Suva, Fiji: On 22 December 2024, 70 children and young people, ages 3 to 25, helped organize a Children’s Christmas camp to reach out to families and children at the Children’s Hospital of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. Their efforts aimed to bring joy, encouragement, and support to the patients and their families.
This initiative started when 3 (ages 6-9) young and bold representatives of New Beginning Church requested a quick meeting with their pastor and leaders. Initially taken as a prank because of the many humorous interactions between the leaders and the children, it didn’t take long for the pastors to see that the children meant business.
A quick impromptu meeting was convened, and the leaders listened intently to a well-thought-out presentation. The children were compelled to celebrate the Christmas holidays in a way they had never done before. They didn’t have the word for it, but as they shared their plans, it became clear that their tender hearts had made a missional decision. Until that day, Christmas was about them having the best times of their lives. This time, they wanted to share the joy of Jesus and were intent on finding ways to bless the less fortunate children in our communities in a big way. They wanted a children’s Christmas camp on the weekend right before Christmas, and it would have all the trimmings of a fun children’s Christmas camp. Their peers would be invited, and they would prepare to be a blessing.
With 3/4 of the local church budget sown to missions in the year, the responsibilities and no-pressures of the Christmas season (right?), and the intended camp in 5 weeks—what could go wrong? With their motion passed and the leaders buying into the idea, they gleefully moved on, and now it was on the leaders to see the miracle through.
As God moved the leaders to heed and support the missional desires of the children, He began to show up and provide for the camp – one day at a time – and as each day passed, reflections drifted from things needed for the camp to what it meant to be centered in God’s will. They yielded as a church that, like the children, God would have the freedom to speak and provoke the adults. The journey was transformative for everyone. God was moving to them as a family of believers.
The church took a leap of faith from what little they had. God identified the target group: the children admitted and recovering at the Children’s Hospital at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Fiji’s largest hospital. They sought donors and received sponsorship from many kindred hearts for over 200+ toys, in addition to diapers and wipes for infants. Barriers and issues made way as God fought the battle for the children and led the efforts.
With a handful of adults, they began visiting each Ward in the Children’s Hospital. They sang Christmas carols, gave gifts to each child, talked with their families, and listened to their stories. Then, they did the one thing they wanted to do—they prayed and interceded for every patient to be healed and discharged.
Within the hour of ministering, God heard their precious cries and responded with power.
The Medical Supervisor on duty, Sister Alisi, testified, “Initially, 2 patients were marked for discharge. In the hour that you (NBC Children) were praying and singing, there were more discharges in this shift than the previous shift. This means God is hearing the prayers of you children.”
Indeed, more parents and children left the hospital with smiles and toys of love. Campers were impacted, and a young man, broken by a series of wrong choices and events, heard the call of God and surrendered his life to Jesus at the Christmas service.
This and other miracles to and from the camp were by the grace of God alone. When He calls to partner, He only desires the obedience of those who hear Him. In a world darkened by the increase of cold love, may we each sense the refreshing warmth of God’s grace for the lost, the rejected, and the broken. May we hear Him through scripture and life, especially in little moments.
The journey of God partnering with children has produced some of the most memorable and impactful testimonies in the Kingdom. Yet, at times, they tend to be overlooked in significant ministry endeavors because of their “littleness” and perhaps unintentional neglect by the grown-ups. It’s a good thing God is gracious to challenge and readjust our thinking as adults so we can recognize and discern His move in our midst—especially in the little things, or in this case, little people.
By: Rev. Sharon Latu