The gospel is a term that comes from the old English word ‘godspell’ which means ‘good news’, writes Reverend Mata Tumu-Makara of the Cook Islands Christian Church.

 On the 31^st of May 2024, my wife and I flew to the island of Mangaia, Cook Islands for the 200 years’ celebration of the arrival of the Gospel. As soon as we landed our host took us around the island, visiting the three villages starting from Ivirua to Oneroa and finally to Tamarua.

Mangaia is a beautiful island with a stair-like formation of the makatea (coral rocks) where an approximate 30 minutes’ walk towards the centre of the island, you find a big drop of acres of lush land for planting vegetables.

After two days on the island, we were asked to contribute to the celebration by praying for the visitors on their arrival to the island.

We also helped to welcome them, took photos and directed visitors to their transportation ready to take them to their accommodations. We did this for two weeks until Saturday the 15^th June 2024, the day of the closing ceremony. We greeted so many people like the Ui Ariki, Pastors (Orometua), Members of Parliaments, Enua leaders and many returning Mangaian. We were part of the welcoming committee which included our beautiful mamas, Numangatini Ariki, his wife, the Mayor, Orometuas, Papa Poroa, our young drummers and those who provided refreshments for the workers.

I congratulate the 500 Mangaian, who reside on the island, who worked so hard and tirelessly without proper sleep to prepare food, set up the community halls for the accommodations, transporting visitors from the airport to their accommodations, to the church facilities or community hall for the feast (kaikai), to Oneroa for the evening shows and then back to their accommodations. Meitaki ngao.

We returned to Rarotonga, Cook Islands with a deep appreciation of the many ways our people celebrated this important event in our history.

The theme of the 200 years of the Gospel on Mangaia declared, that ‘Jesus is the living gospel for Mangaia’ or ‘Ko Iesu te Evangelia Ora noou e Aua’u Enua.’ This is a bold national declaration. What does this mean? What is the living gospel or Eaa te Evangelia?

The gospel is a term that comes from the old English word ‘godspell’ which means ‘good news.’ The Greek word, euaggelion where we get our English word ‘evangel’ and where our Cook Islands word evangelia comes from literally means ‘good news.’

Therefore, the ‘living gospel for Mangaia’ is the ‘good news’ concerning Jesus Christ and the way of salvation. Why is it good news? It is good news because God loves the world so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sin (John 3:16). It is good news because our salvation and eternal life and home are guaranteed through Jesus (John 14:1-4). However, this national commitment must begin on a personal level.

One of the personal highlights for me was the opportunity to have morning and evening devotions with those in our household.

At one evening devotion, some of our household members made an individual commitment through prayer by asking Jesus to come into their lives as their Lord and Saviour.

Our forefathers accepted the gospel 200 years ago and we boldly declare today that ‘Jesus IS the living gospel for Mangaia’.