Consider what would happen if the gospel of Jesus Christ reached 43,219,970 people. That would be a truly remarkable thing, demonstrating the Holy Spirit's influence. However, achieving this aim will require man's relentless prayer and efforts. This quarter, one of AM's main goals is to pioneer the country of New Zealand. Oceania currently consists of 14 nations, the most populous of which are New Zealand and Australia. The long-term target is to extend AM to all 14 countries; however, we must start small. The kingdom of heaven will be born from a mustard seed, and in the same way, AM will also expand to grow.
People in Oceania follow a wide range of faiths and religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. Even though these religions account for 8.2 percent of the religious population, Christianity remains the most common, with 52.1 percent of people identifying as Christians in 2016.
The arrival of British settlers and missionaries in the 18th century marked the beginning of Christianity in Oceania. The Christian faith began in Australia, where a small group of Maori people were visiting. Samuel, a Christian missionary, established a friendship with the few Maori people who were present when he arrived in 1814, which aided in the spread of Christianity in New Zealand. Since the Maori people were already tolerant of European ideals and values in other fields, such as trade, Samuel thought New Zealand would be a good place to establish a missionary base and do missionary work. He would gather other missionaries, including Henry Williams and Thomas Kendall, and begin the work of establishing the church and evangelizing Maori people. They do, however, begin to face difficulties.
The Maori people did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the missionaries had hoped in the early years of forming Christian organizations, churches, and schools. However, after much endurance and perseverance, Samuel and the other missionaries would later be remembered for their tireless efforts in shaping and bringing Christianity to Maori societies. Finally, 3,000 Maori were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in 1832.
What seemed to Samuel and the other missionaries to be a desperate condition turned out to be the cornerstone of Christian faith in Oceania today. Though Christianity remains the most common religion, New Zealanders are gradually converting to other religions and/or abandoning Christian practices. The seed was planted, and the Holy Spirit is still there, but this seed is in dire need of nourishment. This quarter, AM will concentrate on pioneering and establishing a chapter in New Zealand, and they are optimistic that their efforts will result in a significant revival in the area.
While it may seem slow at first, God's faithfulness has already been shown by the early missionaries. Please pray that AM will continue to search out those in the area who still have a deep and sincere desire to know God's grace with great effort and devotion.