Heart service, not lip service: Reverend Turagavou

Methodist Church in Fiji president Reverend Semisi Turagavou has called on ministers and deaconesses to lift their standard of service, urging them to focus on heart service rather than lip service.

Speaking to Ministers and Deaconesses of the Church ahead of this week’s Annual Conference (Bose ko Viti), Reverend Turagavou said there was a need for ministers to reach out instead of only preaching from the pulpit.

“In order to elevate the standard of our service in the ministry, we need to reach out in every opportunity and be able to touch the hearts of every Church member,” Reverend Turagavou said.

“Our words and actions must be influential and penetrating. Whatever programme we initiate must be able to touch and convince the hearts of our Church members,” he said.

“Actually, this is another high level of approach and I am instructing all ministers and deaconesses to heed this instruction and focus more on heart service rather than lip service.”

He said true leadership came from being convincing and heart-changing, not just talking.

“People will easily follow the leader if their message and actions are convincing and heart changing. Therefore, through this initiative, Servants of Christ must raise the standard of service delivery and commitment to their calling. Personal development is highly recommended to all Servants of Christ. In this regard, the level of discipline, leadership, pastoral duties, attitudes, behaviour, and commitment must be elevated to another level.”

Reverend Turagavou said the church needed a change in mindset and innovative methods to remain relevant.

“The Church needs changes of attitude and mindset in order to carry out its mission effectively. We cannot rely on old methods and strategies of mission in order to implement this dream.

“In effect, we need innovative methods. A strategic, innovative, and consistent model is what the Methodist Church needs at this point of time.

“Everything is moving forward and not backwards. In that regard, we must update our system and method of approach in order to stay connected and relevant.”

Priority areas

He outlined two priority areas: strengthening spiritual enrichment and building the church’s economic base.

“That we strengthen and empower the source of spiritual enrichment from the local and circuit level… empowering Church members with sufficient and adequate spiritual tools is necessary according to the stage. We are actually against the forces of political conversation, against religious indoctrination, against human rights, against substance abuse, and against cosmic powers. Our preparatory mechanism must be highly and stronger than our adversaries,” he said.

On the second approach, Reverend Turagavou stressed the importance of financial sustainability.

“Strengthening the source of Church economy from the local level will actually make a difference to the governance and mission. Actually, it is hope for the future when empowering the foundation of economic position for positive and sustainable growth.”