The Fiji Mission of Seventh-day Adventists brought Suva to a halt on August 15 when Assistant Minister of Health, Alexander O’Conner, and the Fiji Military Forces Band, led a NEWSTART Health Expo march through the city during the morning peak hour.
The march signalled the start of a week of health emphasis. Mr O’Conner opened the expo and emphasised how it was another way in which the Church, through its health department, can help the wider community in creating more awareness of Fiji’s lifestyle diseases epidemic. He was given a tour of the expo tents, which were themed to reflect the NEWSTART acronym: nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, air, rest and trust in God. Many people from the community visited the tents.
Pastor Daron Pratt, children’s ministries director for the North NSW Conference, conducted balloon and puppet training on the eve of the health expo.
Around 100 church members, including, women, children and pastors, attended the training, which involved balloon twisting, the basics of puppetry (making a sock puppet) and puppetry scripting. The day ended with each group performing their scripts and preparing for the health expo the following day.
Pastor Pratt also launched a family spiritual app, which promotes parenting awareness in the 21st century. After the app was launched, Fiji Mission president Pastor Luke Narabe offered the dedication prayer.
“God continues to equip and use His people to reach the unreached,” said Dr Alipate Vakamocea, director of Adventist Health for Fiji Mission.
