Introducing Muneshwar - Pastor of Sigatoka Community Church, Fiji

Muneshwar Goundar is the pastor of Sigatoka Community Church in Fiji.

This is a new church plant which has come out of Nakasi Church in Suva, Fiji, pastored by Bruce and Lisa Edwards.

Muneshwar is married to Stella and has two beautiful children, Haddasah and Joshua.

He has been working in Sigatoka for the past 18 months setting up a new church and making connections with the local community.

Muneshwar's goals for his church are to...

• Set up good internal governance on how the church is run with Christ-like leadership.
• Be good stewards on how their finances and resources are managed.
• Be a good and effective witness in their local community for Jesus.

Some practical prayer points...

• Wisdom in working alongside the Fijian/Indian communities in Sigatoka to help build relationships and connections.
• Protection over their families as they seek to bring the Good News of Jesus to the community of Sigatoka.

Here is a video of Muneshwar being interviewed by Bruce Edwards:

Introducing Our Connection with Sigatoka, Fiji

See all our other Mission Connections

All of the information below is taken from the GMP (Global Mission Partners) website. GMP ( www.inpartnership.org.au )  is a Christian international mission, aid and development organisation committed to facilitating life-changing partnerships. GMP began work in 1891 and is part of Churches of Christ in Australia. GMP understands that mission must work with what God is doing and in partnership with local people. This means we focus on partnerships with churches and agencies overseas, linking them with partners in Australia.

The Indo-Fijian community is large in size - 35% of the Fijian population, however it is less than 5% active Christian. Many are either Hindu or Muslim. In the early 90's, the first Mission workers went to Fiji. In the years since, churches have been planted, some have struggled, and others are moving to self-governance and self-sustainability.

During 2011-2012, GMP focused on helping develop Nakasi Church of Christ. The church had an elected committee for some time and this past year has appointed its own pastor and is meeting part of the salary cost. At Vuci Road, a new pastor has brought energy and a vision and growth in learning. The same energy and growth is happening at Lautoka and Vitogo.

In addition to this, there is a shortage of trained pastors from an Indo-Fijian background. Two steps towards training pastors have been taken. First a decision to sponsor Muneshwar Gaunder while he completed studies at the South Pacific Missionary Training Centre. The second is to train and mentor new pastors as they are appointed, to ensure the values of Churches of Christ are appreciated.

 Church Development:  

Vuci Road church is expanding. The Nakasi church now has its own pastor and there is encouraging growth in the Lautoka/Vitogo church.  A new church was started in Sigatoka in 2012, this is the first new church for some years.
 




Partnerships:

• Devonport Church of Christ in Tasmania has a good relationship with the church in Lautoka and Vitogo.
• River Gum Church in New South Wales is starting to develop a relationship with Nakasi and Sigatoka.
• Oakleigh Church of Christ in Victoria has a potential  interest in Vuci Road and Sigatoka Church.

During 2012-2013, GMP will:

• Train, mentor and develop Pastors and local Church leaders:  $12,000
• Support Pastors at Lautoka, Vitogo, Sigatoka and Nausori (Vuci Road) : $26,000 ($14,000 promised)