The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma is gearing up for significant growth in its business ventures with plans to open a service station, a shopping complex, and a 10-story building within the next two years. Additionally, the church is considering a long-term strategy spanning five to ten years to establish its own broadcasting company for television and radio.
Manasa Vatanitawake, Secretary of the Communication Department, emphasized that the purpose of these projects is to aid the community and further the church’s mission. “We want to clarify that we are not creating these businesses to generate profit for the church,” Mr. Vatanitawake stated. “The aim is to assist the people and promote the message of the church.”
The church plans to inaugurate the service station in Davuilevu and the shopping complex by March or April 2025. Following that, in 2026, the construction of the Lako Yani 10-story building is expected to commence.
These initiatives are intended to generate funds that will support the church’s mission of reaching out to individuals with the gospel and addressing their daily needs. The church is also exploring ways to provide assistance to its members, particularly as living costs continue to rise while wages remain stagnant.
In a related update, the church has informed its congregation that the regular levy will be reduced from $15 to $13.50, as it will utilize revenues from its business ventures to cover the $1.50 per person payment.