Mission Quarterlies

A Fish and a Light

As they listened, a bright light began to shine inside the house. The light was so bright that Father was scared.

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, November 19.

By Adventist Mission Staff

T

wo very unusual things happened on a Friday in Vanuatu, a country of many small islands in the South Pacific.

Father was walking along the beach when he saw a fish on the white sand. He had seen fish before on the white sand, but this was no ordinary fish. This fish was very much alive, and it was unhurt. Quickly, Father picked up the fish and went to show it to John.

John was new to the island. He was visiting from another island. Since he didn’t know anyone, Father had invited him to stay at his home.

“Look at this,” Father said, showing John the very much alive fish.

John was amazed. He had never seen anything like this before.

The second unusual thing happened a few hours later as the sun went down. John invited Father and his family to sit outside the house and listen to stories about Jesus. Father, Mother, and the children listened as John read the Bible.

As they listened, a bright light began to shine inside the house. The light was so bright that Father was scared. Mother was scared. The children were scared.

Father walked over to the front door of the house and went inside. He saw to his surprise that an old lantern was somehow working. The battery-powered lantern had not worked for some time. Father picked up the lantern to take a closer look. Then the lantern’s light went out.

Father took the lantern outside to show the others. He opened it up and saw that there were no batteries inside. He tried to turn on the lantern again, but he couldn’t.

“This must be a miracle,” John said.

Father thought about what John had said. He thought about the live, unhurt fish. He thought about the bright light in the old lantern without batteries. He kept all these things and pondered them in his heart.

Some time later, John invited Father to go with him to another island. On the island, Father and John attended a big evangelistic meeting in a sports stadium. Father watched as 3,000 people gave their hearts to Jesus in baptism. He remembered the live, unhurt fish on the white sandy beach. He remembered the bright light in the lantern without batteries. Those were miracles! he thought. He decided to give his heart to Jesus.

Today, Father is the leader of a Seventh-day Adventist church on his island. After two unusual things happened on a Friday in Vanuatu, his life has never been the same again.


Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter that will help other families in Vanuatu and across the world know more about God through a series of children’s TV programs called King’s Kids Discipleship Series. Let’s save our money this quarter to help make the children’s TV programs that will help children understand that God loves them.


    A Fish and a Light

    More Children Mission Stories

    Story Tips

    • Ask the children to find Vanuatu on the map.

    • Know that Father’s name is John, the same first name as his houseguest, John.

    • Challenge the children to be like John and share Jesus with someone this week.

    • Download photos on Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq.

    • Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts from the South Pacific Division: bit.ly/spd-2022.

    • Know that the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help establish Hope Channel television and Hope FM Radio in Papua New Guinea, allowing people across the country to learn about Jesus.

    • This mission story illustrates the following objectives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will Go” strategic plan: Mission Objective No. 1, “To revive the concept of worldwide mission and sacrifice for mission as a way of life involving not only pastors but every church member, young and old, in the joy of witnessing for Christ and making disciples,” and Spiritual Growth Objective No. 5, “To disciple individuals and families into spirit-filled lives.” For more information, go to the website: IWillGo2020.org.

    Mission Record

    • In 1911, Calvin and Myrtle Parker, together with nurses Harold and Clara Carr, were appointed by the Australian Union Conference to pioneer a mission base in Vanuatu. They took with them a portable home. The men went ahead to Port Vila on Efate, arriving on June 10, 1912. Their wives waited at Norfolk Island until the home was constructed and then they proceeded to Port Vila, arriving on August 11. Port Vila was only a staging ground until a permanent site could be found. An extensive search resulted in the purchase of a property for £150 on the little island of Atchin off the northeast coast of Malekula.


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