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Since 1835 the focus of the missionary work in Fiji was on the evangelization of the chiefs.
The missionaries believed once the chiefs are converted the common people would follow. In 1945 there was a shift of focus from the aristocrats to the youths where the Fiji Synod realized that the hope and sustainability of the Methodist Church in Fiji lay in the nurturing of the youths in Christian faith and ethics. There were some small youth groups functioning but with different aims and emphasis.
Rev William Green, the Chairman of the Fiji District of the Methodist Church Conference in Australasia in 1945 initiated the move to form a department for the young people in Fiji. Rev Green took this initiative because of the influence of major factors that were domestic and international in features. Two of these major factors were increasing government role in public education and the disorganized youth groups in mission schools. The Methodist mission was surrendering its schools to the government because of financial constraint. E.g. The closure of Teachers Training Institute in 1936 and opening of Nasinu in 1947; 1944 the closure of Davuilevu Technical Institute.
In the 19th century the policy of the mission schools was to naturalize the Christian gospel and ethics in the mind and lives of ‘her people’ (Rt. Pasifika 9). In 1946 Rev William Green visited Rev Setareki Tuilovoni in Tavua Circuit and told him to represent Fiji at International Missionary Council at Whitby, Canada in 1947. He returned in 1950 with his B.A from Drew University and took his post at Bible School and YPD.
As the Director of the Young People Department he mobilized the MYF groups in Fiji through local and regional camps to lead young people to Christ. He furthered pursued his vision to established the Methodist Leadership Training Centre which was opened in 1968 and Mrs. Lorine Tevi as its first Principal. The centre was established to train young people in the Methodist Church in MYF and Sunday School leaderships.
The 1977 Methodist Conference resolved that the Bible School and Methodist Leadership Training Centre be amalgamated with new name “Methodist Lay Training Centre”(MLTC) because of duplication of programmes and financial constraints. Rev Dr Jovili Meo became its first principal. From 1978 the MLTC ran independently of the YPD until they were merged and controlled under the YPD/MLTC Board.
The 2014 Conference resolved the two institution be run separately but 2015 Conference resolved that the earlier resolution be stalled and to be revised in the 2016 Conference. The curricular for Diploma in Lay Ministry and Certificate for Early Childhood Education have been completed and are now on trial. The anticipated endorsement of the Methodist Church in Fiji Conference to separate the two institutions this year will move the services for our youths in to a higher level in years to come.
