Tangintebu College has continued to receive both short and long-term support from overseas mission partners to enhance its theological study program. This year, the College is privileged to receive support from the Council for World Mission (CWM), which has enabled two of its female students to enrol and participate in theological training programs abroad.

Miss Taobe Roboam

Taobe Roboam, a female student enrolled in the Diploma in Theology Studies at Tangintebu College, is currently undertaking a six-month overseas training program in the Philippines and Jamaica, which began in June this year. Taobe is among many young people from various CWM partner churches around the world who are participating in the Training in Mission (TIM) program. Her participation is funded by CWM as part of its investment in equipping young people for the ministry and mission of its member churches.

The program is conducted in partnership with Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines, International University of the Caribbean in Jamaica, and the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The pedagogical process of the program is designed to engage an action-reflection model of learning, with the objective of Christian formation as training for life and lifelong involvement with the mission of the church. It aims to develop skills for a life of witnessing, as well as foster a wider vision, deepened commitment, and a strengthened sense of fellowship and partnership with other Christians around the world.

Taobe will complete her studies by December this year and will return to serve the Kiribati United Church (KUC) upon completion.

Miss. Terenga Tauro

Terenga Tauro, another female student enrolled in the Diploma in Theology Studies at Tangintebu Theological College, was awarded a three-week face-to-face training program in South Africa under the leadership of the School of Intersectional Ecotheology and Ecojustice Witness (SIEEW). This training was organized by the Council for World Mission (CWM) for its member churches.

The School of Intersectional Ecotheology and Ecojustice Witness (SIEEW) is a transformative and immersive program designed to empower young individuals to become advocates for social and environmental justice. Terenga’s training aims to create a safe and inclusive space for deep learning, inquiry, and discussions on intersectional issues related to environmental justice and theology.

It is hoped that upon her return, she will help advocate for building a community of ecojustice witnesses and become an advocate for the earth and its inhabitants.

Tangintebu Theological College had hosted an event for a visiting group from the Hope Presbyterian Church of New Zealand and The Jesus Film Project Ministry on the night of 17th September 2024.

The night’s event begun with a short devotion lead by Reverend Keeba Tiira, followed by the presentation of garlands to members of Hope Church, the presentation of gift and an evening dinner with students and staffs of Tangintebu Theological College. The night’s event also provides an opportunity for the visiting team to introduce the “Jesus Film” translated in the local Kiribati Dialect. 

Speaking on behalf of the college, the MC Reverend Aratibin Mikaere conveyed his words of appreciation to the group and thank them for coming to the college. Reverend Aratibin further reiterated that student and staffs would be able to learn from them and the purpose of their trip to Kiribati. In response, Reverend Tony express his gratitude on behalf of the group to the college for their hospitality and explained that the purpose of their trip was to increase awareness of the KUC and their affiliates of the Kiribati language Jesus Film that is free and available for them to use at their discretion. The team also wanted to share the Gospel in the schools from secondary all the way through to the university level. The ultimate goal was to introduce Jesus to the people of Kiribati on a new and relational level to a place where He is known to them as their personal Lord and Savior.

Hope Presbyterian Church is a local New Zealand church organisation, based in South-West of Christchurch. The church works in collaboration with the Jesus Film Project, a ministry which started in 1979 creating film about Jesus and translating it into 2,000 languages reaching out millions of people around the world. The Ministry is passionate about sharing Jesus with the world because it believes everyone, everywhere should have access to His life-changing love and forgiveness. The Ministry’s goal is to help people along their journey with God and wanted to be good stewards of what God has entrusted us with.

The Team has scheduled several other trips to Fiji on the second week of October, Apia, Samoa in mid November, and then the Cook Islands and French Polynesia on the first week of December before year end.

Jesus Ministry Christian films are available in over 2,000 different languages and can be accessed through their website: https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch.