Reverend Lal Mohammed has garnered significant attention on social media, with his impactful sermon being shared widely, including on the ChatFiji forum, which is known for its controversial content. His message has sparked reflection among not only the Methodist Church but also across various Christian denominations.
During his sermon, Reverend Lal utilized three iTaukei dialects—Lauan, Nadroga, and Bauan—alongside English. He met with a news representative on Friday at the Vodafone Arena in Suva to discuss his approach and background.
When asked about his proficiency in the iTaukei language, Reverend Lal explained that he was born in Lau, where he primarily spoke the Lauan dialect due to the small Indian population. After moving to Nadroga, he adopted the Nadroga dialect and then learned Bauan. He credited his upbringing in a village setting in Nakalavo and his father’s role as a lay-preacher for his familiarity with the language. Despite their Muslim heritage, they did not practice Islam, and his family eventually embraced Methodism.
Reverend Lal shared his process for preparing his sermons, stating that he focused on the conference theme by searching for relevant Bible verses. He highlighted the importance of addressing issues that deviate from spiritual teachings, aiming to bring these matters to light, especially pertaining to the Methodist Church, the largest denomination in Fiji.
His desire to become a reverend stemmed from an early age, nurtured by accompanying his father to preaching events. After feeling called to serve the Indo-Fijian community, he transitioned to the Indian Division of the church, despite initially not knowing Hindi, which he learned through divine inspiration.
Reverend Lal has served in various locations, including Sigatoka, Navua, Nadi Circuit, Labasa, Rakiraki, Dilkusha Indian Circuit, and currently in the Dudley Circuit.
In his personal life, he mentioned that his wife was a Hindu at the time of their marriage, but she later converted to Christianity. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter.