The Cook Islands hosted the last leg of a visit to the Pacific region by Council for World Mission (CWM) General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum. Touching down on 26 October, Keum received a warm welcome by General Secretary of the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC), Kenneth Ben.
Throughout the four-day visit, Keum also visited the graves of the missionary martyrs who have brought the lifesaving Gospel to the Cook Islands in spite of the mortal dangers associated with the task.
Two names, Papehia, as well as John Williams, would stand out as missiological vanguards in the Pacific – the former was the first missionary who brought the Gospel to the Cook Islands from Tahiti on 26 October 1821; the latter who would, through his sense of strategy, prove foundational for the growth of the church in the Cook Islands and Samoa, ultimately martyring himself for God’s cause in Erromanga on 19 November 1839.
As the date of the Cook Islands visit also coincided with the day of Papehia’s first foray into the Cook Islands, part of the visit also entailed a visit to the Titikaveka Ekalesia, a church founded by Papehia in 1835, in time for the service in honour of the National Gospel Day – the day when the islands first received missionaries on its shores more than two centuries prior.
Worshipping amongst the close-knit communities of the church, a strong sense of communal unity and spirit was evident within the congregation.
“Titikaveka Ekalesia has a history of sending missionaries to Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and other islands, several of whom were martyred. Even as we feel blessed to participate in National Gospel Sunday worship, it is especially important that the local believers remember history to envision the future!” declared Keum as part of his greetings to the local church members.
Proclaiming the Gospel a “David Versus Goliath” affair
The year 2024 marks the 203rd National Gospel Day in the Cook Islands. As part of the celebrations islandwide that commemorated the arrival of the Gospel by London Missionary Society missionaries Papehia and John Williams on 26 October 1821, the day was also recognised as a national holiday in the Cook Islands.
As the Gospel Day fell on a Saturday this year, the celebration which saw CICC coming together with the other local Christian denominations in joyous worship, song, and dance was held on 28 October.
The celebration took on the theme of “David and Goliath,” signifying the challenging conditions under which the Gospel often finds itself being preached yet it remains an indomitable source of hope against Goliath-esque odds.
“It is an honour as we gather to uplift and celebrate our faith, our community, and our shared commitment for the teachings of Christ,” proclaimed Ben in his address. “Let us take a moment to reflect on the words of Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.’
“This powerful reminder calls us to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead together—under the guidance of our faith there is no limit to what we can achieve as a congregation and as a community.”
As he closed his visit to the Cook Islands, Keum also stopped by the Takamoa Theological College where he gave a lecture on “World Mission: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.”
“I am thankful for God’s wisdom and guidance, as well as for the hospitality and support extended by the leadership of Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu, Etaretia Porotetani Maohi, and CICC. I am returning home with a sense of gratitude and even more assignments for the next chapter of CWM’s partnership in mission in the Pacific region,” reflected Keum.
Paving the way to CWM membership
The visit to the Cook Islands was also a landmark step taken by CWM in ushering CICC towards a new season of partnership alongside the rest of the Pacific member churches.
Together with the Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu (PCV), both churches are set to be the latest additions to CWM’s growing global family of 32 churches in 2025 that will see them sharing resources and experience with the other diverse congregations to foster life-flourishing communities within their individual contexts and beyond.
“CICC’s struggle to build an independent church and establish a leadership that preserves and develops Maori culture, spirituality, and identity, affirming self-determination against the colonialism of Goliath resonates strongly with the work and mission of CWM,” said Keum. “I believe that [through the partnership] the CWM family will absorb the messages of hope, love, and unity in mission that the CICC fully embodies.”
