Aporosa Naholo was overjoyed when he saw his third son, an All Black, sitting in church as he graduated with his Bachelors of Arts from the South Pacific Bible College.

The father of three from Nadroga only expected his two sons, Meli and Keini, and wife to celebrate the accomplishment of his three-year commitment.

“What really made me happy this evening was that my son, Waisake, never told me that he will be here. Only my other two sons had confirmed that they will be spending their holidays in Fiji,” he said.

“Waisake never mentioned anything. I was so surprised to see him sitting inside the church.”

His son, Waisake, an All Blacks winger, lives in New Zealand with his youngest brother.

Mr Naholo was part of the 23 students who graduated on Tuesday at the Calvary Temple in Samabula, Suva.

Mr Naholo was inspired to join the college because he had been working with the ministry for many years.

“I want to gain more knowledge about God’s ministry, to broaden my knowledge,” he said.

“It takes three years to do this course and so my aim was that whatever may come through my life, I will finish this journey,” he said.

He knew God’s calling back in 1991.

“There was an urge deep inside me to share the Word of God because most of the people this days, lack the knowledge of understanding the Bible. What really touched me was how to reach the people through the Word of God, according to the context. Questions like, how can I reach them, How can they know, motivated me to join the college,” Mr Naholo said.

“I used to look up to the Pastors of the Pentecostal churches. I had this desire to be like them. The way they preach, the way they share the Word and how they did it.”

He said he greatly enjoyed the three years he spent at the college and had developed a strong bond with his fellow student brothers and sisters.

With Christmas just days away, he plans to spend the holidays with his family and then continue with his ministry.

“If there is any way for me to go further with my studies, then I will go for it,” he said.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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