SOME churches in Fiji have forgotten to acknowledge the source of their power and their role in the country.
And Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma's Reverend Manasa Lasaro also said that he would not apologise to say that churches no longer preached the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Speaking at a special church ceremony yesterday at the Centenary Church in Suva — where 25 members were ordained as ministers — he said the shift in the focus of churches had made them forget what they should really be focusing on.
"The role of the church is to spread the good news — to the poor, blind, weak, everyone," Mr Lasaro said.
"They are supposed to feed the people with spiritual food and lead more lost souls to Jesus," he said.
"I do not apologise when I say this, churches do not talk about the strength of the Holy Spirit anymore."
Mr Lasaro said churches should realise that their calling and blessing did not come from the size of their congregation, buildings or the size of their bank accounts.
He challenged the 25 newly-ordained ministers to take on the Cross and use the power of the Holy Spirit to successfully achieve their calling.
"You have been consecrated for such a time as this. Your mandate has been given. This role requires a deeper spiritual walk. Things will be said and done against you but it is only through endurance and the power of the Holy Spirit that you can win this race," Mr Lasaro told the newly-ordained ministers.
Seven of the 25 ministers were women.
The Methodist Church also acknowledged 17 of its ministers and their spouses who had retired.
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma had held its annual conference from Wednesday to Friday last week at the Centenary in Suva.