Reverend Simione Tugi has called for assistance after witnessing an impressive turnout of young people at the Australian gospel band Planetshakers’ crusade held at Churchill Park in Lautoka over the past weekend. The Fiji Council of Churches (FCC), which is collaborating with Planetshakers for this event, saw thousands of young attendees from various denominations and ethnic backgrounds.
Rev. Tugi expressed his amazement at the large crowd and noted that many participants committed their lives to God during the crusade. He mentioned that some attendees even stepped away from their nightlife activities to engage in the three-night event, which raises concerns about the church’s current impact on the youth.
He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among the church, government, and community to address pressing issues such as drug use, HIV, sexual abuse, and suicide affecting young individuals.
Mereoni Tinaitukana from Goulding Developments shared her experience of the crusade, describing it as overwhelming and highlighting the power of the message delivered. She urged her fellow young Fijians to reconnect with their faith and revive traditions such as praise festivals and church crusades, which could help combat drug addiction among the youth.
The next crusade is scheduled to take place at Albert Park in Suva on August 25, starting at 3 PM.