About Us

The Epauto Seventh-day Adventist church finds its strength in the faith of its members, friends and visitors who are committed and believe in the great gospel commission.

The dynamic team behind Epauto Seventh-day Adventist church is so grateful to have a small part to play in bringing to you stories about its growth and how God has been so greatful to its church in the past to date. And we thank you for everything you do to help the church and suppport in telling the world about the good news and the love of Jesus.

History

 
The Journey to who we are today
 
·        In June of 1995, the Portoroki Church Board enormously agreed on a decision that church members residing at the suburb area of Freshwater at Port Vila to fellowship at the University of the South Pacific (USP) conference room for two consecutive Sabbaths – 10 June and 17th June of 1995. The fellowship was headed by Elder Joe Saula from Futuna.
 
What was initially intended as a trail turned out to be very successful with urgent needs following the overwhelming number of attendants from other neighboring suburbs as far as Erakor Bridge and Anaburu areas. USP conference church services continued to be conducted until 1996.
 
·        Negotiations and agreement with the Vanuatu SDA Mission president Pr. Erald Wright to build a temporary church shelter was reached soon after the first two Sabbaths at USP. Church members held their first church service in the new land under a tent on 13th of May 1996.
 
Where do church members get the money to build the church?
 
·        The temporary church began with various heart-felt donations and contributions from a number of church members and church friends in Port Vila and abroad. Epauto Seventh-day Adventist church would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the initial financial support that it receives from the following:
 
·        Pr. Belden Seth                          25,000 Vatu
·        Vanuatu SDA Mission                   40,000 Vatu
·        Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Padget             72,000 Vatu
·        J.S.Y. Family                              170,000 Vatu
·        Portoroki SDA Church                  100,000 Vatu
·        Epauto Church Members               300,000 Vatu
 
The initial amount of 707,000 Vatu received from donations and contributions kick-started the Church.
 
·        On Wednesday the 17th of April 1996, clearing of land and cutting of timber to be used for building of the church began.
 
·        Mrs. Isabel Padget marked the historic event when she offered prayer over the first Church corner post that was put in place on Tuesday the 28th of May 1996.
 
Man Power
 
We would like to thank the Youth clubs from various Seventh-day churches in Port Vila including Fresh Wind church, Portoroki Church, Honik Church from Honiara – Solomon Islands and the Epauto Youth for their energies and time in building Epauto Church.
 
·        1995 was a challenging year with a single church leader. Most if not all church activities were prepared and arranged by the old Adventist church pioneers and the church has been truly blessed through them.
 
·        In 1997 a nominating committee from Portoroki Adventist Church nominated the first church department leaders including the first Epauto Church minister – Philip Morris.
 
Visitors
 
Since the establishment of the temporary church, Epauto Church has been blessed with visitors from abroad and locally.
 

·        The church has received visitors from as far as the United States and neighboring shores of Solomon Islands and Fiji. Pr. Keith Goodman and Sister Darlene from the USA. Mr. George Jonath from the Western Pacific Union Mission (WPUM) and the visiting Youth club from Honiara – Solomon Islands.

 
·        Each Sabbath we have various visitors and visiting friends from within Port Vila and the islands or remote parts of Vanuatu.
 
·        The continue growth and increase in church membership led to an evaluation of our name Epauto. This new visual identity focus on the main mission that is most important. Advent – looking for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

We would be very grateful to hear from you or if you would like to simply share with us your experience walking with Christ by writing to us at Epauto Church at the following postal address:

   
         Epauto Seventh-day Adventist Church
         P.O. Box 1328
         Port Vila
         VANUATU