Newsletter from Bruce Edwards - Mid 2014

It's great for us to be aware of all that is happening in the CoC churches in Fiji. If you click on this LINK, you'll will get all the news from Bruce Edwards, including a brief update on the work in Sigatoka.

Prayer for Our Partners in Sigatoka

It's exciting to hear of a new worship centre being constructed in Sigatoka as a result of true kingdon fellowsip & partnering. Read More >>> 

We have also received these prayer needs over the last couple of months -

- Continue to pray for the provision of a local pastor for the Nakasi Church. A potential candidate recently fell through.

- Praise God for the strong congregational affirmation at the AGM of Raj Deo's reappointment as pastor for another three years at Vuci Rd.

- Praise God that Muneshwar Goundar has regular access to a vehicle through the generosity of the local Korean missionary, Lim.

- Pray for David Reddy at Lautoka as he conducts Bible studies with new believers in preparation for baptism.

- Praise God that some documents misplaced several months ago at the Nasouri Town Council have been found and planning for extensions at Vuci Rd can resume!

- Pray for wisdom and creativity as they develop a plan that will provide an adequate meeting space for the church as well as living space for Pastor Raj Deo and his family.

- Pray for wisdom and discernment about how to best invest time and energy for the Kingdom’s sake at Sigatoka. There are opportunities for the growth of the Sigatoka ministry, but they involve significant travel time in different directions.

- There is still a need for a local pastor at Nakasi Church. Continue to pray for God to lead us to the right person, or the right person to us.

General News of Church of Christ Missions in Fiji

This report from Bruce Edwards is quite interesting and important because it gives a general picture of the CoC missions in Fiji and allows us to see our partnership with Muneshwar in the overall context. There's certainly some great work being done in this Pacific nation!

Download the report HERE.

Christmas & Early 2014 News

We received the follow email from Bruce Edwards, head of Church of Christ missions in Fiji, in early March.


"Hi again Jeff,

Here's the news, photos and prayer points.

A while ago now (I was waiting for photos), but a good news story. On Christmas Day, three groups (Sigatoka, Lomowai & Nabitu - where Munesh has been going to provide Hindi preaching for his Korean friend, Pastor Lim) joined together for a combined celebration service. They arranged transport and set up a temporary shelter erected in the grounds of the Blue Paradise Hotel at Korotogo and around 40 people gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus together.

A few weeks ago, a 23 year old woman died during childbirth. She was the neighbour of one of the Sigatoka church members, and also a believer, though her husband was more nominal, holding on to aspects of his Hindu heritage, whilst also embracing some Christian beliefs. Through the neighbour, Muneshwar was asked to conduct the funeral and was able to share the love of God with the congregation in a special way at such a tragic time. Since then, he has had opportunity to spend time with the young widower, and also a neighbouring family, who expressed interest in knowing more about Christ. Last week they asked him to come and help them remove the idols from their home and destroy them, as they now want to follow Jesus. He is currently doing some Bible studies with them on baptism.

Please pray for Muneshwar as he continues to minister to these families, and others in the local area who are showing interest in Christian faith in the wake of these events. Pray also for the young man who is now raising 2 children, including a newborn, alone. Pray also for the mother of the young woman who died, who has rejected her new grand-daughter, blaming her for the death.

Also, some resources have been provided, through supporters of Pastor Lim, the Korean missionary, for a simple shelter to be erected at Lomowai for church services.  The Lomowai church members are cutting bamboo for the frame, and the money, along with some they have saved themselves, will be used to purchase corrugated iron for the roof.  One of the local families has made a section of land available.

The plan is that once the structure is up, it will become the primary meeting place for the church, with people from Sigatoka travelling out to Lomowai on Sunday mornings, which will resolve the long running question of where the church meets for worship; so that is a praise point.

Please pass on our ongoing appreciation to the Rivergum church for their partnership in our ministry here in Fiji.

Bruce"