Carelinks | Fiji
It’s so encouraging to see two Western businessmen, brothers John and Guy, taking time out from their work in New Zealand to get out to Fiji and preach. Both John and Guy participated in the Carelinks Missionary Training Program a few years ago; great to see the ideas put into practice. Here’s an extract from the diary of their recent visit:
John and Guy travelled to Fiji again for ten days earlier this month to conduct Bible training for previous contacts and to further the truth in Fiji. They spent time on the streets in the town square central area of Suva handing out hundreds of NEV Bibles and Bible Basics and booklets on Biblical baptism. Before handing out the literature, we asked two provocative questions which led into many deeper and important conversations.
1| Where are you going when you die? Most Fijians profess Christ and so the normal answer is: “heaven”. We would then show them John 3:13 that no man has gone to heaven. The stunned looks are always priceless and then we continue to explain the true gospel of the Kingdom on earth at Jesus’ return.
2| Have you been baptised? Many in Fiji have only been sprinkled as babies so we were able to teach about the need for true belief, repentance and baptism.
It is easy everywhere to have conversations about the Bible as most are Christians and are happy to chat. We chatted to a school, service station attendants, taxi drivers, bakery workers (pictured bottom right), shop workers etc. It is actually very refreshing to be in such an open place to the gospel. We also conducted a Bible study one night and our two main contacts, Steven and Sikeli, attended as well as three others. Steven has had some 25 years in other churches in pastoral and teaching roles, and is overjoyed to finally be hearing the truth and connecting all of the things in scripture he never understood. He is a humble person and also arranged for us to conduct a second Bible study with about 12 adults from his extended family – most of whom have been disillusioned by Pentecostal experience. Sikeli is also increasing in his zeal to know more truth and Skypes us regularly with further questions that he wishes to understand. God willing, we are planning to get them both across to us here in New Zealand for a one to two week concentrated Bible study seminar. They are both so keen they volunteered to pay their own fares.
We baptised Jovilisi near Rakiraki. Jo (as he is known as) recounted how his Father was head superintendent of the Methodist church in Fiji but has passed away six years ago. His passing very much unsettled Jo, and he has been drifting ever since. Jo sought help on how to get back on track with the Lord. He was convicted to be baptised the next day, pictured above. At the accommodation where we stayed, Guy had been very open about telling the staff that we were here for Bible teaching and invited any to come and talk to us.
