Pastor Luis Mafnas of Guam recently moved off island to further his education. His studies will take him to central California where he will attend Weimar University. A fitness enthusiast and avid health advocate, Pastor Mafnas is fortifying his ministerial work by pursuing his Master of Arts in Biblical Mission and Wellness.

Pastor Mafnas is a native Chamorro of Guam and was raised Catholic. He became Adventist when his girlfriend Jessica, also Catholic, invited him to attend Bible studies led by one of the doctor's wives at the Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic. They were soon convicted of the truth and were baptized into the Adventist Church.

Pastor Mafnas began his work in the Guam-Micronesia Mission as an Operating Room Aide at the Guam SDA Clinic. He later felt the call to enter full-time ministry and travelled to the Philippines where he gained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from AUP (Adventist University of the Philippines) and a Master of Ministry from AIIAS (Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies).  

Upon graduation, Pastor Mafnas first pastored the Agana Heights SDA Church. He later became the senior pastor of both the Northern SDA Church and Happy Family SDA Church. Shortly before his departure from Guam, he took on the additional role as pastor of the Agat SDA Church. 

Pastor Mafnas has worked internationally as well. He spent a sabbatical year during his studies, in Australia where he accepted an invitation by the South Brisbane SDA Church to serve as a pastor.

His voice could be heard weekly on the Adventist radio station Joy FM, as Pastor Mafnas and Jessica – his wife now of 25 years – hosted the “Straight From the Bible” program that provided Bible-based answers for listeners’ questions.

Jessica has faithfully served by his side in support of church ministry, in addition to working at the Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic in the Wellness Center. Their children, Jamica, Elijah, and Hana, will be near them in the U.S.

Pastor Mafnas shared these words of appreciation at his farewell, “We thank God for sustaining us in our service and are thankful for GMM’s support over the years, sincerely from the bottom of our hearts.”

We appreciate the nearly two decades of service that the Mafnas family has devoted to the Guam-Micronesia Mission. May God continually bless you as you share the hope of Jesus and the power of the health message - the "right hand of the gospel". We will keep you close in prayer as you enter this new adventure in your ministry.

Si Yu'os Ma'åse (“thank you” in Chamorro), Mafnas family! Come home soon!