Adventist young people and adults took to the streets of Lautoka in preparation for a Fiji-wide combined worship service at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on May 17 to 18.
They marched in the streets holding banners welcoming General Conference president Pastor Ted Wilson to Fiji and encouraging other people to attend the programs.
The combined worship service was just one of the activities Pastor Wilson engaged in while in Fiji over the weekend.
He also attended groundbreaking ceremonies for two new Adventist education facilities on Friday. At Fulton Adventist University College, he was among a group of leaders who participated in the ceremony, signalling the start of construction of their new chapel. The chapel is expected to accommodate up to 550 people.
Later that day, Pastor Wilson visited Lautoka Adventist Primary School to pray over the new high school project set to start in the coming months. Currently, there is no Adventist high school in the area. Fulton Adventist University College provides tertiary education. A high school in Lautoka would allow students to continue their education after primary school and ease their transition into university.
After the formal cutting of the ribbon, Pastor Wilson promised financial support from the General Conference for the project.
“A Seventh-day Adventist high school will be located right here by God’s grace,” Pastor Wilson said. “May God bless this construction project.”
“We are lost for words. For so long we were longing for an education institution to continue from where they left in class eight here,” Fiji Mission education director Anasa Vateitei said. “We are so blessed to hear that commitment from the General Conference.”
Pastor Wilson preached at both a Friday night and Sabbath program on “Living for His Coming”, inspiring viewers within the stadium and online to focus on the second coming and fix their eyes on Jesus.
South Pacific Division general secretary Pastor Mike Sikuri, who attended alongside Pastor Wilson, said the stadium was full especially for the morning service, the best he’s seen at any combined service. A further 73,000 people have viewed the service online through Fiji Mission’s Facebook page.
“I must commend Fiji for a well-organised and attended combined service. Often the momentum drops, but the programs were engaging all day,” Pastor Sikuri said. “The Fiji Mission pastors who participated in PNG For Christ shared at the afternoon program and it was clear they were on fire. Our people left inspired and encouraged to serve.”
The Sabbath morning program included presentations from all the Sabbath school divisions, including dramatised stories from the children with a clear message, that Pastor Sikuri said has remained with him. The afternoon program consisted of worship and the testimonies of Fiji Mission pastors who had returned from PNG For Christ.
Gifts were presented to both Pastor Wilson and his wife Nancy by Fiji Mission president Pastor Nasoni Lutunaliwa as they concluded their part in the service. Senior ministers prayed over Pastor Wilson and his wife for safe travels as they continue their journeys. Attendees formed a guard of honour as the Wilsons left Churchill Park.
