the opportunity to be prayed for and hear God’s message through the world church leader.
Currently, there are various Adventist institutions in Timor-Leste. The only Adventist church in Timor-Leste is the Fomento Seventh-day Adventist Church (Igreja Adventista Do Sétimo Dia), which is situated at Do Fomento, Fomento 1, Comoro, Dili. It is located on the same plot of land as the headquarters of the Timor-Leste Mission. Two official companies operate under the mission. They are located in Uma Tolu in the south and Lospalos in the country’s east, respectively.
It also has its Adventist Radio Station dubbed Hope Channel Timor-Leste 92.3. Originally, it was launched as a Radio Novo Tempo and was relaunched as Hope Channel Timor-Leste in 2013, situated at the mission headquarters.
ADRA Timor-Leste was established in the country in 2010. It is the Adventist church’s faith-based, global humanitarian organization purposed to provide aid and assistance to a better quality of life in different parts of the world.
Please include our school in Timor-Leste in your prayers. Pray for the school and the influence it will impart on its students, the parents, and the community they are in.
To learn more about our church in Timor-Leste, click here.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department