£10,000 sent to help Methodist Church in storm-hit Fiji

A "solidarity" grant of £10,000 has been sent to the Methodist Church in Fiji to support its response in the aftermath of a tropical storm.

The grant was sent by the Methodist Church in the UK after the powerful storm struck earlier in the month, causing widespread damage.

The Fijian Church has been providing assistance to communities affected by flooding brought on by the storm.

Affected families are receiving clothes, food and cooking utensils. In addition to possessions, thousands have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the storm. At least seven people were killed.

“In the western region of Fiji, this flooding was the third time this year that devastating heavy rain has taken lives and left thousands of families homeless,” said mission partner Julia Edwards.

“Once again, the Church has acted quickly to help those most in need. We are very thankful for the generous support that will enable people to start to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Relief efforts have been ongoing and the youth of the Church have been especially active.”

The grant, which has been provided by the British Church’s World Mission Fund, will help the Church’s ministers to exercise their pastoral role in their communities.

The church ministers are reaching out despite being personally affected by the storm. Their stipends have been lost after the crops that would have paid for them were wiped out.

They are now facing uncertainty about how to feed their own families as well as serve the needs of their communities.

“The Methodist Church in Fiji is already showing its great generosity to those whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by the flooding,” said Christine Elliott, Secretary for External relationships for the Methodist Church in Britain.

"We hope that this grant helps them as they live out their call to clothe the vulnerable and feed the hungry.”

To donate to the World Mission Fund, visit JustGiving