Three children from New Beginning Church of the Nazarene had a bold idea to share the joy of Jesus and bless the less fortunate children in their community. After gaining support from church leaders, 70 children and young people, ages 3 to 25, created a Children’s Christmas camp to reach out to families and children at the Children’s Hospital of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji. 

This initiative started when the three young leaders (ages 6-9) requested a quick meeting with their pastor and leaders. While the meeting was initially taken as a prank, it didn’t take long for the pastors to see that the children meant business.

The leaders listened intently to a well-thought-out presentation: the children were compelled to celebrate the Christmas holidays in a new way. Instead of focusing on themselves, they wanted to serve others. 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. Even with most of the local church budget sown to missions in the year, the motion passed, and the leaders took up the idea. 

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. As each day passed, reflections drifted from things needed for the camp to what it meant to be centered in God’s will. 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 it 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. 

The church sought donors and received sponsorship from many kindred hearts for over 200+ infant toys, diapers, and wipes. Barriers and issues gave way as God fought the battle for the children and led the efforts.

The children began visiting each ward in the Children’s Hospital with a handful of adults, singing Christmas carols, giving gifts to each child, and talking with the families and listening 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, two patients were marked for discharge. In the hour that you (NBC children) were praying and singing, there were more discharges in this shift than in the previous shift. This means God is hearing the prayers of your children.”

Indeed, more parents and children left the hospital with smiles and toys of love. Campers were impacted, and a young man 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,” said Pastor Sharon Latu. “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.”

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific