Nailuva Adventist Church was organised on Wednesday, June 25, becoming the Fiji Mission’s 199th organised church.
Fiji Mission president Nasoni Lutunaliwa and other department leaders were at Nailuva Village in the interior of Ra for the organisation of the church.
Adventism was first introduced to the village in 1965.
Over the years, the group of Adventists worshipping there has moved between Nailuva and Nasamia—a settlement outside Nailuva—and the group has seen many challenges.
Pastor Lutunaliwa, in dedicating the church’s 64 members, declared: “This church on the hilltop must remain a lighthouse in Ra Province—lifting up Jesus so that all may be drawn to Him.”
“The story of Nailuva is one of unshaken commitment—a testimony to what God can do when His people remain faithful across generations,” he added.
Church elder Sitiveni Natabui said; “We are standing here today on the shoulders of our elders who had accepted the truth, kept the faith and were committed in sharing the truth to others.”
Despite their lack in numbers, they had organised evangelism programs, with speakers like the late minister Ratu Mesake Naisake, the late Pastor Savenaca Turaga, Pastor Tiko Kabu (FM general secretary) and Pastor Joji Sikote.
Mr Natabui expressed that he was grateful to the elders and members of their mother church, Namara Seventh-day Adventist Church for their commitment towards ensuring that the group in Nailuva were visited and nurtured over the years.
“Today, we are finally organised. It is a sign of maturity and also a reward for the dedicated nurturing and mentoring by the Namara church elders,” he said.
A short history
Christianity arrived in Fiji with the Methodists in 1835 and the Catholics in 1844, who converted chiefs in certain provinces in Fiji.
When the Adventist mission ship Pitcairn landed in Fiji in 1891, Ratu (chief) Aporosa Rabuatoka of the Tui Suva of Suvavou, Rewa, accepted the Adventist faith.
His conversion was infectious and the Adventist faith spread like wildfire to Navosa, Nadrau in the Colo North districts, Wainibuka in Tailevu and the Ra province.
A meeting of the chiefs of Ra province was held in Dadamu in 1965, and was attended by Veni Sukanaivalu the chief of Nailuva Village.
He met with other chiefs who had accepted Adventism and was converted soon after. Several villagers followed him and worship began in the village of Nailuva. The group faced challenges and they moved out of the village to a settlement nearby, before they moved back in 2000.
The church was then able to grow slowly but steadily over the past 25 years with the help and support from Namara Seventh-day Adventist Church.
