Fiji ranks number four in percentage for online searches for the word “porn” and ninth for the word “pornography” according to a training session held by Pastor Letitia Shelton at the Tamavua Methodist Church on March 22.
The session, held for Fijian pastors and church leaders of another denomination, was attended by the Adventist church in Fiji’s ministerial director, Pastor Tiko Kabu and his colleague Children, Women and Family Ministries director Alice Kaisuva.
Pastor Shelton from Toowoomba, Queensland, addressed the issue of domestic violence and pornography in Fiji to an audience of pastors from numerous denominations. Pastor Shelton has long been an advocate against pornography, founder of the “City free from Porn” campaign in Toowoomba.
According to Pastor Kabu, the presentation was timely and important as the impact of pornography upon the church, schools, families and the community is very real within the Pacific. “The text in Isaiah 61:1 sounds very much like a call to action for our entire church in Fiji.
“We are to proclaim the good news to the poor . . . bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives to addictions and pornography, this is exactly what the church needs to be doing” said Pastor Kabu. “Because we hold positions of leadership for the church in Fiji, we need to be actively addressing these issues from our pulpits, church board rooms and among our faith community. It is a difficult conversation to have, however it is a much needed one. This is our responsibility.”
An apology video has also been produced by Pastor Shelton featuring five Fijian pastors, however, Pastor Shelton reminded her audience that “apologising without change is manipulation”.
Pastor Shelton shared that while it is good to acknowledge that we have not always got it right, we do need to change the way we deal with these sensitive issues.
Pastor Kabu and Mrs Kaisuva feel a renewed sense of purpose and calling upon their arenas of leadership, after attending this workshop.
You can view the apology video here: https://www.facebook.com/LetitiaAnnShelton/videos/944897356551391
