From A Humble Beginning, School Opens $3.5m Building

One look at what the Christian Mission Fellowship (CMF) College looks like today and one would not be able to grasp the story of its humble beginnings.

From sharing the same facility with the CMF Primary School during its establishment in 2015, today the college has two adjacent multi-million dollar three-storey buildings that cater for 396 students from Year 9 to Year 13.

The school opened its new three-storey building costing a total of $3.5million on Wednesday.

All this was made possible through the faithful giving and good will of the members of the CMFI Church who funded the establishment of the school without any support from donor agencies.

The new building

The new building houses specialist rooms including the science laboratory, technical drawing room, clothing and textile room, library, home economics room and the office of the school chaplain.

It was opened and blessed by the President and Founder of the CMFI Church Reverend Suliasi Kurulo.

School manager Pastor Atunaisa Kulavere said: “There were no donor agencies, the building was fully funded by the church members of the Christian Mission Fellowship, in particular the World Harvest Center.”

He said they would still need to do a little more work and that would accumulate more costs.

School Principal Sisilia Racule said despite the devastating impacts of COVID-19, the church still managed to complete the project through the grace of God.

“What we are seeing today is nothing short of miraculous, particularly at a time where there is very little to celebrate as COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in all facets of society,” Ms Racule said.

“It has wreaked havoc in the government, economy, in our homes and yes even in the church.

“Despite all of that we can see the fingerprints of God working and today we are here to celebrate his goodness, his faithfulness and at the same time to acknowledge your sacrifices in making this vision a reality.”

History of the School

Pioneer teacher Tauyavu Lagilagi said when she started at the school in 2015, they had shared the primary school facility for three years.

“With the opening of the three new classrooms for year 9, the teaching staff were still left without a staffroom, we were all stationed at the main office sometimes without having a table to use or a chair to sit on,” Ms Lagilagi said.

“This never deterred us from working and providing the best for our 89 pioneering students.”

She said the staff were always challenged through their faith and prayer and became the heartbeat of the staff and the students.

“I remember our former principal highlighting and showing the staff where the college was going to be constructed, we were amazed by the plans of the church and at the back of our mind we doubted the possibility looking at the non-developed rugged area we stand on today.”

She said the spirit of giving portrayed by the church has been overwhelming and it has motivated and empowered them to become the teachers they are today.

About CMF College

The college consists of 396 students of which 126 are Year 12 and Year 13 students.

It has three streams of Years 9 to Year 12 and two streams of Year 13.

CMF College has always produced outstanding academic results and this year they are working on a 100 per cent pass for 2022.

The school produced a 98 per cent and 97 per cent pass rate at last year’s Year 13 and Year 12 external examinations.

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