Southern Asia-Pacific Delegates Retrace Ellen White’s Legacy in Australia

From September 10-15, 47 delegates from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) embarked on a study tour to Australia, retracing the impact of Ellen G. White’s missionary work from 1891 to 1900. The Adventist Heritage Center in SSD and the Spirit of Prophecy (SOP) Department organized the educational tour, with SSD SOP director Edgar Bryan Tolentino serving as the group’s guide.

The delegation included Spirit of Prophecy directors from the Central Philippine Union Conference (CPUC), South-West Philippine Union Conference (SWPUC), and South-East Philippine Union Conference (SEPUC), along with officers from the SSD and Ellen G. White directors from the Asia-Pacific International University (AIU) in Thailand and the West Indonesia Union Mission. The initiative centered on educating and inspiring leaders on the importance of Adventist history in shaping the church’s mission, and encouraged a refocus on mission work. Ellen White’s words reflect the spirit of the trip: “The Lord knows that we did not come across the great ocean to see the country, or for our amusement. Jesus will give me strength for all that He requires of me to do.” (Letter 32a, 1891).

The study trip began at Sydney Harbor, where Ellen White first arrived after a three-week journey from San Francisco, passing through Hawaii, Samoa, and New Zealand, before reaching Sydney in December 1891. The group visited Norfolk Villa in Granville, Sydney, where White lived from 1894 to 1895, before she acquired her Sunnyside home in Cooranbong, New South Wales (NSW). During visits to the South Pacific Division, Sydney Adventist Hospital, and the Sanitarium Health Food Company, delegates deepened their understanding of how Ellen White’s advocacy for mission, healing, and health shaped these institutions. Her spiritual influence, personal sacrifice, and humble leadership were key to these developments.

During a visit to the food factory, SSD assistant treasurer Evin Villaruben commented, “Business can never be separated from the Adventist mission, and mission itself is God’s business.” He also emphasized that the loyalty and commitment of every missionary is vital to fulfilling the gospel commission. SSD associate treasurer Angie Pagarigan, reflected on White’s resilience during her ministry in Australia, despite the financial challenges caused by the economic depression of the time and her physical suffering from malaria and rheumatic pain. Remarkably, she continued to write The Desire of Ages and even managed to speak seven times while seated. SSD associate treasurer Sweetie Ritchie, also described how White’s literary assistant and nurse used medical ministry to reach out to the community, paving the way for the establishment of the Sydney Sanitarium.

When the group visited the White’s Sunnyside Historical Home, they gained insight into how her generosity, understanding, and hands-on work profoundly impacted the local community. Elexis Mercado, AWR-Center for Digital Evangelism director, highlighted White’s travels from the United States to a poverty-stricken foreign land at the age of 64, emphasizing her exemplary life as a missionary.

Despite the odds, she helped establish a mission, a college, a hospital, and a food factory, all of which became models for mission work worldwide. It was during her time in Australia that White wrote The Desire of Ages, Christ’s Object Lessons, and Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, among other works. Mark Pearce, director of the Ellen White Research Center, spoke during the Sabbath worship at Sunnyside about White’s theme of God’s love being as vast as an ocean in which she longed to immerse herself.

The educational initiative of the Spirit of Prophecy in the SSD concluded with a commitment service at the grave of Robert A. Caldwell in the Avondale Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery, where Tolentino spoke of Caldwell’s pioneering colporteur work in the Philippines in 1905. The dedication and mission-driven hearts of the pioneers inspired the delegation as they left the service.

The theme of the educational tour was “Sharing the Vision: Mission Refocus.” Participants reflected on the productivity and inspiration gained from the trip, noting that the stories they encountered would help them inspire their constituencies to recommit to the mission. The SSD SOP and Adventist Heritage Center organized, led, and sponsored this study trip, the first of its kind. Organizers said it’s part of a broader effort to encourage unions to organize more study trips for leaders, pastors, and church members to explore the rich Adventist heritage.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.