Record Wrap

Jarrod:
Hello and welcome to another episode of Record Wrap, the Adventist Record news podcast. I’m Jarrod Stackelroth.

Danelle:
And I’m Danelle Stothers.

Jarrod:
This week on Record Wrap:
- Papua New Guinea celebrates 60 years of Adventist Aviation
- Pacific Adventist University prepares to build for the future
- And a discipleship program sees another cohort graduate

But first, Danelle, can you tell us what’s making headlines this week?

Danelle:
Pathfinders in South America have made history by creating the largest Pathfinder scarf ever produced. Two cranes were needed to lift the massive scarf measuring 60 by 30 metres, which became a centrepiece at a camporee in Brazil.

The project was completed in just one week with the help of 11 volunteers and used nearly 700 meters of fabric, relying on a scaled-down model to plan the ambitious project.

The scarf is a powerful symbol of the Pathfinder identity, representing physical, mental, and spiritual development. Creating the giant scarf was not just about breaking records but also about sparking curiosity and inviting more people to learn about the Pathfinder program.

In other news,

Children should spend more time outdoors to reduce the risk of short-sightedness, or myopia, which is becoming alarmingly common. More than 20% of Australians are already affected, and this number could climb to 50% by 2050. For some, myopia is more than an inconvenience—it can lead to severe vision problems, including blindness. Research shows that it’s not just small screens causing the most harm, but a lack of daylight exposure and a prolonged focus on large screens or books. The recommendation is that families aim for two hours of outdoor time every day. For higher risk children, early interventions like special lenses, eye drops, and even new screening methods could make a big difference.

Jarrod:
Adventist Aviation Services celebrated its 60th year of serving Papua New Guinea on October 30 in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.

The celebration began with students, aviation workers, friends and families spending time at the AAS hangar finding out more about the company’s operation.

Eight children had the honour of riding on a plane around Goroka town and its vicinity when their names were drawn from a raffle.

AAS board chairman Dr Ken Boone paid homage to workers who had served across 60 years while
AAS chief executive officer Captain Mark Neah thanked staff, families, aviation partners and the church and urged staff to continue their service to the country.

AAS began operating in PNG on June 30, 1964, when a Cesna 180 was bought in America, shipped to Sydney, Australia and flown to PNG.

It supports the church in serving the people of PNG by providing emergency medical needs, health and education services and commercial charters among others.

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Still in Papua New Guinea,
Pacific Adventist University held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 2000-seat auditorium on November 20.

After five years of planning, this project will address the university’s growing need for larger lecture spaces to accommodate its increasing student population.

Professor Lohi Matainaho, vice chancellor of PAU, emphasised the spiritual significance of the occasion, dedicating the project to God.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including the President of the South Pacific Division (SPD) and chancellor of PAU, Pastor Glenn Townend, chief financial officer for the SPD Francois Keet and Papua New Guinea prime minister’s office representative Ray Paul.

On the day, Pastor Townend delivered a spiritually uplifting message, drawing inspiration from Ephesians 3:9-15 and reminding attendees that PAU’s mission is not only to build physical infrastructure but, most importantly, to build God’s kingdom through its people.

The auditorium will feature a 2000-seat main hall, three conference rooms which will accommodate 150 attendees each, office spaces, a canteen and a 100-space car park.

With a total projected cost of K25.85 million, the facility is expected to transform the campus’ academic and social landscape.

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A group of 16 individuals have completed a 12-week, immersive, skills-based discipleship adventure hosted on Avondale University’s Lake Macquarie campus. An initiative of the South Pacific Division (SPD) Centre for Discipleship, the Catalyst cohort is the third to graduate the program, which includes a week in the wilderness, where participants focus on adventure, team building and self-discovery.

According to Dr Gilbert Cangy, director of the SPD’s Centre for Discipleship, participants explore the foundations of discipleship as Jesus modelled it and experience genuine and purposeful community.

The group started at the end of July, with the program running for three months.

Attendees from the cohort ranged from professionals to tradespeople, aged in their 20s to 50s.

Earlier in the year, Catalyst also held a weekend event in Western Australia which was booked out with 70 participants and a waiting list of more who could not be accommodated. Catalyst will host two events such as these in early 2025: one for teens and another for the church.

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And that wraps up this week's episode of Record Wrap. Thank you for tuning in.

Danelle:
Don't forget to visit our website at record.adventistchurch.com and follow us on social media for more updates and stories. You can also receive news straight to your inbox by subscribing to our weekly e-newsletter

Jarrod:
We'll be back next week with more news from around the South Pacific Division.