Reverend Simione Tugi has called for support after witnessing a remarkable gathering of young people at the Australian gospel band Planetshakers’ crusade held last weekend at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Tugi, who serves as the general secretary of the Fiji Council of Churches (FCC), noted that this event marked a significant turnout, the likes of which he had never seen before.
During the crusade, thousands of attendees, representing various denominations and ethnic backgrounds, made commitments to their faith. “It was inspiring to see their desire for God. Some young people chose to leave nightclubs and parties to be here,” Tugi stated. He raised concerns about the church’s influence and asked, “Why are we not making an impact on these young people?” He emphasized the need for collaboration among the church (lotu), government (matanitu), and community (vanua) to address pressing issues like drug abuse, HIV, sexual violence, and suicide, highlighting the importance of partnerships with evangelistic groups like Planetshakers.
Mereoni Tinaitukana from Goulding Developments in Nadi shared her experience at the crusade, describing it as overwhelming and powerful. She expressed a strong sentiment that Fijian youth need to reconnect with their faith through events like praise festivals and church crusades to combat issues such as drug addiction.
The next Planetshakers crusade is scheduled for August 25 at Albert Park in Suva, starting at 3 PM.