The Pacific region can be tumultuous, from its weather to civil unrest, but the challenges provide ample opportunities for ministry, according to Elissa Macpherson, president of Baptist Women of the Pacific, part of Baptist World Alliance Women.
“We have had a tsunami hit Tonga, a devastating cyclone in Vanuatu and social unrest and ensuing violence in Papua New Guinea during their elections,” said Macpherson, who has led the group since 2019. “These events directly affect the women I serve.”
BWA Women’s Pacific region consists of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Papua, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Macpherson is from Australia and loves the variety of tasks that this role involves. She spends her days keeping in touch with the four other BWP committee members, who are from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, as well as with BWAW leaders.
Learning needs
She learns the needs of the women in her region by attending conferences and meetings.
“It forges powerful relationships in the Lord,” she said.
Though the internet isn’t reliable and communication is a challenge, each day Macpherson checks the news for events relevant to the ministry.
Part of Macpherson’s ministry is to use the political arena and relationships with presidents and other leaders to lobby for the women living there. She requests “policy change which improves the lives of those living in unjust circumstances, tackles climate change (very relevant to the Pacific) and increases foreign aid to relevant countries.”
Reliable internet isn’t the only challenge in the Pacific. It has some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. Macpherson became part of a team of women who created standagainstDV.net and the Australian-based saferspacestoolkit.com.au to assist in equipping churches and communities.
Another big need has been addressing the high infant and maternal mortality rates in Papua New Guinea.
“We have supported the Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea with their Village Health Volunteer Program, which equips village women to ensure better birth outcomes,” Macpherson said.
Challenges
Working on such life-changing tasks can be difficult. Macpherson recognizes how important it is to spend time on her own physical and spiritual health.
“It’s a matter of balance,” she said. “I am also doing postgraduate studies in theology, so that’s both a challenge and an asset in my work. I also have a personal speaking and writing ministry. I love movies, reading, eating out and being with friends.”
Isaiah 43:4 and Song of Solomon 1:2 help Macpherson tackle these responsibilities.
“It’s all about love, the beginning and the end. My life goal is to breathe in His love and breathe out His love through my actions. In terms of principles, when it comes to ministry, integrity of character is everything. Let go of ego and pride and make it about God. That’s the most real and satisfying way to serve,” she said.
Through this journey, Macpherson has learned to shift her faith out of her cultural presuppositions and that the “expression of God’s Church globally is huge and rich and marvelous.”
Macpherson has danced in worship with her sisters in Africa. She will always cherish the time she worshipped and sang with Papuan women even though they spoke different languages.
Most of all, she loves being inspired by the “extraordinary women in disguise as ordinary women.”
Prayer needs
Prayer needs for BWP include:
- Building unity in their women across cultures while being united by the Spirit.
- Ensuring the unique needs of Pacific women are given voice in the global ministry space.
- Letting the Baptist women in that area of the world know that we see them and love them.
- Providing a theological conference for women.
To find out more about BWP, go to bwawomen.org and find this region in “Continental Unions” under the “About Us” tab.
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