The last communication the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) had with the small Baptist contingency in Fiji was shortly after the first stirrings of political unrest in May. The Fiji Baptist Convention consists of 14 churches and 750 members.
According to Wendy Ryan, communications director for BWA at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., an urgent request for prayer was made by the president of the Fiji Baptist Convention, Apo Rageci. He asked Baptists to pray for a peaceful solution to the situation, which he said, “could easily get out of hand, even though talks are ongoing.”
After the initial May 19 hostile takeover of the parliament, Fiji was placed under emergency rule and a 14-day curfew was ordered.
In his appeal to the BWA Rageci said, “Baptist brothers and sisters in Fiji look to you and to our Baptist World Alliance member bodies worldwide to stand with us in prayer at this critical hour in the history of our country.”
The general secretary of BWA, Denton Lotz, assured Rageci of the prayers of the worldwide Baptist community and said, “Peace will come to your country and bloodshed will be avoided.
“Ever since we have read of the problems in your country, we have prayed. We shall continue to encourage Baptists worldwide to pray for you during these difficult days.”
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