Proposed guidelines for developing more effective mission strategies to reach Indo-Fijians in Fiji-Islands

Abstract

The questions posed in this research are as follows: (1) What are the biblical teachings related to the mission strategy to reach out to the ethnic groups? (2) What cultural elements should be considered to develop the mission strategy of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to reach out to the IndoFijians? (3) To what extent have the mission strategies of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fiji islands been developed in the culturally relevant manner in order to reach out to the Indo-Fijian group in terms of the message, the messenger, the methodology of evangelism, and the knowledge of church members about their mission target? (4) What missionstrategy could be improved biblically and in the culturally relevant manner to reach out to the Indo-Fijians? After detailed study, it was discovered that any strategy to reach out to the Indo-Fijians with the Gospel must consider their cultural background as well as their specific needs. The analysis of the strategies followed by the Seventh-day Adventists lead research to conclude that some of their mission approaches to the Indo-Fijians have not been relevant to their culture. The effectivity of their efforts was in direct relationship to their cultural sensitivity, and understanding of their needs. An evaluation of different approaches to the Indo-Fijians leads this research to highlight that any missionary effort or evangelistic strategy must recognize the religious factor as an integral part of the cultural difference. The evangelistic strategies must not aim to change cultures, but to present the Gospel in such a way that Indo-Fijians be persuaded to become the citizens of the kingdom of God.