A Methodist Church official has expressed concern over the church’s inaction in light of a deteriorating national crisis characterized by increasing drug trafficking, teenage pregnancies, sexual crimes, and rising HIV/AIDS cases.
Reverend Iliesa Koroi, the Evangelism Secretary for the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, criticized the church for not effectively addressing these issues, emphasizing the urgent need for a more proactive response. He noted that both the Government and community leaders, referred to as ‘vanua’, are overwhelmed in their efforts to combat these significant social problems, which he attributes to the church’s failure to fulfill its role.
“The Government and the ‘vanua’ have exhausted themselves in trying to combat these social issues because we, the prophets, are not doing our job,” Reverend Koroi stated. He called out pastors and church leaders for their lack of influence, insisting, “People don’t change through education but through the word of God.”
He further remarked that the Government and ‘vanua’ are fatigued because “the men of God are sleeping on the job.” He underscored the necessity for the church to engage more actively with the youth who are facing challenges related to HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and pornography.
“The police will get tired of uprooting and raiding drugs when these issues are not addressed from within themselves, and for this to happen, it needs God,” he asserted, adding, “Only God can change Fiji.”
Reverend Koroi also lamented the decline in family unity and prayer, urging modern families to reconnect with essential spiritual practices. “Families need to spend time with each other and, most importantly, pray together,” he encouraged.
In a strong critique of Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya’s suggestion to reintroduce the death penalty for serious drug offenders, he dismissed the proposal as ineffective. “She is a minister but can’t address the issue properly; instead, she proposes death. That is not the solution,” he remarked, advocating for addressing the root causes of crime instead of resorting to extreme measures.
“We must address the root of the problem, which is the desire within a person,” Reverend Koroi added, calling for unity among religious leaders and urging all faith communities to come together to tackle the nation’s pressing social issues. “Let’s work together,” he concluded as he was re-elected to his position.