22 November 2023 | St. Albans UK [David Neal]
Born in London, UK, to a Brazilian father and Mauritian mother, Japhet De Oliveira began his ministry working for the South England Conference (SEC) in 1997, having trained at the then Newbold College. His journey from there to where he is now has been extraordinary – youth pastor, youth director, university chaplain, adjunct youth ministry professor, senior pastor, and currently a vice president for Adventist Health.
Japhet’s ministry has always interested me, not least due to succeeding me in a couple of ministry roles – as Stanborough Park Church youth pastor and then as youth director for the SEC.
In 2006, with his American-born wife Becky and children Josua and Jonah, he moved to the Andrews University campus in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he was appointed Chaplain for Missions.
If Japhet were ever to complete a spiritual gift inventory (as I am sure he has), most likely, it would reveal his most dominant gift to be ‘leadership’. A natural-born leader? Many think so. Not satisfied with the status quo? Indeed – which has kept him unsettled as a leader. As an antidote to developing a ‘denominational mindset’,¹ in 2010, Japhet met with a group of like-minded colleagues in Denver, Colorado, to launch the ‘One project’ to support Adventist youth and young adults to follow Ellen White’s injunction to ‘lift up Jesus’. Many lauded a movement as inspirational – at the same time, it is challenged by others.
A current project is a development of ‘Saltworks’, a discussion-based Sabbath bible study class led by Alex Bryan, live from the Walla Walla University Church, Walla Walla, Washington at 10:30 am Pacific Time. TedNEWS readers can connect each Saturday at 6:30 pm (GMT), 19:30 (CET) and 20:30 (EET). The class is currently looking at the Book of Acts and the early church’s growth.²
As the 2023 autumn season began, Japhet and I met in the Moor Close Lounge on the Newbold College of Higher Education campus. It was in Moor Close Chapel that Japhet was married to Becky. We talked together about careers, health, the past, the One Project, and his late wife, Becky. How would I describe our conversation together? Stirring memories of challenges, teachable moments, opportunities, managing change – and expressing gratitude to God in dark moments.
It was a good conversation – be encouraged! You can listen here.
¹What would our local church look like – if we had more of a movement than a denominational mindset?
² With the widespread availability of digital media, Sabbath School classes and other bible study classes, prayer meetings, and fellowship groups are no longer bound by a geographical boundary. “Saltworks’ is one of ‘many’ such groups, and the tedNEWS recognises that other options are also available.
- In conversation, Japhet refers to mentors and influencers, some by christian name only. For clarification, they were, among others, Patrick Boyle, Victor Hulbert, Don McFarlane, and Robert Surridge.
- Thanks to the Newbold College administration for using Moor Close Lounge to make this recording possible.
- On Sabbath, 9 September, Japhet returned to Stanborough Park Church, where he preached a sermon, “Holy Space”. Watch his sermon from 33 minutes 30 into the video.
