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1 Rev. Norman E Brookes PRESIDENT The Methodist Church of New Zealand I am glad to have this opportunity to extend to the Fiji-Indian Fellowship the warm congratulations of the Methodist Church of New Zealand on your Tenth Anniversary on the 18th October. May your day of celebration be joyful and blest It is my hope and prayer that the foundations laid during the last ten years may be the basis of further growth in faith and fellowship during the years ahead. In all of this may Jesus Christ be the focus for your life and may God guide you into the future. With warm Christian greetings to you and the members of the Fellowship. 2 CONTENTS President, Rev. Norman E Brookes An Overview An Acknowledgment to the Pioneers Messages and Greetings from Friends Rev. Dr I.S. Tuwere Rev. Anil Reuben Rev. Dr Daniel Mastapha Rev. D Victor Williams Mavis J Basawaiya Rev. William Lucas Rev. Jione Langi John Sami Rev. Barry Neal Vinod Masih Sultan Au Rev. Ted Grounds Mrs Margaret Madhwan James Suresh Office Bearers 1998-99 Service Details Area Contacts Where do we fit in? Methodist Church of New Zealand Acknowledgments 3 AN OVERVIEW Balchand Karan — Co-ordinator The Beginnings A small number of Fiji-Indians began to worship at Dominion Road Methodist Church about 1986 — including John Sami and Michael Anand. The Inception Soon after the two military coups in Fiji during 1987, the Auckland Methodist Fiji- Indian Fellowship was established in May 1988. The initial leadership was provided by John Sami, Rev. Ted Grounds with the support and encouragement of the late Rita Griffiths, Stan and Phyllis Andrews, and Michael and Mariam Anand. The prime objective was to provide assistance and support to the Indian Christian families who were displaced in Fiji and chose to come to New Zealand. The Fellowship provided an outreach and contact point with the Hindi-speaking congregation and an umbrella of love and hope for these people. These were personally difficult times for many newcomers and the Fellowship was there to help. The Present From these humble beginnings, today the Fellowship has grown and comprises some sixty families, mainly residing in Auckland. Whilst being active members of their own neighbourhood church, the Fellowship meets at 3 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month for a worship service and fellowship. These services have continued to be at the Dominion Road Methodist Church for the last ten years. The leaders and preachers for these services have come largely from its own members. Occasionally we have had visiting preachers from within and outside New Zealand. Attendance at these services has ranged between twenty and sixty. Each service is followed by an afternoon tea and warm fellowship and sharing. Occasionally we have had combined services and fellowship meal with the Fijian and Rotuman Fellowships as well. Locally the Fellowship also leads and participates in the following: Prayer Meetings (Home Services) in Hindi or English for special occasions like: House Blessings Thanksgiving Services Memorial Services Weddings Funerals Hospital visits for special needs where people are helped by contact with someone from their own culture and in their own language. 4 The Fellowship has also supported people’s applications for employment and immigration. In 1994 the Fellowship hosted the second International Fellowship of the Hindi- speaking Congregations. Rev. Ted Grounds attended the first Consultation in 1992 in Brisbane on behalf of the Fellowship and’John Sami the Third Consultation at Sydney in 1996. A Special Consultation was held in Fiji in 1997 to coincide with Centenary Celebrations of Miss Hannah Dudley. The next Consultation will be held in Vancouver in August, 1999. As a host group we held the banner depicting “DIYA” and displayed it at Dominion Road Methodist Church until it was sent to the next Consultation. In 1997 a Special Thanksgiving Service was held to commemorate the Centenary of the beginning of Miss Hannah Dudley’s missionary work among the Indian people in Fiji. The publication “Hannah Dudley — Hamari Maa” was launched during the Centenary Celebrations in Fiji and introduced during our own celebrations. We have appreciated greetings from Rev. Mike Yasa, who is a Presbyter to European congregations — he is an indigenous Fijian who was formerly Fijian Consul to New Zealand prior to the coups. Rev. Jione Langi was appointed Presbyter-at-Large from 1994- 1997 for the Fijian Congregations, mainly indigenous Fijians but with oversight too of the Fiji-Indian Fellowship. His parsonage was the former Dominion Road parsonage. The Fellowship has provided a vital link with the New Zealand Methodist Church, with the Fiji Advisory Committee, with the Indian Division of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, and the Fellowships in Australia and Canada. The Fellowship Executive Committee meets monthly to attend to the business on hand and long-term planning. The Fellowship continues to publish a monthly Newsletter, through which members are kept fully informed of any plans, activities and news of interest. The Future The main challenge and focus of the Fellowship is to develop its own cultural and traditional style of worship, which will continue to meet the deeper needs of the Fiji- Indian soul. The expression of our thoughts, feelings and meditations in Hindi, the feelings conveyed by the “bhajans” and special way we observe our Holy Week and celebrate our “bara din” will remain very close to our hearts. We have a responsibility to pass this rich heritage to the coming generations. 5 AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE PIONEERS Those who began the movement stepped out in faith. No one can foresee the future. No-one could foresee the coups that sent many to New Zealand. We acknowledge the hard work done by these pioneers and those who helped the Fellowship in its infant years. These people helped by providing leadership in various positions, by providing finances, by providing encouragement and support, and by providing personal talents in music and preaching. Some of the many that helped include the following: Mr John Sami, Rev. Ted and the late Audrey Grounds, the late Rita Griffiths, Phyllis and the late Rev. Stan Andrews, Michael and Mariam Anand, the late Samuel Sumaru, Dr Satish and Satya Samaru and family, Rev. Barry and Moira Neal, James and Lalita Suresh, Sunil and Rajni Masih, Robert and Margaret Madhwan and family, Michael and Faith Govindan and family, Reg and Maureen Nand and family, Mrs Marie Hall, Stephen and Dorothy Pillai, Colin Waters, Bill and Shirley Naidu and family, Garry Whippy and family, Master Han and the late Phul Mati Ram and family, Master Sultan and Esther All and family and the Dominion Road Women’s Fellowship. Vinod and Raj Misah, We remember with love, affection and gratitude the following who have been called to higher service: Sister Rita Griffith Audrey Grounds Master Samuel Sumaru Rev. Stan Andrews Mr Philip Anjaiya Teacher Phul Mati Ram They contributed so much to the ideals of the Fellowship and to Christian witnessing. For these beloved, we dedicate the following: “Well done, good and faithful servants.” 6 MESSAGES and GREETINGS from FRIENDS 7 Rev. Dr I S Tuwere President Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma The year 1998 is a time for celebration in many parts of the world. This is made all the more meaningful as we come close to the end of another Century and the beginning of a new Millennium. The tenth anniversary of the Methodist Indian Fellowship here in Auckland is such a joyous event. And I send the best wishes of the whole Methodist Church in Fij and Rotuma as you celebrate together. May you stay and grow together as a Christian Community and be an instrument of love, peace and justice in this country. With warm regards and best wishes. Rev. Anil Reuben Divisional Superintendent [Indian Division] Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma I address this message to you all with Joy and Thanksgiving. Indeed, God has blessed your Fellowship for the last 10 years. It is only fitting to mark this occasion with a thanksgiving heart. We are also thankful that last year you shared with us the Hannah Dudley Centenary celebration. Indeed, in the past we have toiled together and will always toil until our Lord returns. We are part of each other that cannot be separated. As we celebrate the 10th Anniversary we also want to thank many people who have planted this Fellowship. As the Divisional Superintendent, I congratulate you on behalf of the Indian Division of the Methodist Church in Fiji and pray that Jesus’ Church will grow from strength to strength. For rewards and blessings from God, keep Sunday holy, give your tithings and pray for the power of Jesus. I assure you the churches that have been practising these have been blessed. Secondly, let us always pray and work for saving souls for Jesus Christ. Lastly, Aneeta and the children are also sending their Christian blessings to your Fellowship. With best wishes. 8 Rev. Dr Daniel Mastapha Australia Christian greetings from Sydney. Many thanks for regularly sending me your monthly newsletter which is evidence that your Fellowship is running well. Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary. In 1990, when I was working as a minister in Brisbane, we formed the International Fellowship of the Hindi-speaking Congregations. Apart from the Hindi-Speaking Congregations in Fyi, this includes the eight Fellowships that we have in overseas countries. It is a “loose” (unstructured) fellowship and its purpose is to support each other, to pray for each other and exchange resources and information; and also, from time to time, to assist the church in Fiji.