MUCH of the discussions at the five-day Assemblies of God (AOG) general conference centred around equipping and empowering local branches, says general secretary the Reverend Filikesa Koroivueta.
“Today are the teaching sessions,” he said on Tuesday.
“In the next two days is our business sessions. Much of the business sessions will be centred around the involvement of our churches with national issues.”
Mr Koroivueta said the last conference was held in 2023 in Suva, while the current one, the 42nd Biennial General Conference, is in progress at the Mount Zion Cathedral in Saru, Lautoka, under the theme ‘Faith in Action’.
“This is the conference that calls and brings everyone, from the maritime divisions, from the Northern Division, from the central and, of course, the Western Division,” he said.
“It’s almost more than 400 churches. The pastors, the workers and the delegates of churches are gathered here.
“In the night session, you see all these buildings in full capacity. I think it’s more than 3000 people standing outside again.”
Mr Koroivueta said more than 1000 people attended the day sessions.
“We’re going to be discussing how the Assemblies of God churches can make an impact in the communities, in the coming time.
“We have a structure in place that facilitates the empowering of local assemblies. The Assemblies of God churches are more autonomous in the sense that in each local church, there is a setup where they become self-governing, self-propagating and self-financing.”
Mr Koroivueta said the strength of the church could be attributed to the local assemblies.
“When they become strong, we become strong.
“However, the national and the divisional office has a role to play to tag along with these local churches, to empower them so they become more effective.”
Mr Koroivueta said the sessions also equipped the pastors and lay preachers.
“We had five sessions today. All the speakers were talking on activating our faith. When you do not work out what you believe, it’s dead, it’s useless, as the Bible says.
“It’s amazing to see how God connected the teachings, and we talked about how the church can help the societies.”
The conference concludes today.
Assemblies of God (AOG)General Secretary Reverend Filikesa Koroivueta speaks to the media during the general conference at the Mount Zion Cathedral in Saru, Lautoka on August 26, 2025.Picture: SALOTE QALUBAU.