Biography
Personal & Educational Biography
Hi, I’m Zuzai Hizoke, a pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church with fifteen years of experience. I am currently doing a PhD in Missions and Ministry with cognate in Discipleship in Lifespan Education at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Prior to coming over for studies at Andrews University, I served in various capacities in the Church in Papua New Guinea (PNG) such as schoolteacher, University chaplain, seminary lecturer, church administrator, motivational speaker, author, and TV evangelist. Preaching has taken me to nearly every region of the country (PNG), and also to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and a few more states here in the United States (USA).
I grew up beside the pulpit by default. Administration is something I am very passionate with and teaching is my backbone-once a teacher-always a teacher. Yet, what moves me to the core is visiting, engaging and facilitating assistance in basic areas amongst the elderly, the needy and the poor for that is where I could relate.
Ask about what I love doing during my free time-there's no secret- I love sitting around the fire place and telling stories, reading books and traveling.
The artifacts I have attached are images of preaching, and distributing basic needs for the elderly people and volunteer missionaries who serve in the remotest parts of Papua New Guinea.
My Early Up brining: My History-His Story
I am a survivor and I thank God for that. I was four when my parents broke up and been the youngest of the three boys, mom took me to her village and raised me up in grandma’s house. My grandma lived literally a meter away from the front of the Nupaha Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. Hence, I grew up beside the pulpit by default. That is how I was introduced to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Christianity and more importantly God.
Fast forward ten years on, I was in eighth grade. One Thursday afternoon in March of the same year (1985), I came home from school to an empty house. Mom had moved on-found another man and moved in with him in a village on the other side of the blue ranges. Yet, the saddest reality was that (and for reasons only known to herself), she never told her 'baby' she was moving on with life.
Upon realizing it later in the evening, it was as if the world was closing in on me. Tears were constant company till day break. Yet, prayer and sheer determination to continue education got me into a world of resilience. Since that night, I learnt the essence of pray and utter dependence on God. Live was tough but by God's grace I managed to survive.
Long story short, ever since then (I was fourteen at the time), I had to literally fend on my own disowned by the very man who was to be dad and now abandoned by this figure who had played dual roles of been dad and mom for me for ten straight years.
Now, with no one to turn to, I had to do physical labor for people to have food down my tummy. At such young age, I knew what hard work was and get to appreciate people who spare a plate so I could eat otherwise, my memories are of been homeless, poor, hungry and destitute going from house to house literally fetching water and collecting firewood for people so they could give me something to eat. There were times, even after I have done all the hard work, food is served and I get to miss out. They did it deliberately. Unfortunately, we have some mean people.
Anywhere, praise God I survived to proclaim from the roof tops that “When my father and mother forsake me, then, the Lord will take care of me.” Ps 27:10. My life’s history is all about His story, what God has done, is doing and will do. The experience has helped me not only to depend on God entirely but more importantly to see him as my Father. This defines everything I am and everything I do with Him and for Him.
In retrospect, when the acceptance letter from Pacific Adventist University (PAU) to do my undergrad landed in my swift hands 4:30pm Friday December 5th, 1997, I sprinted up to the nearest ATM in town to check my balance. The amount that showed on the ATM screen was PGK1.36 which was A$0.50 cents when the school fees for PAU at the time was PGK3,800 (A$1,300).
Yet, K1.36 or US 50 cents was the only amount I had in my account then. The reason was that I had been building a church in my village with all the monies I earned as a teacher. I got on my knees in that room where the ATM was stationed and thanked God that despite having only K1.36 of 50 cents US, I was still going to PAU. Now, that is history.
In a similar fashion, when accepted to do my doctoral studies here at Andrews University, and with all other necessary payments effected including airline tickets to fly out with family, the balance that showed up in my bank account was PGK140.00 (A$33.00). Yet, I stepped out in faith knowing the one who with a mere US 50cents helped me through in my undergrad would take me through in my postgraduate. Now, six years on and I have spent close to $300,000 already in fees and living expenses excluding expenses for my two daughters’ college/university fees.
God is good. My history is his story. All I do is have faith in Him as the Book reminds me, "But without faith it is impossible to please him for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him." Heb 11:6.
My Educational Journey: A Journey of Perseverance and Faith
For grades one through to six, I attended, Gulunoka Community School in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. Seventh grade to tenth grade was at Goroka Demonstration High School. After completing tenth grade, I went for teacher training at Madang Teachers College and earned a certificate in teacher training (1988-1989).
After eight years of teaching (1990-1997), I enrolled at Pacific Adventist University (PAU) in Port Moresby, PNG to do my undergrad in theology. I entered PAU through what was called Mature Entry Test. On the day of my graduation in December 2001, I jokingly told my close friends, I will continue my studies both at Avondale and then onto Andrews University for my final degree. Little did I know, it will materialize. God is good.
I finished with a Masters in Arts of Theology from Avondale in 2009 and am now doing a PhD in Missions with a cognate in Discipleship and Life Span Education. One thing that I have learnt throughout my educational journey is not to look at the cost of education but rather map out what you want to do, where and when you want to do what you want to do. My upbringing had thought me one big lesson, that is to take God as a father, trust him and depend on him in all seasons of your life. This is what it means to walk by faith.
I finished with a Masters in Arts of Theology from Avondale in 2009 and am now doing a PhD in Missions with a cognate in Discipleship and Life Span Education. One thing that I have learnt throughout my educational journey is not to look at the cost of education but rather map out what you want to do, where and when you want to do what you want to do. My upbringing had thought me one big lesson, that is to take God as a father, trust him and depend on him in all seasons of your life. This is what it means to walk by faith.
Classes I took helped me in confirming principles I personally held and was benefiting from. The article I have attached is from a class I took here in the Seminary on Mission Education and Training with Professor Sherly Doss. We were asked to do a presentation on one thing that defines us. I thought for me was faith. And that through faith, we look beyond the realities and see the invisible and that is the thing that makes the difference with us and those who do not know God. Faith to me is looking outside of the box and seeing the eternal realities.
High Points in Ministry- Our Walk with Him to Precede Our Work for Him
Throughout my pastoral career be it as a chaplain, lecturer, church administrator, or even as a full-time student now even in a foreign land, I believe in encouraging church members to fast and also go out for a retreat.
In my book on prayer, Keeping Connection (pages 90-92), I discussed the gears of prayer. The concept of fasting and retreat stand as third and fourth gears of prayer respectively. This idea of the gears of prayer emanated from the statement of Jesus in Matthew 17: 21; “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The statement “this kind” implies there are certain 'kinds' of challenges humanity is faced with that no ordinary prayer can help unless we shift our gears of prayer to a higher gear. Fasting and retreat are the higher gears that could deal with the ‘kind’ of challenges.
The normal day to day prayer is the first gear of prayer. The second gear of prayer is the intensified prayer-those that often find us on our prayer lists and knees. In this second gear of prayer, we often plead and wrestle with God for a longer period than the normal prayers.
Third gear is fasting. As we come to the third gear, we are more serious as reflected in our abstinence of food for half a day, a day or two. The fourth gear of prayer is retreat. This is when one is called to a secluded place to find time with God either for a weekend or a night. Christ himself always did that and also admonished; “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while… in returning and rest, you shall be saved.” Mark 6:36; Isaiah 30:15b.
if anything I have done which contributed to the spiritual welfare of members more than anything was conducting retreats for church leaders, members and everyone alike. Even whilst here at the Seminary, I have conducted a few retreats also amongst students as well as churches. for example, Pacific Islands youths at Sacramento SDA Church (2019), and tow Hispanic Churches in Chicago (2023).
The artifacts I have attached below are examples of retreats I conducted with church members/leaders and also business and other professional people. I have come to confirm that irrespective of status, all needed the Lord and a proper teaching as to how they could grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Retreat for Businessmen and women
Through the retreat, I have seen people coming closer to each other and most importantly to God. Tithes and offerings and also commitment to God and His church rise to an all time high.
I personally believe our walk with God should precede our work for him. having said that, I learnt a very important lesson through Professor John Matthews' class Teaching Religious Education in College that while developing better curriculum and having the best infrastructures are important, nothing weighs more than having a good Christian ethical teacher.
Other classes Spiritual Formation with Professor Matthew John and the especially the assigned readings were very helpful.
One that impacted me was this quote from The Ministry of Healing by Ellen White in regards to the Master Pastor- Teacher; “He studies the word of God, and his hours of greatest happiness were found when he could turn aside from the scene of his labors to go into the fields, to mediate in the quiet valleys, to hold communion with God on the mountain side or amid the trees of the forest. The early morning often found him in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer…From the hours spent alone with God he came forth, morning by morning to bring the light of heaven to men…We must individually hear him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God.” P. 14, 15. There is power in fasting and retreating.
Also, in the classes I took with Professor David Sedlacek, Advanced Studies in Biblical Counselling, it became apparent that, even in counseling, it is not just tips on good counseling but also been closely connected with God that, the Holy Spirit brings the conviction and ensures, real authentic healing happens. Terry Wade in his book “Healing Care, Healing Prayer” is adamant right from chapter one that, the caregiver must pursue intimacy with the Lord above all else to be successful in counseling otherwise.
In conclusion, I take the statement of Christ seriously; “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15: 4. Only in my connection with Him can I be of any use. Hence, when I am done with my studies here at the Seminary and I go out into the field, it is my greatest desire to be a team player in helping those who I come into contact with come to know and love the Lord because they see it in me. I want not only to teach about the love of God but live out what I teach and preach. Hence, if anyway, this can help at least someone come to know and experience the Lord Jesus, I would have fulfilled my purpose. Truly I have being influenced by my professors here. There is this I can hear from their silent witnesses; "Imitate us as we also imitate Christ." 1 Cor 11:1. This is what I aspire to do, imitate Christ as Paul did, and as my professors did with the hope that someone will also imitate me as I imitate Christ.
The artifacts I have attached below, one is my personal development plan for developing spirituality and second is my personal philosophy of Christian education.
0 comments:
Post a Comment