A Visit by Jeff & Pam

As many would know, Jeff & Pam took the opportunity of acting as chaplains on a recent cruise ship. As it stopped in Fiji and they visited the church in Sigatoka, we asked them for this brief report.

"Pam and I had one stop-over on the main island of Fiji during our recent South Pacific cruise.  It gave us an opportunity to visit the church plant at Sigatoka that Rivergum is partnering with, and to meet Maneshwar, wife Stella, and their two gorgeous little kids.  Bruce Edwards who oversees the Fijian churches, also travelled to meet with us.  And we brought along a Christian couple we had met on the boat, Sam and Joannie.  They ended up being such an asset.  With Sam's background and army ingenuity, we were able to bless Maneshwar and Stella with a kitchen "update".  Using limited tools, we ripped out their old kitchen bench that was literally disintegrating, and replaced it with a "new" one.

We were able to visit where they have begun to meet for Sunday Worship (an improvement on their house) then got to see where some of the church members live, including spending time with a few families in a farming community some distance out of Sigatoka.  This outreach was initiated by the miraculous healing of lady there who had suffered a severe stroke.  The impact and witness of her faith has stirred the faith of others in her extended family and among her neighbours, so a Saturday service is held in their home, run by Maneshwar.

It was good to talk to Bruce and Maneshwar, and experience first-hand some of the opportunities and challenges that they face in Fiji.  There is a strong Christian heritage in the country, but a lot of disunity amongst the churches, and a low level of Christian commitment and passionate discipleship (does that sound familiar?).  Maneshwar is visiting door-to-door, following up needs he encounters with prayer and practical help.  Personnel and financial resources are limited.

We began to discuss plans for sending out a missions team from Rivergum, which could be such a mutual blessing and encouragement.  Tentatively, we are looking for about 6 people to comprise this team, and we would probably go for 8 or 9 days around the middle of this coming year (2014)."

News from Sigatoka - Dec 13

Celebrating 20 Years of Mission (Fiji)

10 December, 2013

Nakasi Church was abuzz as 160 people took their seats for the 20th Anniversary Celebrations on Sunday 1 December. They came from the six congregations across Fiji that have grown from the humble ‘mustard seed’ beginnings of 1993.

Testimonies of physical healing, spiritual deliverance and life transformation were shared. Members from across the churches celebrated with performances in song and dance. Premila Prasad, a foundation member of the Nakasi Church, shared reflections from those early days and Jan Christensen, Queensland Mission Mobiliser, brought greetings from Australia. Barry Ward, one of the early pioneer missionaries, shared Paul's confident encouragement to the Philippians, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion."

God's generosity and faithfulness was celebrated with an offering of $400FJD being given to assist the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. “With many members of our churches here living at a subsistence level themselves we were reminded of Paul's affirmation of the rich generosity of the Macedonian churches, giving, even out of their poverty, to bless their needy brothers and sisters in Jerusalem,” says Bruce Edwards, Director of the Fiji Community Churches of Christ. “Our hope and prayer is that the people of the Philippines will experience the practical reality of God's love through this gift.”

Church on the Move (Fiji)

27 November, 2013

People greet each other cheerfully and quietly take a seat. Quiet music forms a gentle background as Pastor Lim applies his skilled fingers on the keyboard. Stella Goundar is busy setting out the necessary resources on a table as she prepares to lead. The group is meeting in a room in a private hotel in Sigatoka rented by Pastor Lim, now transformed into a meeting space for the Sunday service.

The Sigatoka Church of Christ has met here for the past two weeks as it seeks a better permanent location. In recent months at the original site there was increasing concern expressed about the ‘competition' with another church group which has begun meeting in a nearby home. The nature of the neighbourhood and the use of amplification by the other group made concentration difficult for the members of the Sigatoka Church. Attempts to talk with leaders and others from the neighbouring group were unsuccessful. Pastor Lim, the Korean missionary who has been partnering with Pastor Muneshwar Goundar and assisting with transportation and music at Lomowai, offered the solution of his accommodation.

“Once again we praise God for Pastor Lim,” says Bruce Edwards, Director of the Fiji Community Churches of Christ. “He has made space available in the two units he is renting at a small private hotel. His schedule also means he is available to assist with music at that service too.”  

A trial period of meeting in the new space began two Sundays ago. The relocation resulted in lower attendance for the first week and the question of accessibility is one of the factors being considered in the trial period. “We really thank God for Pastor Lim and the provision of this space. It was a great relief and a lot nicer to worship in a quiet place,” says Muneshwar. “We appreciate prayer for wisdom and discernment in evaluating the long term viability of this venture,” says Bruce.

Letter from Muneshwar - November

Dear Partners in Christ .

  Greetings in Jesus precious name.

We had a wonderful experience over couple of weeks ago with the Lomowai Church. It was on a Friday when one of the Lomowai Church member called us up saying that one of their working teenage son got missing since last few days and that worried them to death. Every one in the family called the police and gave reports as well as the whole neighborhood knew about the incident. The whole family was emotional and had no idea what to do so all the relatives gathered to mourn together with the family. 

Few minutes later Munesh and Lim (Korean pastor) showed up as we were telephoned and while we were praying for the missing son's family and for the son and as we shared through God's word specially with two specific thoughts firstly that we cannot do anything. And secondly everything is possible with God . As the parents said that they would only want to see their son come back home and that was their only wish. Just after few minutes after prayers was made there was a phone call saying that  he is found. That was the first phone call after almost a week of missing from home. The whole families rejoiced and with great joy and happiness as they could not be able to express it and some were filled with tears of joy and some would thank God for Munesh and Lim's presence just being there for them in times of confusion and doubts and fears as well.

As usual again on the next morning which was on Saturday He and PS Lim went back to  Lomowai to conduct Church service. The whole families made a commitment saying that they will all be coming to church as for before only the mother comes for church and the Father wasn't really faithful. Now seeing God opening doors for the Hindu's and Muslims around that neighborhood helps us to understand that God is in control and that he cares for all His unsaved souls around the area of Lomowai to be able to hear God's word and be saved. This is also one of the answer to our prayers for more open doors for the salvation of the people around that area. We're sure that you all have been praying for us and we want to share with you what God is doing on this side of the world and to think that God hears and answers our prayers only by allowing circumstances in life in order to change one's life.

On the Sunday morning the family called again for another church service again which was unusual but Munesh again went back together with Pastor Lim . After church service they had a big party with Indian dishes just to celebrate the returning of their son back home. He was actually being witchcraft with some kind of  drinks as he mentioned by some of his peer groups that he was not able to be in his sense which lead him to leave his working place, homes and families even without informing no body from a distance of about four to five hours drive  and that was the cause of his missing. 

Also here in Sigatoka church we have been experiencing God working in the life's of some of the church members which is also some of the encouraging things for us to share with you all.There's this teenage mother who had  went through a strange experience of having some kind of skin diseases which just bubbled up in every parts of her body that lead her ill for about a week. Her mother called Munesh for prayers since she was also a working mother and needs to go back to work. Munesh went to their home for prayers and while still praying for the healing of her body as he said that he felt that the Lord was telling him to say to the families that her healing will take place in less then three days and he did mentioned that to the families. I was a little nervous (Stella writes) to hear such things but God did healed her in  three days her desaese in her body and she went back to work and there is nothing that we can take pride about but we know that we're just a vessels availing and allowing God to use us for the extension of His kingdom purposes. May the name of Jesus be glorified and that brings lots of joy and happiness in to our life's seeing God working as we understand that such people like you are backing us us up prayers and supports and as God reveals himself tremendously in His own ways in the life's of His peoples.

We also have this issue here in Sigatoka church that other two churches just popped from no where as they broke out from their main church and forming their own just next to us.One worship is done in English and the other one is done in Fijian dilect and it has been very much disturbing for us which sometimes we're not even able to hear ourselves. Most offtenly our church members have been complaining that our eyes are with the pastor preaching but our minds and ears are with the other two churches singing s,etc. That has been also one of our prayer request for another location that is much quieter for Sunday service.

We really thank God for PS Lim who allowed us to use His place for Sunday worship and last week Sunday was our first Sunday that was held in Ps Lim's residence. He lives in a small kind of like a hotel with few homes for visitor and so we're having this privilege to use one of the rooms and that was a great relief and felt a lot more nicer to have church worship in a quiet place where we can hear God speak to us through our worship to him and we thank you all for partnering with us in this journey.we surely know that God will  Bless you all for all you labor for his sake.   

Our prayer requests

Pray for our upcoming program for the church anniversary for the Nakasi church in suva combine with all the churches of christ here in in fiji

Pray for more ministry opportunities

Please Pray with me for my work permit  for an open door

Please help pray for a transport that will help us to move around.

We know that God has His timing and He will show up so we kindly request you all to please continue to pray with us.

With lots of Love and Blessings

Muneshwar, Stella ,Hadasha and Maynard

Update from Fiji...

Dear partners in Rivergum Church

Greetings in Jesus precious name

We’re so much thankful to the lord  for all your prayers  and as we’ve seen God doing great things over the last couple of weeks that we would like to share with you  and we surely believe that it was all your prayers that God has answered.

Few weeks ago we had our preparation for our first year Sigatoka church anniversary  and as usual we continued praying for for all the up coming programs and also for all our church members and including other  prayer needs that the Lord was leading us to pray for. 

One of our fellow church member was caught in adultery and had just ran away from the church feeling angry perhaps due to shame and that has been a great concern for us . We as a whole church have been praying for him almost every Sundays during the intercessory prayer times. Just a day before that anniversary Sunday, Munesh had meet up with him in town and had a talk with him and from him with very positive respond and long story short  he asked Munesh over to his house and had lunch together with him . We thank God that the next day he sent all his children's for fellowship together with us and because he himself was a bit busy due to work.That Sunday was a greatest  and a joyous day for all of us also for his children who as well who were once restricted by him and that now they were able to be back joining other youth also in church.       

We also thank God that we were able to celebrate our Sigatoka church anniversary and every thing went well . Our church members also as individual brought in contribution a dish of home cooked food and that was a great lunch .

Munesh has been visiting as usual new homes doing evangelism alone and brought two new families and one has been constantly coming together with their two children and the other one is just to young  teenage girls have just came for one Sunday only and not coming anymore due to their family problems which have affected them a lot . Their parents few months ago got divorced and they said that they have been struggling living all alone. We kindly request you all to please pray for those two sisters and for their  parents that God would help them to realize their mistake and be reunited again someday. As for the two girls they have been traveling a lot visiting their grand parents and therefore they’re not attending church on Sundays but they also said that they will try to come whenever they’re back in Sigatoka.

We also thank God for Pastor Lim who is a Korean Pastor who helps Munesh every Saturday traveling together to Lomowai church and helps with Music for worship purposes and also with the transport  also for Sundays which he allows us to borrow his vehicle to pick and drop the church members of Sigatoka church which has been a great help and we really praise God for all this open doors . Despite the difficulty with the transport currently, we’ve never stopped doing what we supposed to be doing in ministry that the Lord called us to. As usual  we’ve been following our weekly  the schedule for the ministry here in Sigatoka and lomowai especially Munesh offtenly   visits both the churches  and  but as for me unfortunately I wouln’t help a lot with Lomowai but except Sigatoka church  due to looking after the two kids. 

Please continue to help pray for our upcoming program with the Nakasi church as a combine fellowship and for safe journey in few weeks time.

Please also we kindly request you all to help pray for our transport that will be a great help for the ministry.   

 We believe that God has His own ways of proving in His own timing as we trust we continue to pray and have faith in His promises that are true and we believe in God for a open door for our needs.

Please I also kindly request you all to help pray for an open door for my work permit as well.

We thank you all our fellow brothers and sisters and partners in Christ for your support toward the fulfillment of God’s kingdom here in Fiji towards us.

Our prayers for Gods abundant blessings over your life's and may God’s peace be with you all.

 With love 

Munesh, Stella and the kid’s

Happy First Anniversary Sigatoka (Fiji)!

On Sunday September 8th the Sigatoka Church celebrated its first anniversary. It was a cheerful group of around 15 people that shared in worship and a celebration meal together afterwards. One family, attending for the first time, was made especially welcome.

Muneshwar Goundar reflects on the past 18 months since the vision to plant this church first formed. “It is good to look back and celebrate what God has done so far and also to encourage the congregation to look forward to fresh new things ahead.”

Muneshwar is encouraged that relationships which were damaged earlier in the year through one church member's poor moral choices are being restored. Another young woman who had succumbed to pressure from her in-laws to stop attending church is beginning to reconnect. Church members have encouraged and strengthened her in her faith.

The group which meets at Lomowai is also continuing to grow. Pastor Kim, a Korean missionary, is assisting with transport, music and technology for the now regular Saturday afternoon worship service there. Muneshwar and Stella rejoice in the growth of these new church plants and the support networks that are beginning to form.

September Update

Praise God for the growing attendance at Lomowai, and for Pastor Lim (pictured), a Korean missionary who assists Muneshwar with transportation, technology and music for the Lomowai gathering on Saturday afternoons. 

In return, Muneshwar assists him with Hindi preaching at a church service he holds on Sunday evenings. 

The Sigatoka Church is also slowly growing but the issue of a location to meet and transportation remains one for prayer.

Pastor's Retreat

Fiji Community Churches of Christ Director, Bruce Edwards, has just returned from a Pastor's Retreat which he ran to help encourage and build deeper relationships between the local pastors at Fiji.

Here is his post from the Global Mission Partners website:

Fun, Food and Fellowship in Fiji

Good food, lots of laughter and fun and great fellowship together marked the pastor’s retreat at Tubakula Beach near Sigatoka. This time of deeper sharing, from Thursday through to Saturday, was viewed as a valuable investment by the pastors and their families.

“We had a terrific time learning, praying and reflecting together, and also laughing, playing and eating together,” says Fiji Community Churches of Christ Director, Bruce Edwards. “It was a great opportunity, not only for Lisa and I to form deeper relationships with the pastors and their families, but also for the pastors to deepen their relationships with, and appreciation for, one another.”
Those taking part reported a greater sense of being united in a common purpose. They experienced a renewed feeling of being an integrated team holding a shared vision, despite pursuing this vision in different ways in different parts of the country. The wives also valued their time together. They appreciated being understood by others living a similar lifestyle as well as being further equipped as partners in ministry.
The value of continuing to invest more deeply in each other’s lives, in creating opportunities for mutual encouragement, fellowship and equipping for ministry was identified as a priority for the future. “Praise God for this valuable time together,” says Bruce. “Please continue to uphold each of our pastors, their families and the churches they lead.”