Fiji church leader dies after brief illness
Iliesa Naivalu, general secretary of the Methodist Church of Fiji, died on December 17, 2021, at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva following a brief period of illness.
Naivalu was known for his work in promoting Christian unity in Fiji.
“His service demonstrated his enduring faith in the Almighty God, his love and dedication to his church, and his victory that sought Eternal life,” wrote Mele’ana Puloka, the World Council of Churches’ Pacific president, in a condolence letter to Naivalu’s family.
Naivalu was appointed general secretary of the Fiji church in February 2021. Previously, he had served as the church’s secretary for Christian Citizenship and Social Services and as vice president of the Fiji Council of Churches. He also spent time in Melbourne as a diaspora minister through the Uniting Church in Australia.
