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An explanation of the seventh day Sabbath observance practices in the South Pacific
About the Book:
It may come as a surprise to many that members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in certain parts of the South Pacific observe the Sabbath on Sunday. Moreover, it may come as an even greater surprise that this observance of Sunday is fully sanctioned and encouraged by the Seventh-day Adventist Church itself.
How is it that the observance of the Sabbath on Sunday can be sanctioned by the very church known worldwide for proclaiming the importance of observing the Sabbath on Saturday and rejecting Sunday observance?
This book aims to offer clarification on Sabbath observance practices in the South Pacific and to explain why the Seventh-day Adventist Church has resolved to observe the Sabbath on the day locally known as Sunday in Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, Wallis & Futuna, and parts of Kiribati.
Written from a layman’s perspective, the book provides a detailed historical record of time reckoning in the Pacific, a look at modern attempts at calendar reform, and an exploration of how these issues have impacted the Seventh-day Adventist Church throughout its history.
Originally from Kaikōura, New Zealand, Amos Dowle now resides in Hamilton, where he works in the construction sector. Growing up in the Baptist church, Amos embraced the Seventh-day Adventist message at age 22 and is now a lay preacher and elder at the Hamilton Eastside Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Amos is passionate about traveling and learning languages. He has spent a year living in Brazil, another year on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile), and six months living in Tokelau, where he also learned the Tokelauan language. It is in Tokelau that he met his wife Elisapeta, who is of Tokelauan and Samoan descent.
Seventh-day Adventists in the South Pacific Observe the Sabbath on Sunday: The article highlights a surprising fact that members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in certain South Pacific regions, including Samoa, Tonga, and Tokelau, observe the Sabbath on Sunday, which contrasts with the global practice of observing it on Saturday. This unusual practice is fully sanctioned by the church in these regions.
Historical and Cultural Insights: The book offers a detailed historical record of time reckoning in the Pacific and explores how different regions have adapted their understanding of the Sabbath based on local calendars. This presents an intriguing look at how cultural and historical factors influence religious practices.
Impact of Calendar Reform and Church Doctrine: The article discusses how modern attempts at calendar reform and shifts in timekeeping practices have influenced the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s decision to observe the Sabbath on Sunday in specific Pacific islands. It examines how these changes reflect broader issues within church history and theology.