Issue No.

3
IGNITED Scripture Union of Fiji APRIL-MAY 2010

The Biblical Counseling Workshop held on Monday March 1st (a public holiday) organized jointly by Scripture
Union of Fiji and the Networks of Christian Educators went very well. One participant, a teacher, came from as far
as Nadi. We would like to thank Master Joji Tabua, the Manager of AoG Primary School, for kindly providing the
venue at no charge. We also thank those who provided morning teas and lunch. The next workshop looking at
Counseling of Young People in Primary and High Schools is planned for the school holidays in May. Those wishing
to attend should contact sufiji@connect.com.fj or joeveramu@yahoo.com or through his facebook.

Trusting in the Lord Just as David Did

We serve a mighty God Jehovah and we can do all things through Christ who
strengthens us. Just as the Lord protected David from the lion and bear and helped
him defeat Goliath, the Lord can help us overcome obstacles and problems if we
will only trust him. In your own lives as students, volunteers, parents and adults we
can succeed at what we do if trust in the risen Lord in every aspect of our lives.
1st Samuel: 17:32- 37 “Don’t worry about a thing,”David told Saul. “I’ll fight this
JOSEPH VERAMU

Philistine!” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There is no way you can go against this Philistine. You are
only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!” But David persisted, “I have been taking
care of my father’s sheep,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamp from the flock, I go after
it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it
to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has
defied the armies of the living God. “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the Lion and paw of the
bear will deliver me from the hands of the Philistines.”

Scripture Union of Fiji Suite A16 I Grantham Plaza, Raiwaqa I Phone: 3383 322 I Email: sufiji@connect.com.fj
A second lesson we learn from this story is that God
often uses the simple, ordinary things around us to
accomplish his tasks in the world. It is important only
that they be dedicated to him for his use. David used
small smooth stones to kill Goliath.
What do you have that God can use? A pen, piece of
paper, a few cents in your pocket, your time. Anything
and everything can be a possible instrument for God.
“But I am just a primary student, a high school student
or a school drop out. I am just a worker in a low paying
job. I am just a housewife.”
The good news is that God wants to use you.
The Lord would like to use young people and adults in
his work in spreading the Good News and in the Great
Commission in Scripture Union, your churches, your
schools, workplaces, playing grounds etc.
The third lesson that we can learn is that no matter how
difficult or impossible it is for people, it is possible for
God. Do you have a drug problem, difficulty in your
school work etc? Remember nothing is impossible.
David as Role Model: David (Role Model): Shepherd,
Poet, Giant Killer, King, Ancestor of Jesus: in short one of
the greatest men in the Old Testament. But alongside
that list stands another: David committed adultery with
Bathesheba. He arranged the murder of Uriah,
Bathsheba’s husband. He directly disobeyed God in
taking a census of his people. He did not deal decisively
with the sins of his children. Yet in spite of David’s
failures God still refers to David in Acts 13:22 as “a man
after my own heart for he will do everything that I want
him to.”
David more than anyone else had an unchanging belief
in the faithful and forgiving nature of God. He believed
with all his heart in the Lord. Yes David sinned but he
was quick to confess his sins. His confessions were from
the heart and his repentance was real/genuine. David
never took God’s forgiveness lightly or his blessing for
granted.
In return God never held back from David either his
forgiveness or the consequences of his action. David
experienced the joy of forgiveness even when he had to
suffer the consequences.
Another big difference between David and us is that
while he sinned greatly, he did not sin repeatedly. He
learned from his mistakes because he accepted the
suffering they brought. Often we do not seem to learn
from our mistakes or the consequences of it.
1st Samuel: 17: 37 “The Lord who delivered me
from the paw of the Lion and paw of the bear will
deliver me from the hands of the Phillistines.” The
Lord will protect you from harm and will help you
overcome difficult situations. Like David, the Lord
would like to anoint and use especially the young
2 IGNITED I April 2010
men and women in SU Fiji, PSFC, churches, schools,
workplaces etc to do his work.
You can overcome problems: You can overcome
impossible odds and resist temptation through
complete trust in the Lord. Give your lives to the
Lord in Building Up the Body of Christ. Don’t hold
back. Don’t be timid. Those who would like to serve
SU Fiji better or their mission field in churches,
workplaces, schools etc please pause now and offer
up a prayer to God. Going through some personal
problems? Remember David did the impossible by
beating Goliath as the Lord was with him. The Lord is
with us and can help us to overcome obstacles in our
lives.
SU SCHOOL MINISTRY REPORT: VISITATIONS
FOR FEBRUARY (by Te Niurua)
Praise the Lord! We have started visiting schools yet again
these last two (2) weeks and have seen open doors from
both primary (10 schools) and secondary (15 schools)
with some of these schools having started SUIS already
(LBSS & GHS). We will continue with our visitations next
week and hoping to see more schools added to our list
when Term 1 ends.
VOLUNTEER STAFF
We are blessed with 3 volunteer staff who have
joined us this year. They are: Mr. Seveci. Nasilisili
who will work with Te based in Suva. Mr Inia Nasoi
who will work with Luisa based in Suva.) Inia is an
SPMTC student attached to SU for 1 year. Miss
Amelia Vesikula will look after Nadi / Lautoka based
in Nadi. All these three volunteer staff had been part
of the visitation team for the past two weeks.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We take this opportunity to
thank Dr. Veramu and his team of donors for
donating funds that helps us (4 people) in visiting
schools these two weeks. We believe that school
visitation is a vital component of school ministry and
therefore must not be missed. We have witnessed in
the past camps and other activities the low turnout
of teachers and I would blame the inconsistency of
our school visits. Many heartfelt thanks to them for
this great help.
We also thank School Principals and Head Teachers
for allowing us in to be part of their school program
and are also convinced that without God they can do
nothing. That was the comment made by ACS
Principal (Mrs. Salote Nawalowalo) supported by
many other school heads during our visit in these
two weeks. Thank God!
Mr & Mrs Nasilisili lent their vehicle (4 wheel – DK
615) for our use on 17th Feb as we visited Nausori &
Rewa. We take this opportunity to acknowledge
their kind support towards SU ministry.
Above all, all praises & glory be to God for His Love
and protection over us in these last two weeks of
 Profile: Josh Umu: Sportsman for God
When I first met Josh, my first question was how he developed the huge
muscles and biceps. Was he always big like this?….like Jonah Lomu or was it
inspired by the Taylor Lautner character in Twilight, New Moon? No, none of
this, he said patiently appreciating that because of the age difference there
can be a huge gap in mindsets between ‘babyboomers’ and the Y generation.

Since he took up rugby league as a sport,
he had to develop a bigger solid physique to be
able to handle the tough and rough world of full
body contact. Josh plays for the Police Sharks
and has represented Fiji in the Under 19 team.
Josh is currently studying for a Certificate in
Sports Science at the Fiji National University. He
attended Suva Grammar School. His hobbies are
playing the guitar, watching movies and singing
worship songs.
The Ravitaki, Kadavu lad attends Butt
Street Church. He likes the Butt Street youth
group “because we encourage each other and it
builds up our faith in GOD. But apart from that,
most of the time, we spend inside the youth hall
and not out there in the lost world.”
Josh says he loves being a SUIS
Volunteers “because it gives me the courage to
talk and also helps me to organize things and be
responsible. Being a volunteer has helped me to
be confident and assertive for the Lord. I am no
longer shy. I used to be withdrawn in the past.
But my youth group has affirmed and
encouraged me to step out in faith and
strengthen my mission field so I can extend
God’s Kingdom.”
IGNITED: Newsletter of the Scripture Union in Fiji
Official correspondences and communications to
Scripture Union Fiji must be sent to
sufiji@connect.com.fj Phone: 3383322. The office is
located at Suite A16, Grantham Plaza, Raiwaqa. The
postal address is Box 1278,Suva, FIJI. Correspondences
to the newsletter can be sent to
jveramu@connect.com.fj or ivateilai@yahoo.com.au
Editor: Joseph Veramu;
Deputy Editor: Iva Teilai;
Graphic Desiger: Saimoni
Reporter: Laisani Vuibau, Losalini Tabakei, Keverieli
Tavainavesi
Josh, how do you handle temptations? As a
young person, how do you handle, say drugs,
girls etc?” I asked. “If someone offers me drugs or
wants to come on to me, I turn away from the
temptation and trust in the Lord to help me deal
with it. I won’t do drugs because they lead to
mental problems and it’s not good. If a girl
approaches me for a ‘relationship’ I decline
because the Bible states that sex is meant only for
holy marriage.” He quoted 1st Corinthians 10:13
“But remember that the temptations that come
into your life are no different from what others
experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the
temptation from becoming so strong that you
can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted,
he will show you a way out so that you will not
give in to it.”
Josh says that he “spends much of his free time
reading the Bible and praying everyday because
reading the Word and praying is very powerful.”
Josh also shared one of his favourite Bible verses
with Ignited Readers; Psalm 139:14 (NIV) I praise
you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,
your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”
Readers who might want to make contact with
Josh can link up to him through facebook, bebo
and grounded.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
We encourage all volunteers and
readers of Ignited to send us letters,
stories, testimonies, reports etc.
These can be sent to
jveramu@connect.com.fj or
joeveramu@yahoo.com

3 IGNITED I April 2010

Letters to the
Editor:
Young Fiji Firebrand Lario Kalounivale
Letter 1: Dear Mr. Chairman and Dr
Veramu,
Pastor Dr. Geoff Waugh has published
Lario Kalounivale’s story (which
appeared in Ignited Feb issue) on his
facebook page. He is inspired and
blessed by the article and Lario's faith.
Best wishes: Romulo Nayacalevu Central Division- First Term SUIS Rally
Letter 2: Bula vinaka Mr Nayacalevu By Vilimaina Cindy Waqanokonoko
and Dr Veramu On the 23rd of March the first term rally for the Central
I have had a chat with Lario and he has Division was held at Adi Cakobau School. The SUIS
also read Pst Dr. Waugh's email and Rally committee faced a few challenges but indeed “The
Battle is not ours but The Lord’s”. The theme for the
visited his page on FB. Our young
rally was A LIGHT THROUGH THE TUNNEL. The
brother is just in awe of how God is Speaker was Mrs. Fine Ditoka. The rally was attended
using him to encourage people around by the SUIS committee, the volunteers from the School
the world and the encouragement he is Working Group, the Music team from Nausori ANCF
getting from great men and women of and teachers and students from schools around the
God like Dr Waugh and people like Central Division from Navua to Tailevu. Indeed all were
your good selves. I have also received surprised that Vashist Muni College from Navua had
attended the rally for the first time in history.
numerous positive feedback over the The program began at 8am with Sing a Long followed
last week on the February issue of by Praise and Worship which was led by the Nausori
ANCF Music Team. The host school’s Principal Mrs.
IGNITED and especially Salote Nawalowalo gave a welcoming speech which
the article on was then followed by an item from the ladies of ACS.
Lario..Praise God There were also ice breakers which included a specific
Sitiveni Kalou one where students sat not with their schools but with
Editor’s Note those from other schools. The Speaker, Mrs. Fine
If you wish to contact Ditoka talked about PRAYER where there was a great
Lario, check hum out need to pray. Students were put into groups according
on facebook, bebo, to their birth months and the groups were led by the
grounded or ning. SWG volunteers in prayer. The prayer points included
the nation’s affairs ranging from the government to the
people of the nation. While students participated in the
prayer sessions, the teachers from the schools had a
meeting with Sitiveni Kalou. After the prayer session,
NEWS IN BRIEF we all hosted to lunch by the ladies of ACS. After lunch,
we were brought back into the hall for an afternoon
Event: YOUTH-NITED program. This included items presented by each school
and presentations from the Friends Rally Committee of
2010
the AoG Church and the Youth-Nited Committee. After
What: Rally a day of fellowship and excitement, indeed as they say
Start Time: Saturday, all good things come to an end, the program ended with
May 1 at 6:00pm a prayer and teachers, students, volunteers and all
End Time: Saturday, present at the rally said their goodbyes and made their
way home.
May 1 at 9:30pm Indeed we serve a Great God, who has faithfully
Where: VODAFONE ARENA provided for this rally, without Him this rally would have
been impossible, therefore in the end all GLORY AND
ALL WELCOME HONOUR be His and His only.

4 IGNITED I April 2010