Building in Vanuatu: Looking Back, Moving Forward
A Brief Summary of the Vanuatu Project
In 2013, I had the opportunity to visit the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. From this visit, after meeting with Missionary Tom Richards, who was then living on site at Enefa Bible Training Centre, a plan was made to begin a building program to help the Bible College construct permanent buildings to house staff and students.
This mission also dovetailed with my desire to facilitate an accessible project for tradies and those with practical skills to be involved in mission work. The Enefa project was a great opportunity to assist the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) in its goal to build a network of Bible colleges focused on training locals for ministry.
What Does Construction Have to Do with the Gospel?
This initial trip turned into a long history of building projects in Vanuatu. These projects have been a practical way to serve our neighbours in Vanuatu, but they've been about far more than just construction. They are about gospel multiplication. By helping the PCV develop strong training centres, we are investing in the training of local leaders who will preach the gospel, disciple believers, and plant and strengthen churches across the islands.
The following year, we did a test trip with a small team to carry out maintenance work at Enefa. This enabled us to set up a camp kitchen, tenting facilities, and tools so that a full-scale team could be self-sufficient for several weeks while completing a building project.
Rebuilding After the Storm
In March 2015, Cyclone Pam ripped through Tanna, causing widespread devastation on the island. All the locally built buildings at Enefa were totally destroyed. By God’s good providence, we were in an ideal position to help with rebuilding. Out of a mutual heart for mission work in Vanuatu, a collaboration of delegates from four denominations–the Westminster Presbyterian Church Australia, Presbyterian Church of Australia, Mission to the World (Presbyterian Church in America), and Grace Presbyterian Church New Zealand–worked together to facilitate funding for the rebuilding project. These churches now form the core group of I2I. The disaster also enabled us to send building materials to Vanuatu under the designation of “relief aid,” saving many thousands of dollars in duty and taxes.
Expanding to Lambubu
Two work teams went to Enefa in September 2015–one group from New Zealand and one from Australia–completing the Principal’s house and the girls’ dormitory. A team from New Zealand returned in 2016 and again in 2018, completing the married couples’ accommodation and the boys’ dormitory. After the 2018 trip, all the camp gear and tools were packed into a trailer and shipped to the island of Malekula in North Vanuatu, where plans were made to begin a building program at the Lambubu Bible College campus, starting with the Principal’s house in 2020.
Unfortunately, we were not able to return to Vanuatu in 2020 due to COVID-19. I finally returned to Malekula in 2023, planning to send a team the following year. In 2024, we had a team booked and ready to go, but Air Vanuatu was suddenly put into liquidation and our flights were cancelled. We were able to send a team from New Zealand to Lambubu in 2025, completing the Principal’s house. Included on this trip were two men from Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama (Bryan Wintersteen and Keith Russell).
What’s Next?
I am hoping to return to Lambubu in July this year (2026) to do the planning required for a team trip in July 2027. The next project is to build a double classroom with an office. I am planning to set the locals up so they can complete the concrete floor slab prior to our arrival, leaving the team to finish the structure.
If you are interested in serving on the July 2027 team, or would like more information about the building projects in Vanuatu, please email us. We would love to connect with you.
Paul Voschezang
Project Manager
Delegate, Island to Island Gospel Fellowship
Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand