A project initiated by Faith Alive Dream Centre (FADC) Church to help people in need is gaining momentum.

Project Vaerua Aro’a was inspired by the “Spirit of Love” and Proverbs 31:20 “She opens her arms to the poor and extend her hands to the needy”.

Launched on October 13, 2024, it aimed to share the abundance of God’s goodness and provision to those who need it most. It is dedicated to helping families in need, the island’s most vulnerable, through different project initiatives.

The first project – “Goodness of God Christmas packs” – was put into motion on December 15, 2024. This project aimed to gather donations from family and friends to put together food packs for those in need.

According to the church, with the cost-of-living sky-rocketing, it is becoming more and more difficult for families to afford the basic necessities.

Jackie Tuara, FADC Church member and one of the people driving the project, said: “We need to do something to help alleviate the hardships that many are going through.”

“There are young couples who can’t afford milk for their baby, families who struggle to put bread on the table and elderly without access to medicine or decent living condition.”
Tuara said Project Vaerua Aro’a aimed to find and assist these families and individuals.

“We have found that although Internal Affairs do a great job, there are still those who are not being captured on their lists. The FADC church aims to find and reach these people that have fallen through,” she said.

Through family, friends and word of mouth, the project leads were able to find several people who were happy to share the “goodness of God by offering gifts of kindness”.

The “Goodness of God Christmas packs” project was a huge success. Tuara said that the hearts of those who gave what they could in various ways – food donations, monetary donations that went towards buying food – and the hands that offered their time to help pack and deliver, along with all the love that flowed in, brought tears to their eyes.

“For our final tally, we were able to bless 44 families/individuals with ‘Goodness of God Christmas packs’ delivered over three days, 24th, 25th and 26th of December,” Tuara said.
“Vaerua Aroa are aware of all the other wonderful organisations and church groups who had prepared Christmas food packs and had gone out before Vaerua Aroa, so to see the amazing response we got on the two days just before Christmas, was more than what Vaerua Aroa had ever imagined.

“It has been a blessing to have been able to share with them God’s goodness and love, last Christmas, reminding them that they are not forgotten and that we are here to help. All they need to do is reach out to us anytime they need help. Project Vaerua Aro’a gives to remind them that they are loved, that they are not forgotten, that our Almighty Father is with them, beside them always, and that He will provide.”

The Project Vaerua Aro’a team, who are members of various church groups around the island, thanked the people who supported this initiative.

“First and foremost, thank our Heavenly Father for His provision for He’s indeed a never-ending supply of abundance. We also thank wholeheartedly each person who donated and came on board to help and make it all possible. Blessed in abundance indeed.”

The second Vaerua Aro’a Project, currently in development, aims to source and provide clothing and home linen to families in need.

“We’ve started collecting and blessings of donated clothing have already been gifted. We are hoping to set up a premises where our most vulnerable people can come in, go through what is available and take, at no cost, what they need,” Tuara said.

Some of the clothing and home linen will be sold (second hand outlet) for funds to buy food parcels during the year for needy families. 

FADC Church is located in the TJ Browne Building, Taputapuatea, Uptown Avarua, next to South Seas. For further information contact Jackie Tuara and Pastor Kapao Junior Kapao.

• Nicolea Mateariki