Church president urges churches to turn idle assets into income, become self-reliant

Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma president Reverend Doctor Semisi Turagavou has called on every division, circuit and church to make better use of its land, buildings and properties to become self-sustaining and reduce the financial burden on members.

Rev Dr Turagavou said churches needed to examine the resources already in their hands and determine whether they were being used effectively to support the work of the church.

“But this work cannot remain at the headquarters alone. I am calling on every division and every circle in every church to look at what God has placed in your hands, your land, your buildings, your properties, your opportunities and ask, are we using these wisely? Are we developing them for the work of God or are they lying idle while we continue to place the burden of giving squarely to the backs of our members?” he said.

His call follows investment by the church headquarters through its business arm, Lako Yani, which he said had started generating money for the church.

Rev Dr Turagavou said this had already allowed the church to reduce levies at the national level.

“I am pleased to report that this investment begins to bear fruit from the opening of the first service station at the rising walls of our commercial complex and stewardship. Lako yani is now putting money back into the church, belighting the load and has so long rested on our shoulders of our congregations. This has already allowed us to reduce levies at the national level.”

He said the same approach should now extend beyond the church headquarters to divisions, circuits and individual churches.

The long-term goal, he said, was for churches to generate enough resources to support themselves without having to demand contributions from congregations.

“Our goal, brothers and sisters, must be self-sustaining, self-reliant divisions, circuits and churches, places where we no longer need to demand from our congregations but where whatever they give is offered freely from the heart as an overflow of worship.”

Rev Dr Turagavou said financial development should not come at the expense of the church’s spiritual mission.

“A church that manages its resources wisely but has lost its spiritual heart will become an empty institution. We are called to grow both together as our God cares for both the spiritual and physical components.”

He said responsible management of church assets was part of achieving greater financial independence.

“This is what truly liberation looks like in practise, a church that provides for itself through wisdom and stewardship so that giving can return to what God always intended it to be.”