Fiji’s vision is to be the hub of the Pacific in terms of spiritual multipliers and to continue to trust God for the fulfillment of the 10/100/10/100 vision (more on this further).
This has been our rallying cry since 2010 as we trusted God to expand our team and to increase our effectiveness in helping fulfill the Great Commission.
Samoa through Soi and Fataki have branched out from Fiji to trust God to build spiritual movements. They are trusting God by the time they leave in 2027 that God will raise a team of 20 Samoan missionaries who are not only reaching Samoa but beyond.
Cru Samoa staff: Soi, Fataki and Sera during orientation week.
Veronica and Viliami are our two Tongan missionaries who are working with Losena and Fekita to see Tonga Cru re-establish and are trusting God for ways to reach Tonga and beyond.
Veronica with Vilisi.
Tu Ma, Judith and Nathan are making their move to the West of Fiji to help build movement among university students in the Nadi- Lautoka corridor. There are students from the West who are already asking not only how they can be involve but a few have already gone through our staff interview process. Judith who is from Vanuatu is trusting God to see spiritual movements develop in Vanuatu.
Ni-Vans: Daphne, Judith and Charlotte.
This year we are embarking on a journey to trust God for movement to be establish on the campuses in the North, Savusavu and Labasa.
We do not want to reach Fiji only or the Pacific, we want to reach the world! We believe part of the manpower to reach the world will come from Fiji and the Pacific. We believe God will do that throughout the different generations.
The voyager we are sailing on, our canoe, our waka, our drua, our takia no matter what the season is like, will not stop, it will keep sailing till when we reach the shores of the new Jerusalem.
Jesus from Jerusalem sent his disciples to the remotest part of the earth, which is the Pacific. Now it is our time; Fiji time, Pasifika time from the remotest part of the earth to send missionaries, even if it means back to Jerusalem where it all started.
10/100/10/100 Vision
The 10 represents the 10 years from 2010 to 2020 we have trusted God to produce a 100 missionaries. Since then we have seen 70 people mostly university students from different countries and backgrounds go through our staff interview process and hundreds of students have been sent on mission projects. The second 10 is for the 10 ministry locations in the Pacific we are trusting God for run by staff that are 100% funded.
From nine staff back then we now have 25 missionaries and from one campus location we are ministering on six campus locations not including the ministries we have through the communities and churches.
God is definitely on the move, and we want to be a part of that; to continue to trust Him to open doors, for more missionaries and for more countries so that we can develop spiritual movements in.
Please continue to uphold us in your prayers as we trust God together for the fulfillment of His vision for Fiji Campus Crusade for Christ.
*As presented by Sai Kacimaiwai (Campus Director) on behalf of the National leadership at the Fiji Campus Crusade for Christ 40th Anniversary celebrations in Suva.
A testimony by Elidah Zzferio serving with the Great Commission Movement (Cru) PNG.
It has always been my passion to serve God and be in missions for a long time but the field and area of missions was not made clear up until after my 4 years at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).
Being a young Christian in a tertiary institution, you go through a lot; not just peer pressure but the reality of life avails itself to you in many ways. I have gone through so much hardship and stepping stones in my 4 years there. My friends and peers have also gone through the same things as well but the ones who always rise above it all have one thing in common; Jesus, whereas the ones who know about Jesus and the Holy Spirit but do not allow him to take full control of every part of their lives, tend to do things on their own strength and knowledge and often end up hurting themselves more than intended. I see my peers going out to the clubs; smoking and chewing betel nut; getting drunk and causing havoc all over the campus, fighting over unnecessary things; getting suicidal over relationship issues and I wondered why? Why do they not see the enjoyment one has in the Lord, why are they still looking for ways to feel complete? Why are they finding fulfillment in the world?
I realized and I saw that yes, there is a need for missions… Not only in other countries that do not know Jesus or worship other gods BUT there is also a very big need here on campus and in Papua New Guinea too.
I was hesitant at first when I got the application. I was very double-minded but after a long time on my knees and after a quiet time, God spoke to me clear as day. I was still contemplating when the verse Matthew 6:33 came into mind: “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Then He asked: IS THIS NOT YOUR DESIRE? Have you not always wanted to serve me?
I believe God has called me to staff to invest my life in the lives of the students in enabling them to make clear, God fearing choices for a better PNG and to help them understand their worth in the Lord. To build up Godly principles in their lives so that they in turn can help others understand their worth in the Lord and build up Godly principles in their lives as well and also to have a movement of multiplying disciples in all ethnic groups in the country; on campus and wherever the student graduates will go in the future.
PNG staff L-R: Beautlyn Eliab, Dianne Aulo Tanya Agua and Elidah Zzferio
2017 was the year of the UNEXPECTED. As the year kicked off, we thought we had everything sorted as we mapped out our plans on the annual calendar. Maybe this is normal for newly weds… thinking you have it all figured out. I dunno. Anyways, let me describe it like this, it was like looking up at a mountain and seeing the summit.
The summit. That’s where you want to get to. It’s beautiful up there. You see it. You see it in all it’s splendor and you also see it there amongst all the other smaller mountains and hills that make that great mountain… the one you want to conquer. And you know that there’s only one way… Up! You see it but what you don’t see though is what lies behind each hill and smaller mountain… the valleys.
2017 was about finding out that sometimes, behind those hills; life’s getting ready to throw you a curved ball… no wait, an uppercut. [I’m not much of a baseball fan] And it’s not just about trusting God through the valleys but learning to be humble even when you’re on top. Yes, despite all the ups and downs of 2017 – the year of the unexpected, we’re thankful that God is faithful and that He is indeed the God of the hills and valleys. And when things don’t work out the way we want it’s encouraging to know that He’s got a birds eye view of the entire terrain.
Here are just a few highlights of ministry (and life) last year.
Staff Conference
It was a busy start to 2017, we had two weeks of theological studies followed our regional staff conference.
On campus, it was still difficult for us to meet with students but God gave us creative strategies to be able to engage students off campus and even at their local churches. Read @judithniumataiwalu ‘s post here.
Judith presenting to the Mt Sinai Methodist church youth.
Group presentation.
Group photo.
B.O.B.
One of my highlights midway through the first semester was men’s fellowship which the male staff organised at the office. It was really great to see the guys (staff and students) get together and have some fun, enjoy a BBQ and have some time to share, reflect and encourage one another. We ended up having another event in the second semester and named the event B.O.B. which stands for Band of Brothers. Here’s a clip of the guys singing a hymn at the end of one of the meets.
Voyagers Conference
In June we had our first ever Student Life Regional Student Training Conference at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour. Our aim is to be able to equip, encourage and motivate students so that they can become positive change agents in their sphere of influence. The conference theme for 2017 was Voyagers and a special emphasis was put on our identity, our history and future role as Pacific Islanders in missions and across the Pacific and “beyond the reef”.
Tongan students perform a cultural item.
Praise and worship.
Group discussion.
Worship team.
Witnessing blitz.
Students sharing with a lady at the Navua market.
Guest speaker Gregg Hinzelman.
Infographics of student representation at the conference.
Results from the Witnessing Blitz on the last day of Conference.
Jesus Film Project
Judith and I traveled to Vanuatu mid-July and met with our ministry partners there. We were able to assist a Jesus Film Project team from the States and spent a week ministering to students at the Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education (VITE).
After sharing the Gospel at the school assembly on Monday, the team spent about an hour each day doing follow-up by taking the students through the Walking with Jesus video studies.
The JF team donated 3 tablets loaded with material. One of which will be available to students at the library.
Free Wifi in Port Vila
Also in Vila, I worked with local volunteers and Bible translators to set up a high-powered antenna at the Scripture Union Vanuatu office that’s able to broadcast a WiFi signal throughout Port Vila.
We loaded it with Jesus Film material using the BibleBox software, so that once someone connects to the network. They are taken straight to the index of available Jesus Film Project videos and audio Bibles.
Theoretically, the unit(s) should have a range of about 2km but we didn’t have enough time to test this out. It does take a bit of time to setup and I really should have done a video for this but I only had a week. I’ll probably post an update when I next visit Vanuatu.
Mission Projects
We had initially planned to join the project team to Nadi. However, the Tonga Project needed another staff member (preferably male) to accompany Sai because of the size of the team. It was sort of a bitter sweet experience because you both want to go on a missions project together but you also want to just spend a week building into students and focusing on the task at hand. I’m glad to say it worked out in the end and we both came back refreshed and had some pretty cool stories to share. Read about it here.
New Car
God blessed us through with a new (used) car in November. It’s been such a blessing especially with all the rain we’ve been getting in Suva. Special thanks as well to the couple that made this possible.
Judith Graduates
Also in November; Judith graduated from New Staff training along with Nathan and Yabaki and we began to plan our move to the West.
Judith with National Directors – Koli and Jeanette Ravoka.
Yabaki, Nathan and Judith getting commissioned.
Nathan and family.
Yabaki with a cousin and Viliami from Tonga.
Judith with Ana and Pst Leinamau.
Judith during staff training:
Memorizing the knowing God Personally booklet with Jeanette.
Figuring out the order of books in the Bible.
Judith speaking at the ConneXion in FNU.
Jeanette checking the arrangement.
Mid-year review with other staff.
Trailblazers
We’re moving to the West this year! Our main goal is to assist and encourage the student movement in FNU Namaka. We’re excited and hope to transition over between late Jan to early March and right now we’re still looking for a home. [Please pray] If you’d like to know more, read about it here.
Nathan, Judith and I being set apart in FNU Namaka by Kolinio Ravoka.
Art of Marriage Seminar
Judith and I attended our first Art of Marriage seminar in November. AoM is a one-day seminar run by Family Life Fiji staff, Pita and Mere Nacuva.
Best News of 2017
And finally… we’re having a baby! It’s a boy and he’s coming in May 2018.
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support. We love and appreciate you all. Our best wishes to you and your family for the new year.
A short note on our move to the West next year and our small team, the Trailblazers.
When you think of a trailblazer, what picture comes to mind?
A simple definition of a trailblazer is, “someone who makes a way through wild country”. Sort of like pioneers.
However, trailblazers are more than just pioneers, they are both pathfinder and path-marker. In the original sense of the word, a trailblazer was someone who laid out markers to guide those that would follow. The famous missionary, C. T. Studd when told by critics to go home, that he had done enough replied,
“God has called me to go, and I will go. I will blaze the trail though my grave may only become a stepping stone that younger men may follow.”
I’m sure that if you look through the Bible and missions’ history you’ll find many men and women who have said similar things as they ventured out into unfamiliar territory. Maybe some are coming to mind right now. People who gave up their lives to fulfil the greatest commission – to be trailblazers for the Gospel of Christ.
The picture that comes to me as I think of this word – Trailblazer; is that of the early missionaries from the Pacific who harnessed the innovation of a great seafaring society and used the dreaded double-hulled war canoes as vehicles to bring light to their savage neighbours. Settling, learning native languages and passing on the message of love and hope.
For Judith and I, it has always been our plan to assist the ministry in Vanuatu once she completed her training. [We hope this is still very much part of God’s plan for our lives as well.] However, as we’ve prayed and talked about our next steps, we’ve felt God’s leading for us to be a part of this opportunity in the West of Fiji. The West, specifically Namaka in Nadi has been an outreach ground for our conference and missions’ teams in the past few years and momentum has slowly started to build.
This year after our respective projects to Tonga and Nadi, we sat down with the national leadership to talk about the future. It became clear that while we felt ready to move back to Vanuatu, the logistics were very much not in our favour as a young couple. Plus, we had no experience leading a campus team; even if we had decided to go, we would have still greatly relied on the guidance and leadership of our Fiji team.
So the decision has been made and we’re excited.
Along with Nathan Alfred, we are calling ourselves the Western Trailblazers. The West for us is a stepping stone firstly for our own development as mission workers and secondly as a way of giving back to our home nation of Fiji. Establishing the movement in the West will strengthen the movement’s cause to having Fiji the spiritual hub for sending and resourcing the Oceania region. Our commitment for now is up until the end of 2020 and our focus in Nadi over the next year or so will be to pioneer and lay the groundwork for a sustainable movement in the West trusting God for his favour and provision.
Please remember us in your prayers.
ps. We can’t tell you how excited Nathan, our fellow worker was when he got the news. Nathan had been pushing for a move to the West and had already been meeting with key students from Namaka. [Yeah boy, saddle up your horses, we’ve got a trail to blaze]
TuMa and I are so grateful to be working alongside such a diverse collection of individuals on our staff team, each with varying skills and interests. This year we’ve had the privilege of seeing our co-staff, Nanise Rainima, represent Fiji in the 67th Miss World 2017 Beauty with a Purpose Pageant. Though we miss her, our hearts and our prayers are with her all the way!
With Miss World Fiji Contestant and fellow missionary Nanise Rainima.
Every year teams made up of students and staff plan a week-long ‘Mission Project’ to different universities and tertiary institutions within Fiji and neighboring countries. This year our destinations included Suva, Nadi, Samoa and Tonga! TuMa joined the Tonga team while I joined the Nadi project team.
Nadi (FNU Namaka Campus)
by Judith
‘Overcoming our faith barriers’, a challenge from the June Voyagers Conference was what the students took with them as they set out to meet new students and share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Nadi Team.
For some, raising funds for the mission trip was a faith barrier they overcame, and others simply sharing the gospel to strangers was beyond them. Some students shared that stepping out of their cultural comfort zones and sharing with ethnic Indian students (most of whom are either Hindu or Muslim) was something they never dreamt of doing; even though nearly half the population of Fiji are of Indian descent.
Here’s what Mesa (a student) writes:
The sharing was exciting and they were really intrigued as what we were sharing. I have felt that I just conquered one of my greatest challenges. What motivated me the most was that early the next morning, while we were still having our training, I received a text from one of the Hindu friends saying that he was really motivated by our sharing and that he was thankful about it. He was thinking of making a really big “change” in his life. I was really inspired by this and this boosted my willingness to go out and reach more, touch more lives and save more souls for Christ.
Praise the Lord for just enough students on the Namaka campus for the project students to not only focus on their comfort-zone iTaukei but also our ethnic Indian brothers and sisters.
Another student, Pita, shared that his faith barrier was not ‘stranger oriented’ but in sharing with an old friend from high-school. One whom he used to get up to a lot of mischief with back in the days. This was of course, if the Lord allowed their paths to meet again in Nadi.
Our last day on campus ended with a combine fellowship and a game of touch and volleyball with the Namaka students. This was it, Pita thought, but just as he got onto the playing field, he spotted his old mate on the sideline and knew instantly the tugging on his heart was an indication to quit the game, go over and say hi. The ‘hi’ turned into a late lunch catch-up and gospel presentation by Pita, to his friends’ surprise. Pita was honored that day to be the Lord’s vessel in leading his old mate to Christ.
Recreational time with the Nadi team after Project.
Tonga Missions Project
by TuMa
What a great blessing to join Sai and a team of 11 students to the beautiful Kingdom of Tonga. We were just blown away by the hospitality and friendship. God is working mightily in the Kingdom. At this point I should point out that we currently have no full-time staff in Tonga and the students go out of their way to organise weekly gatherings with other Christian fellowships.
Nafetalai:
“It’s not about the label; Navigators, or Cru, or CF. When we gather on Mondays for our Connexion on campus, it’s just a group of believers that want to worship God together”.
Tongan welcome.
Picnic with the students.
Church service at Saione.
Kami sharing with a student at TTI.
Going through the “Knowing God Personally” booklet.
Men’s Time at Veitogo Beach.
Girls performing at a church celebration.
Time for some ice-cream.
During our time there the team was able to share with students at USP and Tupou Tertiary Institute. We had a total of 120 spiritual conversations and 70 gospel presentations over the course of the week.
The team at Tupou Tertiary Institute.
My favourite part of the project was just building relationship with the students leaders in Tonga. Many of whom were sacrificing their time and money to be with the team that week. They joined us for our trainings every morning and accompanied us on outreaches to schools and churches and team retreats. We also had a fellowship meeting at Tupou Tertiary Institute where I got to share a bit about the Holy Spirit and living the Spirit Filled Life.
Tasi:
I’ve really felt the presence of God while being a part of the outreach and trainings this week. My parents try to discourage me from coming, they don’t really understand the reason why I’m doing what I’m doing but that’s okay. I know this is what God’s called me to do and I know it pleases Him. That’s all that matters.
Here’s Tasi singing “Ulo mai ho’o maama” as we farewell our Tongan friends at the airport. I swear this clip makes me tear up everytime.
Overall Mission Projects Stats
467 exposed to the Gospel
Suva – 53
Nadi – 144
Tonga – 120
Samoa – 150
365 presentations of the “Knowing God Personally” booklet.
USP’s ban on the ministry work on campus stands despite our efforts in requesting the ban be lifted. Our senior staff and ministry board members continue to seek other avenues to address not only the issue of the ban but more so the USP Religious policy that was enacted in Nov 2016.
Regardless of the policy, students continue to meet for Bible studies, fellowship and training, most of which now happens off campus either at McDonald’s over a cup-a-tea or soft serve ice cream or at our office a 15 min walk or 5 min bus ride away from USP. We thank the Lord for providing these opportunities to meet with students.
Other Opportunities:
What may seem an obstacle has actually opened up the minds of our staff to explore more creative alternatives of reaching Students apart from going on campus. The Judea Express was a suggested alternative where we hope to reach Students living in accommodations just outside of USP.
Pictured below was one such opportunity that Judith was a part of where a couple of older Student Life members (Student Leaders) from Fiji and Vanuatu were encouraged to share the gospel to a group of girls living in a house located not far from USP. More than 15 girls were present from Vanuatu, Solomon Is and Fiji and heard the gospel presented along with a testimony.
In our previous January newsletter we were anticipating two upcoming events; Staff Conference and a Vanuatu trip.
Staff Conference
What a way to begin the year with a week long time spent with our regional staff from Fiji, PNG, Guam, NZ based regional staff, and the US. We also had Rose from the Solomon Is and Veronica from Tonga who have both applied to join staff but have yet to serve their two year bonds in their individual countries.
Highlights from the Conference include:
Morning sessions working through the 10 growth indicators in the Book of Jonah with Mark Yardbrugh.
Afternoon couching sessions with Marc Rutter (Cru HR) developing skills in the area of practically guiding conversations to get desired outcomes (couching).
Commissioning our first mission team to Samoa a group comprising Soi & Fataki from Tonga with their three sons and Sera Tuiyalani from Fiji.
And last but not least, getting to meet staff from around the region.
Time in Vanuatu
Right after Staff Conference, there was an opportunity to head back home (Vanuatu) mainly to tie off lose ends at both Judith’s old work places but also to actually meet in person those of you supporting us in ministry and tell you a bit about what’s been happening. We were so grateful for this opportunity and loved meeting with you. For those we weren’t able to meet we hope to catch you next time. Please do let us know when you are in Suva.
Personal Life
Not until half way through the school semester are we finally getting into a regular routine in life consisting of staff meetings, appointments with students, new staff training, family functions and house and yard attending. We had hoped to move to Suva at the beginning of this year but with the way things have panned out have decided to stay a while longer here at Pacific Harbour, and enjoying coming back to the calm and quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of Suva.
Having spent a full half year of 2016 solely dedicated to raising our financial support plus settling in here in Fiji, what a nice change it was to finally be working with University Students since Feb this year (2017). Being engaged in the heart of what the Student Life movement is all about “A community passionate about connecting students to Christ” has been a great eye opener to the great need for Christ at USP.
Connecting with Students (especially first years) at the start of the year is always a crucial time for our staff and student leaders. Students are less tied down to commitments and more available to meet up and talk about the survey forms they filled out with us during orientation week or during one of our weekly connection meetings. Where they indicate an interest to know more about God and what ‘Student Life’ is all about, we, the staff and student leaders, follow up on by calling them up and meeting with them one-on-one. I must say, not everyone responds enthusiastically or responds at all, but for the few that do, we get the opportunity to share the gospel with. And if they want to meet up again and again and again, these are the few we get to do life with!
Over the past couple of weeks Judith has finally settled on McDonalds as her base for meeting with girls for Bible study. From the 70 or so phone calls made and 20 or so actual face to face conversations, she has a total of about 8 girls that she meets with on a regular basis (Weekly) and a couple other inconsistent or new appointments weekly.
Our new work year began on January 2nd as we dove right into an intense yet very rewarding two weeks of theological studies. We were both privileged to be a part of John Majors and Mike Sense’s class of Biblical Interpretation and Communication; learning the intricacies of interpreting a passage of scripture and then developing it so that we could deliver a lecture. Phew! What a way to start the year. We are thankful and praise the Lord for growing us in these areas the past two weeks.
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