Leaders from seven faiths in Fiji came together last night to pray for the release and safe return of 45 soldiers from the island nation — serving as United Nations peace-keepers — held hostage since 28 August by a militant group in Golan Heights.
Hours later all 45 soldiers were released.
Mr Jalal Ud Dean, Chairman of Interfaith Search Fiji, said, “The spiritual power of prayer has been materially proved when various faith groups in Fiji and abroad have been praying most intensely and passionately for unconditional and unharmed release of our 45 RFMF peacekeepers with UNDOF in the Golan Heights.”
The interfaith devotional was attended by leaders and members from the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-I-Islam (Lahore) Fiji, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, the Brahma Kumaris, and the Kabir Panth.
The gathering took place at Suva’s Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Elder Adolf Johansson, representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offered the closing prayer at the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Elder Johansson said, “Our fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, cousins and fellow citizens of our beloved nation of Fiji joined in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. Their desire was to do violence to no man, as their title appropriately states ‘Peacekeeper.’”
Elder Johansson said, “It is hard to be a soldier trying to keep the peace, but one can focus on Jesus Christ.”