(Michael Seehusen, Rick Holland, Kim Holland, Kelli Ramey, Ken Ramey, Henry, and Rodney)

Thank you all for your prayers and support of the 2018 Fiji Pastor’s Conference.  This year’s theme was on The Christian Family and it was truly an amazing time seeing God’s hand clearly at work in Fiji and the South Pacific!  The conference was held in the capital city of Suva, Fiji and over 200 pastors, teachers, and church leaders attended to hear what the Bible has to say about the family.  Throughout the sessions we covered topics such as how the family is designed to function, God’s plan for each of us within our own family units, and what to do when the family is not functioning the way it was intended.  This topic is of critical importance to the Fijian people as they begin to address issues within the church such as adultery, abuse, depression, homosexuality, and other threats to the Christian home.

Dr. Nair opened the pastor’s conference with a strong message regarding the authority and sufficiency of the Word of God.  Fiji is currently facing intense social pressures from the outside world to tolerate sin and sinful lifestyles especially within the family unit.  Dr. Nair’s timely message set the stage for Rick and Ken’s teaching to be accepted not as man’s opinion, but as God’s holy and perfect standard clearly communicated in Scripture.

As you get to know Fijians, you will learn that they LOVE music!  One wonderfully memorable moment occurred when Ken Ramey used the illustration of the Christian family compared to a choir singing four-part harmony.  When each person (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) sings their assigned part well, the end result is absolutely beautiful!  However, if someone abandons their role and encroaches on another, the song becomes dissonant and full of discord.  In the same way, God has designed the Christian family in a specific way so that the end result would be a beautiful picture of unity that brings glory to God as husbands, wives, and children please the Lord in their God-given role. This truth resonated with those attending and it was such a joy to see the Lord bridging cultures through a shared passion. 

This year was also the first annual women’s conference where Kelli Ramey and Kim Holland spent time speaking directly to the Fijian women on their roles and responsibilities within the family.  The stories of the responsiveness and eagerness of the women – even from those living with extremely difficult circumstances – highlighted the need to continue having biblical teaching regularly available to these women who traditionally have fewer opportunities to participate in and learn from the truths of Scripture.

One woman who attended the conference wrote the following note to Lakeside Bible Church to thank them for allowing Ken and Kelli to teach at the conference.

Today was the last day of a 5 days seminar that I had been attending here in Suva, Fiji. I have been so incredibly BLESSED by the lessons imparted, with such real life illustrations by your Dr. Ken Ramey. His personal, and their joint experiences as a couple, that he shared as examples in how I can practically and realistically live out what God had instructed in the Bible has been so encouraging, inspirational. I know now how to put the biblical principles I had always know into action. It was such a huge relief to learn that I had not failed, and that it’s not too late, and just my being there to receive all that I did is proof that God has a purpose for me, and what I had learned have a usefulness. PRAISE the LORD. I am a widow, with 4 children, and a granddaughter. So yes, definitely so BLESSED to have been there

Perhaps, one of the conference highlights for me personally, was watching the Fiji Bible College students engage with Ken and Rick regarding life and ministry.  The students were able to have in depth conversations discussing the challenges and persecutions that comes from standing for sound theology and doctrine, how to communicate truth with love, and ways to maintain personal holiness as a minister of the gospel.  While the students will be returning to ministries that look far different from the American churches we are used to, the issues and hurdles that they face as shepherds of God’s flock remain the same. What a special time it was to see them learning from these seasoned and faithful pastors.

We thank the Lord for you and your prayers!  We are grateful for the generous support from those of you who made this possible!  It is truly a joy to serve the Lord together and we are thankful for God’s provision for the ministry in Fiji!

We praise God for what He is doing in Fiji and around the world!