HUNDREDS turned up for the beginning of the inaugural Arise Fiji Festival 2012 at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Monday night for what organisers pegged as a week of praise, healing and revival.
Australian pastor Reverend John Meller drew a crowd to the main podium at Churchill Park with his message of healing.
Many Christian faithful that travelled from as faraway as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were happy that a festival for them was being held.
"With all of the things that are happening at the moment in the country and around the world, sometimes we need something like this to remind us of the important things in life, especially for us Christians," Unaisi Ravouvou of Lautoka said.
Mrs Ravouvou said the different seminars of healing, prayers and revival provided a great platform for people to pray for families, lives and their country.
Arise Fiji Festival Committee member Pastor Peter Chand said the festival cost the organisers close to $200,000 to put together but the evangelisation opportunity made it worth every cent.