Tuesday, July 13, 2010

UPDATE FROM OUR SISTER CHURCH IN BRISBANE

Pastor Tui Nalatu preached with such a passion yesterday, encouraging the members of Diversity Church, Brisbane to remain in unity because where there is unity, God commands a blessing. It was great to be reminded that we all play a part in fulfilling the great commission, whether its out in the fields or inside the church.

Radini Kini also shared a powerful testimony about Pastor Meli growing up, that brought tears to the eyes of the congregation.

Eagles View also received exciting news that new members coming in.

To God be the Glory.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR LFT AS DIVERSITY LAUNCHES

A new chapter has just been written, as the Diversity Church in Brisbane, Australia was launched this past Sunday.

Eagle's view spoke to Alisi Satui, the lady who worked so hard behind the scene over the past two years and she was still reeling from the experience they had on Sunday. "... lets just say the day was unforgettable, everything went well according to plans and more. The turnout was really good, the program was flowing and the feedback was positive, we have new people coming to church now, and ohhhhhhh the food was delicious, people didn't want to leave..lol...woohoooo pastor saimoni preached and meli....up did the alter calling, it was a blessing to see the father and son in action, if only the grandfather was here to witness the labour of his hands through his son and grandson....to god be the glory" she said

The launching saw the fulfillment of a God given vision that all LFT members who worked with the late Rev F K Waqa will recall. He had always wanted to have sister churches in Australia and the USA. Now, we move forward to other missions at hand.

Eagle's view have also received unconfirmed reports that Radini Talatala, Sister Kinisimere Waqa was also at the launching.

Eagles View would like to congratulate Pastor Meli and the members of Diversity Church for this milestone achievement. Indeed, to GOD be the glory.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT WILL BE THE NEW BRISBANE CHURCH

This Sunday, July 4 will see the launching of the church we helped pioneer in Brisbane. In this posting, we give you an insight into where their weekly worship service will be held.

Talatala Qase and Radini leaves for Brisbane tomorrow and a small delegation of ten selected officials will follow later in the week.


UPDATES

Eagles view has just received information that there will be a change in our July 11 morning service speaker.

Pastor Tommy Miller, who is also a great friend of LFT will be speaking instead of Past Danny.

Eagles view apologizes for the mistake we made in our earlier posting.

LFT BRACES FOR TWO MONTHS OF ACTIVITIES

July and August 2010 will see the eventful conclusion of what will be some of the main programs for 2010.

Brisbane
The first weekend of July will be the launching of the work in Brisbane, Australia. A small delegation of selected representatives will be flying over with Talatala Qase for the function.

From news gathered, the hosts who have been worshiping at a private residence this past few months are gearing up for the much awaited occasion. Talatala Qase's eldest son, Meli currently oversees the work there and will be officially installed at the launching.

Ground work has been going on for the past two years and it is believed that the church has been registered with a constitution in place.

Pastor Danny
A close friend of the church, Pastor Danny Prasad aka Pastor Nitin visits the country on the second week of July and we've been informed that he will be speaking at the 10am service on Sunday, July 11. Pastor Danny is the Senior Pastor of Anugrah church in Los Angeles, California.

His church played host to the LFT choir twice in 2008 and one of his church member, Brother Alan Lal contributed over 10 computers and set up the church telecom system in 2008.

He is well known to be a great and dynamic preacher.

Family Day(s)
The annual family day event will be held over two days this year (August 13 and 14). We have received news that the organizing committee are working on obtaining sponsorship and also at this stage fine tuning the program for 2010. This will be made known to the members when completed. We hope to publish more information as and when it comes to hand.

Western Division Conference
The conference will be held at the International Rescue Center this year. They are well into their preparation for the conference and since space may be an issue, the hosts have strategies in place to take care of overflow.

Catch our Spirit was at the Rescue Center over the weekend and was given a tour by the church administrator Pastor Uraia Qaqa. We were very impressed with the strategies they have in place to handle the large number of people who will be flocking into the facility over the conference week.

Stay tuned to this site as News Briefs will be published as and when they come to hand.

Friday, April 2, 2010

MOVING IN GOD'S DIRECTION

A few weeks ago, I was moved by the story of a Pastor's son, who gave me a tell tale of how his dad received a vision from GOD in their village home more than a decade ago. Only to see it unfold layer by layer, page by page, year after year.

I happen to work with the young man's wife and our initial meeting happened to be on a plane en-route to Hong Kong where our job positioned us for almost a week. I believe that our meeting was predestined because I for one always love to hear stories of life experiences.

It was a day flight and the weather was good. About six hours into the flight, the young man came and positioned himself on the vacant seat across the isle from where I was seating. We were at the tail end of this Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

A few short minutes into our conversation, he told me in mixed Bauan and Vanua Levu dialect, how he as a child went through a phenomenon within their household that has captivated him since. It all occurred one night when the family was asleep. His dad, who was then a young parent was awakened by the name of a particular place. It kept hitting him again and again until he got up. With the name still fresh in his mind, he took whatever writing tool available within his grasp and wrote the name of that particular location on the wall of his bedroom.

The next day, he spoke of his experience and asked his family if any of them knew where that place was. None of them knew. In fact, they all thought that it was one of the islands in the South Pacific region.

The next few years saw their dad attend a vernacular Bible College at Calvary Temple in Suva and shortly thereafter he received the great calling to move from their village in Vanua Levu to Nadi, in the main island. God surely works in HIS own mysterious ways. They were to Pastor an English speaking fellowship church in Nadi.

WHAT? A family, from a village..... who speak in their own dialect everyday to come to the tourist city and pastor an English speaking fellowship church? Unheard of.......... pure nonsense........ but totally true.

Well, we know that family's have secrets, but this young man let one out to me, when he jokingly said that his dad's first English sermon lasted only about five minutes. Oh my goodness. Only five minutes,..... yes, so I was told.

All wacky tales aside, ........... yes. That was the humble beginning that saw the turning of a new leaf in the lives of this lovely family. It was one of the early stops in a journey that was mapped out years earlier, within the confines of their bedroom in their village home.

For the last couple of years, the church membership has grown steadily. They have spread their wings to assist in the pioneering of another work in a nearby city. But they still share a church building with another church. They still did not have a church building they called their own. Well, not until recently.

Following one of the most difficult time in his dad's ministerial career, they managed to invest in a piece of land. It is located right next to the Nadi-Lautoka highway, somewhere near the Sabeto junction, in a place called Waimalika.

Today, they are working on clearing the bushes where they will be building a temporary shed before the commencement of the construction of their church building.

Friends, the name WAIMALIKA was the name given to the young man's dad that night, years earlier. According to my friend George and his lovely wife Kathleen, the writing is still on the wall of his dad's bedroom today.

The Pastor's name is Rev Jone Mafi, Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Fullgospel Church, Nadi Fiji. If you happen to be in Nadi sometime in the next six months or so and have no place to worship, why not take a ride to Waimalika, which is approximately five minutes drive from the Nadi Airport on the way to Lautoka. Just before you get to the Sabeto junction, you will see a sign that will bear the name of this God given vision - CORNERSTONE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

A VISION MINDED CHURCH

Twelve years ago,I think it was late July or early August, I was with a few young men from church doing the final clean up at Saru. The sun was drowning slowly out in the Malolos and Bro Taitusi had just turned on the lights in what was the 'vale vakaviti shed at Saru.

I remember the moment as clearly as if it was just yesterday. Our late Senior Pastor, Rev Filimoni Kama Waqa called out my name,"Seruvatu, .... raica na vanua oya,..... dua na gauna ena qai tara kina edua na vanua ni qito me baleti kemuni na youth." He was pointing out to a vacant piece of adjoining land next to the church compound.

Now, twelve years on, everything seems to be piecing together slowly. Just a few weeks ago, a church delegation approached the Landowners to express our interest in the said property. Following that visit, the landowning unit met and agreed to lease the said land to the church.

Around the same time, a church family member from down the road offered to sell their piggery farm to the church with very easy terms. Again, everything seems to be piecing together slowly.

During our Annual Business Meeting on February 28, the church membership approved a resolution for the acquisition of the two properties. The leadership team are currently working on the former right now. The later has already being signed and sealed.

The church has been through a lot over the past fifty one years of existence. From the humble beginnings at Waiyavi in the late 50s to Ravouvou Street, Namoli in the early 60s then to Saru in the 90s, we have stood fast through hail and high waters.

Looking back at the twenty one years I've been at LFT, I am proud to say that I have always seen the church moving towards the vision. A vision that has been clearly communicated to the membership over and over, again and again, year after year. I have seen it presented at District meetings and during our Sunday worship services. Even on a large board with clearly a drawn diagram of the same. WOW....

We are strong as a fellowship. We have stuck to what GOD intended for us and HIS favor has never left us.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

ASIA PACIFIC YOUTH STUDIES INSTITUTE

A message to all members of AG FIJI

TO : ALL YOUTH LEADERS & YOUTH PASTORS OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

SUBJECT: ASIA PACIFIC YOUTH STUDIES INSTITUTE

VENUE : SOUTH PACIFIC BIBLE COLLEGE,WAINADOI

DATE : 22ND - 28TH MARCH 20TEN

TARGET PEOPLE: REGIONAL YOUTH DIRECTOR, NATIONAL YOUTH DEPARTMENT REGIONAL ,DIVISIONAL YOUTH DEPT FIJI

REGISTRATION: 3 DIVISIONAL OFFICE

FEES :$FJ200.00 OVERSEAS & LOCAL

CONTACT PERSON: REV.SEMISI DELANA.9250388,3305023