The Story
In 1867 Fijian cannibals murdered, cooked and ate an English missionary. A contemporary cannibal stated that “we ate everything but his boots”. The descendents of these cannibals have now asked the descendents of the Rev Thomas Baker to forgive them. This act of repentance and others like it have led to an amazing revival in Fiji. Communities have experienced transformation and the creation itself is being renewed and healed. Tremendous quantities of fish are returning to once barren waters. Fruit and vegetables are growing in abundance and unprecedented size. There are numerous eyewitness accounts of these ‘nature miracles’.
Methodology
This story can be told very effectively by using a powerpoint presentation which is highly visual and captivating. You show photographs of the cannibals, Fijian beaches, battle axes and boots. In ten minutes you have told them the story. Then you ask them to tell you their stories and before you know it you have created an atmosphere of curiosity and fascination. All kinds of issues emerge. How did cannibals cook their victims? Were the missionaries intolerant when they told the cannibals to love their enemies rather than eat them? What exactly is repentance? What was the worldview of the indigenous Fijians? And is God angry when we sin by having our neighbours (literally) for lunch?
Connecting the Story to Jesus
The gospel story of King Jesus comes alive when we contrast it with the cannibal story. Here is a simple way of comparing the two stories.
Fijian Cannibal Worldview |
Christian Worldview of Former Fijian Cannibal |
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Where am I?I am living in a world created by the gods. |
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Where am I?I am living in a wonderful world created by a loving God. This creation is very good and Fiji has the best beaches and tropical fish in the world. Far better than Spain. |
Who am I?I am a fierce Fijian warrior |
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Who am I?I am a Fijian Christian made in God’s image. |
What’s the problem?Sometimes we are attacked by enemy tribes who want to eat us. |
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What’s the problem?Tragically many of us have rebelled against God. |
What’s the solution?We must worship our gods and ancestors faithfully. |
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What’s the solution?We must turn away from false fish-gods and idols |
What happens when I die?When I die my soul will float away to the land of the spirits. |
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What happens when I die?When I die I will be with Jesus in paradise. |
Top Tips for Telling Stories
- Keep it visual. Young people love intriguing photos.
- Bring in humour and touches of eccentricity.
- Allow the Christian content to be natural and intrinsic to the stories. Don’t be cheesy.
- Be flexible. The story could take five minutes or twenty minutes Sometimes it is appropriate to use scripture. Other times don’t.
- Learn from Jesus’ parables. Sometimes it’s great to be enigmatic and understated.
