2022 GRADUATING CLASS
This year, we had two students to graduate from our program. Our graduates this time are a married couple, Romulus and Mereani O’Brien. I cannot say enough about how much these two have meant to our program and how much we are going to miss them both. Romulus and Mereani came to our program from the Vatadamu congregation on the north island of Vanua Levu, which meets in their home. Romulus left a good job behind in order to come and study in our program. They also happen to have six kids!
In spite of the challenges and sacrifices, they persevered and did extremely well in the program. Romulus is a natural leader, and he has been the heart and soul of our program for the last two years. He is enthusiastic about the gospel, and he has a deep passion for evangelism. During his two years of study, he continued to work with various congregations in the Suva area, helping with the teaching and preaching wherever he could. He is also the one that the students always turn to for leadership in class. We are really going to miss them both!
I must share this story which will tell you something about the character of Romulus and his love for preaching. The Wednesday night before his family left Suva to return to their home island, the Raiwaqa congregation had a farewell tea for them. As I was saying my goodbyes, Romulus shared a story with me. He said, “Before I came to this program, I could write my sermons in two or three hours... now it takes me three or four days!” I consider that to be one of the greatest compliments that our program has ever received. Before our program, he could a few hours putting together a few verses and “preach.” Now, it takes him several days to study his text in its context and develop faithful application.
This past Sunday night, Romulus was back in Suva visiting and preached at Raiwaqa. He delivered what I think was the best sermon I have heard him preach yet, and one of the best sermons I have heard since moving to Fiji. It was powerful, filled with direct application (something the Fijians often struggle with), and was a true expository lesson (coming straight from his text and context). After the lesson, remembering our last conversation, I asked him how many days he spent studying. He laughed and said, “Brother, I have been studying on that lesson for... three weeks!” I told him jokingly, “Then, brother, you need to spend three weeks writing your sermons, because that was a really good sermon!”
Jason Pierce
BIR – Instructor & Academic Dean