![The village chief is baptized by minister Tevita Nacuva in Niudua Village. [Photo Courtesy of the South Pacific Division]](https://cdn.adventistcontent.org/images/5df200974469ba078555eb4c/57740a41d0683cc16bccc3f567bad41f267aa12b/1200x/0cd1640057637409.jpg)
A village chief in Fiji was baptized on Sabbath, December 11, along with his wife and son, as well as eight other people.
Ratu Juta Vuaka is Tui Naqere, the chief of Niudua Village in Naceva, Kadavu. He and his wife, Adi Ruve, and son, Valeova, were baptized with eight people from their village.
Niudua has a small and growing Adventist community, and through the witnessing of several church members in the village, the chief expressed interest in learning more about the Bible.
Visits to the village by Tevita Nacuva, the minister serving the island of Kadavu, often led to Bible study sessions for the community, including the chief.
In November, Pastor Patrick Jacksam visited the island to conduct a baptism and also traveled to Niudua Village. He held a Bible study, and this influenced the chief to grant the use of the village hall for a two-week evangelism program run by Nacuva.
December 11 marked the end of the evangelism series, a reaping event with the baptism of 11 souls. During the final appeal, Ratu Juta raised his hands and gazed up to the heavens. He stated that now “he will be a spiritual leader—leading his subjects in their spiritual walk, bound for heaven.”
Despite the lockdown and worship restrictions in Fiji, more than 600 people have been baptized in 2021.
![Niudua Church members and villagers worshiping in the village hall before the baptism. [Photo Courtesy of the South Pacific Division]](https://cdn.adventistcontent.org/images/5df200974469ba078555eb4c/2ff658e68dba94893ba7f46c8b9764673c6a364d/30x/RBW1640057733445.jpg)
Niudua Church members and villagers worshiping in the village hall before the baptism. [Photo Courtesy of the South Pacific Division]
This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record