Pacifico Sur: Planting in the Ocean

Picture it: an area the breadth of Russia and the length of Africa. Add in 60 million square miles of water. Then, scatter across it hundreds of thousands of islands, with at least 30 nations sprinkled in. 

This is the vast “soil” for student ministry in the South Pacific region. 

Alongside well-established work on familiar islands (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji), are campus groups more recently planted. Beyond the horizon, lie more islands with promising conditions for IFES seeds. 

To explore openings for ministry, David Walter (IFES Regional Secretary for the South Pacific) visited the Northern Mariana Islands and French Polynesia last year. He reflects: 

“Our visit to Saipan revealed a campus ripe for a ministry plant, with supportive churches and lots of potential. And in Tahiti, it was even more ripe! The campus size and form, and the positivity of churches, students, and graduates was amazing.” 

David continues: “In Guam, ministry is growing in student numbers, involvement, and initiative. It was wonderful to have seven from there attend our regional conference last September.” 

God unexpectedly used Sam to plant ministry in Guam during the pandemic, and two other InterVarsity Link staff (Alex and Danielle) followed on to support the growth. (Meet students from the University of Guam here!) 

Sam has since followed his calling to replant ministry in Tonga. After a year of language learning and relationship building with churches and students, he’s now meeting weekly with students for Bible study and prayer. Sam says, “May trust continue to build so they can speak freely, pose their questions, and fully engage with the gospel.” 

The seed planted by Elodie and Ali in New Caledonia in 2018-2019 has faced difficult conditions. Although it was revived after the pandemic, civil unrest in 2024 has left a need for more sustained support. To this end, Joel Atwood, former director of GNYF Vanuatu, will move to the French territory this year. 

Despite this vast and varied expanse, a common spiritual climate prevails: most of these scattered islands are predominantly “Christian”, a legacy of missionary efforts in the early 19th century. 

Yet indigenous beliefs are also mixed in to what is, for many, a nominal faith, with students frequently unaware of the gospel of grace. This is why the founding vision of IFES still matters: “a clear witness to Jesus Christ established in every university in the world”.  

Compared with other regions, the number of students and universities in this vast ocean may seem insignificant. But it is to the far away islands that God offers hope in the form of his Servant (Isaiah 42:4, 49:1).  

Picture it: the knowledge of this Servant King – the glory of God – filling this region just like the 60 million square miles of water fills the sea (Habakuk 2:14).