The Assemblies of God Fiji has officially launched its 100-year celebration, marking a century of faith, perseverance and missionary work across Fiji and beyond.
Speaking at the launch this morning, Centennial Committee Chair Rev Orisi Vuira says the milestone honours the arrival of missionaries Reverend Adrian and Charlotte Hathaway in September 1926, who laid the foundation for the Pentecostal movement in Fiji under the Assemblies of God USA.
Rev Vuira highlighted that the early missionaries, alongside Albert and Low Page and local converts from Indian, Solomon Islander and part-European communities, built the church through prayer, sacrifice and dedication.
As the First Church grew, new churches were planted in Flagstaff, Bethany and Namara, with leadership eventually transitioning to local believers.
He says the movement expanded beyond evangelism, establishing primary and secondary schools in the 1960s, the South Pacific Bible College and the Assembly Press.
By the late 1960s, Fiji had begun sending missionaries to Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Today, the fellowship has missionaries serving in 20 nations and 415 churches established nationwide.
Under the centennial theme “As the Spirit Enabled Them – Yesterday, Today and Forever,” Rev Vuira says the church is committed to both honouring its legacy and pursuing a bold vision for the future.
Aligning with the global Assemblies of God vision of one million churches by 2033, Fiji aims to increase its churches from 415 to 600 within the next eight years.
Rev Vuira also announced a seven-day national programme later this year, bringing together men, women, youth and children, culminating in the launch of a forward-looking strategic vision focused on evangelism and equipping the next generation.
He urged members, partners and stakeholders to move forward with renewed passion, humility and commitment as the church embarks on its next century of service.
