Timor-Leste is situated among the 11 countries in the Southern Asia-Pacific region, characterized by a predominantly Christian population. Despite this religious orientation within the country, spreading the Adventist message faces significant challenges due to its diverse cultural landscape and economic factors.
In the region, there are presently over 300 active Adventist members attending services at two churches within the country. Despite being a minority among the 1.3 million inhabitants, the Adventist church remains steadfast and prayerful in its mission to share the gospel message. With unwavering faith in God's guidance and provision, the church is determined to extend its message to every corner of the country.
Amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Adventist Church in Timor-Leste (TLM) embraced the use of mass media to disseminate a message of hope throughout their region. Despite resource and manpower constraints, a dedicated media team consisting of four individuals, including volunteers and one church worker, embarked on the initiative to launch their church's official Facebook page and YouTube channel. Armed with only two camcorders, a basic lapel microphone, an outdated laptop for editing, and a makeshift 3x3-meter studio, the media team courageously embarked on this seemingly impossible endeavor.
"I recall vividly the challenges we faced during our early endeavors. There were instances where we had to redo entire productions due to sudden battery failures, leaving us unable to salvage our recordings," shared Mariano da Cruz, a media volunteer for TLM. "Yet, amidst these difficulties, we discovered a sense of fulfillment in our work. Each setback presented an opportunity for growth and improvement, allowing us to enhance the ministry to which God has called us in the realm of mass media," Da Cruz elaborated.
Since its inception in March 2022, their Facebook page has experienced significant growth in its followership, reaching over 1.09K subscribers for their YouTube channel and 2.9K followers on Facebook. This organic growth in less than two years is remarkable, especially considering that the number of subscribers is exponentially larger than its current active membership.
In under two years, the dedicated media team has produced 558 videos, which have collectively been viewed over 64 thousand times. Remarkably, all this content was created using the modest equipment available to the media team. Their content spans a wide range, including youth productions, family enrichment segments, Bible lessons, children's shows, music, and much more. Despite limited resources and a limited workforce, they have managed to achieve remarkable results, effectively spreading the gospel across their region in the quickest and most extensive manner possible.
Since establishing their online presence, the media team has been inundated with random text messages, calls, and visits from individuals at their headquarters, expressing their interest in Bible studies and their desire for baptism. While the appeal of immediate baptism is tempting, the media team has been steadfast in encouraging all visitors to undergo thorough biblical immersion. This approach ensures that they fully comprehend the hope and healing that the Bible offers before making such a significant commitment.
"Many individuals have approached us, stating that they discovered truth through our videos and expressing a desire for immediate baptism. While we deeply respect and admire their decision to embrace Jesus through baptism, we emphasize the importance of Bible study and the personal connection that comes from reading the Scripture," shared Pastor Inaciu Da Kosta, Executive Secretary of TLM.
"We aim to inspire young people, volunteers, and media teams worldwide within the church. Despite facing inevitable and substantial challenges, we believe that God sustains the hearts of those passionate about advancing His work with the resources at hand. While our equipment may not meet the standards of large production companies, we are making steady progress through prayer and the support of like-minded individuals. Please keep our team and the work in Timor Leste in your prayers," urged Pastor Chris Anderson, president of the Adventist Church in Timor Leste (TLM).
The Media Center in Timor-Leste is currently in the process of obtaining its license from Hope Channel International. Significant steps have already been taken towards securing the necessary authorization to represent the church's official TV network.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department