Moving out of the private sphere and re-entering the public imaginary, the world is experiencing a ‘religious resurgence’. In the mainstream there has been a ‘religious turn’ toward a rapprochement with religious actors. For a long time, faith-based actors and institutions were unacknowledged in mainstream evelopment projects. This has been attributed to secular discourses of modernity, as well as harmful views and practices promoted by certain religious institutions. However, religious institutions have a long history of development, particularly in the Pacific. The role of religion in the Pacific is complex, but is still important for many people. During Cyclone Winston and in the recovery process that follows religious beliefs gave strength and comfort, as well as alternate interpretations of disaster. Looking forward to the future and addressing issues such as climate change adaptation require collaboration between different institutions, both secular and religious, as well as incorporating local beliefs and epistemologies.