Christ and Prison

Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Suva

It is good to read that the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma president Epineri Vakadewavosa, describing the high number of Methodists and iTaukei incarcerated at corrections institutions around the country (FS 25/8).

I believe all Christians from the differ­ent denominations in Fiji are also con­cerned, not only of their church mem­bers in prison but the total number of Christians behind bars in Fiji.

It is good to also read that the Methodist Church of Fiji and the Fiji Corrections Service are working towards the reduc­tion of this statistics, in the mission of the church to proclaim the good values and works displayed by Jesus Christ.

From a Christian perspective, I believe that Fiji being a Christian majority na­tion needs to have a national character transformation work of the Holy Spirit.

This is achieved only when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and claim the promise: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17).

I believe in my heart that God is still in the business of transforming lives through Jesus and all true Christians outside of prison will walk the talk, liv­ing holy lives as model Fiji citizens and doing the right thing.

Likewise, those who repent and are transformed by this same power while in prison, will be model prisoners, reflect­ing the love of God to other prisoners and are ready to start a new life outside once released.

The family, Government, NGO’s, Church, Employers and all other organi­sations that operate to help the welfare and well being of Fijians, all play and an important role.

A Fijian who is in Christ will never break the law to survive, if the above bod­ies were fully functional in meeting their daily needs for survival. The same ap­plies to prisoners who are in Christ and are being released from prison.

Nothing is impossible with God!

Well said Naitasiri

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

These are the border villages in the interior where Navosa meets Naitasiri and are close to the Wainisavulevu Weir, Monasavu Damn and Nadrau Village.

He had to cross rivers where there was no bridge, walking long distances through its many dangerous mountain ridges and terrain at Sauvakarua, Na­vosa.

Riding on horseback where there was no road, our PM Voreqe Bainimarama toured the upper reaches of those far­thest and remotest villages, including Lutu Village, Naitasiri.

This was in his desire is to see to that no Fijian was left behind through Govern­ment development, assistance and initia­tives. Thank you to the Taukei Nakorova­tu and the Vunivalu Waima Ratu Timoci Rokobukete your comments on in the Fiji Sun on Saturday, August 25.

Well said indeed and I quote, “We must be realistic to see and acknowledge the development and assistance put in place by the government of the day, otherwise we could be hypocrites”.

They also wished past leaders were like our PM, who takes the time to listen to people with their genuine concerns and directs Government officials to take ac­tion immediately.

This is about the ordinary Fijian people who have been long neglected, forgotten and told lies to from past PM’s and their governments.

This is not about vote buying, this is about taking government services to those who matter the most and it is their constitutional right.

Tauvu and Lutu Village chief Ratu Ti­moci aptly said it.

We will all be hypocrites if we do not ac­knowledge these developments happen­ing throughout the country.

That’s it directly from an iTaukei chief and a respected leader in the Vanua of Naitasiri.

While his critics are asleep and spread­ing lies, our PM is out and about busy in remote areas, including our maritime is­lands.

These villagers do not get involved in any politics, but they only want and de­sire Government services similar to what we in the urban centres take for granted.

Loving sin

Dharmendra Kumar, Suva

The world attempts to draw our atten­tion and lure our hearts away from God.

It is filled with temptations that draw us toward sin and appeal to our fallen appe­tites.

Yet even though we know this is true, it is hard for us to not be drawn into evil.

Too many people sin because they are in love with the things of the world, so they justify bad behaviour and cling to evil when they should instead be clinging to God and what is right and good.

Someone said, “Worldliness is what any particular culture does to make sin look normal and righteousness look strange”.

The traps placed around us have no pow­er if we love our Father in Heaven and fo­cus on what is eternal instead.

What is the reason?

Wise Muavono, Lautoka

Has the Lautoka City Council tried to find out the reason people are setting fire to the dump?