This update is related to the Crossway Global Ministry Fund campaign.
The Lord Makes the Plans
Most people would not expect their honeymoon destination to become their mission field, but that is exactly what occurred for Michael Seehusen and his wife, Jordan. They currently serve the Lord in a vacation hot spot known for its dazzling blue waters—Fiji. Yet it’s no longer the ocean that catches Michael’s eye: “When you fly over these islands, you can see lots of little dots. And when you get low enough, you can see the villages with their huts and houses. I used to focus on the blue of the ocean, but now I see all the homes and the churches.” Although most people view Fiji and the beautiful island nations of the South Pacific as a vacation destination, the reality is that these are still developing countries that are in desperate need of God’s Word.
When Michael and Jordan returned from their honeymoon in 2007, they never expected the Lord would call them back to serve in Fiji. However, the Lord started to place on the Seehusens’ hearts the idea of returning to Fiji and the South Pacific as full-time missionaries. The Lord has provided opportunities for ministry for Michael and his family on the island of Viti Levu, as well as other remote islands, where he helps train pastors and church leaders in addition to providing the necessary resources to equip them for ministry.
Through the generosity of donors supporting the Crossway Global Ministry Fund, one way God is fulfilling the need for resources for pastors in the South Pacific is through Global Pastors Book Sets. This includes an ESV Global Study Bible alongside a thoughtfully curated selection of books that helps pastors and ministry leaders to understand and implement a wide range of biblical topics, such as theology, preaching, discipleship, and counseling. Michael utilizes these books to teach pastors to shepherd their congregations and communities in accordance with Scripture.
Give the Gift of Biblical Resources
The Crossway Global Ministry Fund supports book and Bible distributions to aid pastors and believers in need of theological resources. Would you join us this spring in equipping fellow Christians around the world? Learn More.
The Lord Meets the Needs
Training and biblical resources have not always been available for Fijian pastors. Michael explains that the need for theological instruction for pastors arose after the gospel was first brought to the South Pacific.
At that time, little or no pastoral training was occurring. I wouldn’t say that this is due to the fault of the early missionaries, but instead of the next generation needing to provide pastoral training and solid theological resources to share the genuine hope in Christ. Yet, many of those who followed were typically either from cults or those who were presenting a prosperity gospel that told the people on these islands that if you choose to follow Christ, you will benefit financially and be relieved from the hardships and burdens of life.
Because of the Global Ministry Fund, local pastors in Viti Levu have access to the resources provided in the Global Pastors Book Set, but those on the outer islands do not have these resources available. One way Michael has worked to supply books and Bibles to pastors, regardless of their training, is by creating theological libraries in villages across the islands. One such town near him has “a preaching rotation of 22 men, but none of them—except for maybe one—have been trained at a theological institution. So I started a small library where I put several of the Global Pastors Book Sets.”
Michael met four pastors from this community who were playing rugby near his house and gave them each an ESV Global Study Bible. By giving them this study Bible, “They were going from nothing to using these cross-references, definitions, and explanations to prepare their sermons—a stark contrast to previously having no solid biblical resources.” Now these pastors are supplied with both a study Bible and access to the library, which will further help them accurately understand God’s Word and lead their congregations and communities in accordance with God’s truth. Michael hopes to create more libraries on additional islands, such as Tuvalu, the least visited country in the world, to help provide further access to pastors in need of such resources.
The Lord has been steadfast in caring for his people in Fiji in many ways, such as bringing the Seehusen family to share the gospel with islanders and providing training and resources to support the faith and ministry of Fijian pastors. These resources, through the power of the Spirit, have had a significant impact on Christians in Fiji, helping to support and grow believers and the local church.
The Lord Provides the Impact
The Lord has been providing for and working in Fiji, but it’s not the only group of islands that he has been growing spiritually. Many of the surrounding locations in the South Pacific have also been strengthened by the training and resources that Michael has been able to supply. A pastor from the Solomon Islands applied what he learned from a Crossway Global Pastors Book Set resource, The Pastor and Counseling, to his ministry. This book has made a significant impact on his church in the Solomon Islands. Michael shared that,
This dear pastor went straight home from the Bible college and met with his elders. He then began implementing these biblical approaches to ministry, to discipleship, and to preaching. And when his congregation heard his preaching and experienced his shepherding and counseling, they said, “Well, this is how you deal with sin in the church.” It wasn’t focused on shame—it was focused on restoration. The preaching wasn’t focused on self-glorifying illustrations—it was focused on proclaiming Christ and helping them understand the Word of God to worship him. And the other churches in their cohort—over 40 on the island where he is located and over 600 spread across the Solomon Islands—started noticing the changes.
These resources are having a ripple effect across the South Pacific that is bolstering the body of Christ for his glory. The Lord, our Creator and Sustainer, always provides for his creation in his perfect timing and will equip believers with everything they need. God has blessed Crossway Global Ministry with the opportunity to supply these resources through the generosity of donors and the blessing of being able to support ministry partners like Michael and his family.
We invite you to join us as we work to serve the global church by providing resources to believers unable to access them on their own. With pastors equipped and strengthened by God’s truth and Spirit, congregants’ faith will grow, the church will be built up, and the gospel will be spread further. Would you consider supporting the Global Ministry Fund today to aid in the distribution of biblical resources across the globe? We hope to raise $200,000 by May 30th to help pastors and believers in significant need.
Please pray for the Seehusen family and their ministry work in Fiji. Pray for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance in their lives and that the Lord would bless the work they are doing on the islands.
Please pray for the Fijian and South Pacific pastors who are receiving these resources. Pray that they would come to a deeper understanding of the Lord and that they would be able to serve their churches and communities in a God-honoring way.