October 2007
Fiji Islands
Fiji, officially Republic of the Fiji Islands is an independent republic in the South Pacific Ocean. It is part of Melanesia and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Fiji is about 1,800 km North of New Zealand. It comprises more than 300 islands and islets., of which about 100 are habited. The smaller island and islets are composed of coral reef and limestone. The capital and largest city is Suva.
The climate is tropical, tempered by the south-eastern trade winds. The average annual temperature is 25C. The principal resources are the dense forests, producing both softwoods and hardwoods, gold and manganese deposits. Music and dance in the Fijian Islands is Polynesian in style, and vocal music predominates and is used for a variety of purposes, including church hymns, and dances. Vocal music is often accompanied by percussion such as drums, sticks, or stomping of feet.
The Reform Movement began in 1989-1990 in Fiji when Sr. Frances Chute returned to Fiji from Canada where she became a member of our church. Br. Andrade and Br. Dering visited Fiji and accepted a number of interested souls into the Reform Movement. In 1999 Br’s Salavyov and Andrade visited Fiji and accepted new members (Fijian) around Suva side. Few years later Br. Samson (Indian background) joined the Lord’s vineyard and established a church in Lautoka. By this way now we have two established churches in Fiji, one in Lautoka and the other in Suva side.
At the moment our leader as an ordained elder and Bible worker is Br Samson Goundar. The progress of the Lord’s work is going well and with success, but the needs of financial support are great.
At as result of last year’s political problems in Fiji, the people in Fiji suffer from poverty. Much help is needed for our suffering people there. Likewise, we desperately need help in respect to church buildings in both Lautoka and Suva side. One of these buildings will be prepared and used for a headquarters in Fiji.
We need finance for salary for Bible workers as well to spread the last message of mercy not only on the main island of Fiji but to the other islands of Fiji and the other Islands group around, They need finance for books to be developed colportage there also.
We will appreciate your generous sacrifices of financial support to the needs of the new Lord’s vineyard in Fiji.
Thank you
Yours Brothers in Christ
–A. Salavyov
Regional Representative
