AFTER 37 years of paying rent, members of the Nasea Methodist Church circuit in Labasa have finally decided to accommodate their church minister in a house worth more than $50,000.
Yesterday, the members officially marked the roofing of the house in Naodamu.
Circuit chief steward Alipate Seru said pastors who served in the circuit in the past usually lived in houses that were paid for by the congregation.
"All the men in the circuit contributed funds for the project early this year and this is actually a relief for us now that we don't have to pay monthly rental for our ministers," Mr Seru said.
"We are expecting to complete the project by the end of August and we hope the existing minister and his family will move in soon.
"This is an act of worship and it is only proper to house the man of God and his family well because we will be blessed by it," he said.
Mr Seru said the followers would also provide furniture, eating utensils, beddings and other house items for the minister.
Circuit minister Reverend Savirio Vuata thanked the circuit members for taking their time out to work on such a major project.
"All those ministers who will be assigned in this circuit after me will live in a well-facilitated home," he said.