The Fiji Council of Churches is calling for a more serious approach from the vanua, the church and Government in combating the rising social issue problems in Fiji.
General secretary Reverend Simione Tugi said they had to concede the present approach was not working at all.
Mr Tugi took to social media, sharing articles by The Fiji Times of the increasing crime rate, violence against women and children and drug abuse in the country.
“For me personally, it’s not working at all because the numbers are increasing,” Mr Tugi said.
“If the approach was working, we should have seen a reduction in the social issues so something is not working.
“We are not preaching the right message; this issue is all over the place, in the villages.
“So, when we talk about the participation and the combined effort of the vanua, the church, and the Government, something is really wrong, and we really need to relook at our priorities.
“Otherwise, it’s really reaching the breaking point, and when we reach that stage it’s very hard to revert.”
Mr Tugi said often times churches were empty because people did not feel their issues were settled or properly addressed.
“I ask myself why the churches are empty, it’s because we are not preaching the right message.
“Not only are they leaving churches, they are moving from one after another,” he said.
“When their problems are not solved, they end up to the world,” he said.
