The Assistant General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Anil Reuben, believes that the church is undergoing a revival. As one of the longest-serving ministers, he expressed his views on this renewal within the church.
“The president of the church includes us in his decision-making. The church is reviving,” noted Reverend Reuben. He emphasized the importance of restoring the church’s lost image, stating that his preaching in various locations has resulted in many children attending services.
This year’s conference theme is ‘Restoring the Lost Image of Christ within the Methodist Church in Fiji.’ Reverend Reuben highlighted the fact that many incarcerated individuals identify as Methodists and stressed the church’s commitment to changing this narrative.
“We are lacking in areas such as prisons and hospitals. We must ensure that we continue to reach out to these places,” he said.
Church President Reverend Semisi Turagavou recognized the challenges that the church faces in its role as a prophetic voice and spiritual leader for the nation. He called for unity in the mission to restore the lost image of Christ as the church’s vision for 2024-2025.
“Restoring or achieving the lost image of Christ is the vision, and I suggest that we accept it collectively, as this is the church’s mission for the year 2024-2025. We need to recapture what we have lost,” Reverend Turagavou stated.
He encouraged the congregation to think creatively, reminding them that “the time is always right to do what is right,” and affirmed that “God is forming and reforming His church, and He’s calling us to partner with Him and elevate the church to another level.”