Adventist young people and adults marched through the streets of Lautoka on May 17 and 18, 2024, to prepare for a Fiji-wide combined worship service at Lautoka’s Churchill Park. They carried banners welcoming Ted Wilson, General Conference president, to Fiji and encouraging others to attend the programs.

The combined worship service was just one of the activities Wilson engaged in while in Fiji over the weekend.

He also attended groundbreaking ceremonies for two new Adventist education facilities. At Fulton Adventist University College, he was among a group of leaders who participated in the ceremony, signalling the start of construction of their new chapel. The chapel is expected to accommodate up to 550 people.

Later that day, Wilson visited Lautoka Adventist Primary School to pray over the new high school project set to start in the coming months. Currently, there is no Adventist high school in the area. Fulton Adventist University College provides tertiary education. A high school in Lautoka would allow students to continue their education after primary school and ease their transition into university.

After the formal cutting of the ribbon, Wilson promised financial support from the General Conference for the project.

“A Seventh-day Adventist high school will be located right here by God’s grace,” he said. “May God bless this construction project.”

“We are lost for words. For so long we were longing for an education institution to continue from where they left in class eight here,” Fiji Mission education director Anasa Vateitei said. “We are so blessed to hear that commitment from the General Conference.”

Wilson preached on “Living for His Coming” at a Friday night and Sabbath program, inspiring viewers in the stadium and online to focus on the second coming and fix their eyes on Jesus.

Mike Sikuri, South Pacific Division general secretary, who attended alongside Wilson, said the stadium was full especially for the morning service, the best he’s seen at any combined service. A further 73,000 people have viewed the service online through Fiji Mission’s Facebook page.

“I must commend Fiji for a well-organized and attended combined service. Often the momentum drops, but the programs were engaging all day,” Sikuri said. “The Fiji Mission pastors who participated in PNG For Christ shared at the afternoon program and it was clear they were on fire. Our people left inspired and encouraged to serve.”

The Sabbath morning program included presentations from all the Sabbath school divisions, including dramatized stories from the children with a clear message that Pastor Sikuri said has remained with him. The afternoon program consisted of worship and the testimonies of Fiji Mission pastors who had returned from PNG For Christ.

Nasoni Lutunaliwa, president of the Fiji Mission, presented Wilson and his wife, Nancy, with gifts as they concluded the service. Senior ministers prayed over Wilson and his wife for safe travels as they continued their journeys. Attendees formed a guard of honor as the Wilsons left Churchill Park.

The original article was published on the South Pacific Division website.