With a missionary focus, six families from Aleisa West Adventist Church in Samoa planted a church in Tanumalala, a village on the west side of Upolu (Samoa), officially opening the new church building on Sabbath May 1.
Starting to meet in October 2020, the group joined an evangelistic campaign run by the Institute of Public Evangelism (IPE) in the same month in Aleisa West, where baptisms brought new members to the recently formed group.
With challenges presented by COVID-19, the members made efforts to keep meeting each week in a small house owned by church elder Asovale Faasalauta and his wife, Sina, while deciding on a location to plant the new church.
“Through prayers, fasting and studying the Word of God, the group have faithfully believed that the Lord has directed them to establish their new church at the village of Tanumala,” said Samoa and Tokelau Adventist Mission (STM) general secretary Pastor Neru Nuuialii.
The village is a central location between the mother church, Aleisa West, and the Matautu Lefaga Adventist church. “It is quite a distance between the two churches,” said Pastor Nuuialii.
With funds and support provided by STM, the building process started in April 2021. The project was also supported by all the churches in Upolu with the donation of cement and funds.
“We also thank STM president Pastor Sione Ausage and CFO Toleafoa Ben Tofilau for having faith in this new group and supporting them in doing God’s work,” said Pastor Nuuialii.
