Four new churches have been founded in Fiji in the wake of a discipleship program run by Samaritan’s Purse.
The four churches have been established on the island of Vanua Levu in the aftermath of The Greatest Journey – a discipleship program which follows on from a community’s involvement with Operation Christmas Child, a program in which children in need receive shoe-box gifts which have been put together by people in countries like Australia.
A few weeks ago, 500 children gathered at a large church in Labasa to receive certificates and Bibles after graduating from The Greatest Journey.
Jorge Rodrigues, executive director of Samaritan’s Purse Australia and New Zealand, says that following the delivery of shoe-boxes to children in the Fijian communities, many of the children – with the permission of their parents – enrolled in the discipleship program.
The 12 lesson program introduces the concept of salvation through faith in Christ, helps the children gain an understanding of a relationship with Jesus and encourages the sharing of their faith.
“After each class, the children went home and shared with their parents the Bible stories they were learning,” Mr Rodrigues says. “The parents became curious and started attending the classes as observers.”
As a result, he says “hundreds of children and parents have become Christians, leading to the planting of four new churches”.
While at present the congregations are meeting in temporary shelters and people’s homes, Samaritan’s Purse has funded the construction a church building in a village near the town of Labasa. Land is being acquired in three other villages upon which it is proposed new churches – also funded by Samaritan’s Purse – will be built.
