Worship Centre Opens ST$20 Million Complex

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA- 03 MAY 2022: COVID-19 did affect the building schedule as material supplies from overseas were delayed. It also affected the opening day of the latest addition to the changing face of Apia town. This is the $20 million tala Worship Centre along the Sogi seafront.

The project was finally opened last Saturday led by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Members of Parliament and other guests.

After 25 years of moving around, the church finally as its own place of worship and the centre for the church. They bought the prime land with a ST$2.2 million loan with the ANZ Bank 20 years ago.

The new Worship Centre comprise of a state of the art 3 storey building equipped with modern technology for the church services for its growing membership.

Founded by Apostle Viliamu Mafoe who had been having health issues in recent months, his wife Lavina Mafo’e cut the ribbon to open the building for the guests to enter for the blessing and official opening service.

A humble beginning
In 1990, Pastor Mafo’e received a vision from God to establish a church in the centre of Apia. At the time, he and Lavina were directors of the Youth For Christ (YFC) organisation in Samoa.

He was reluctant to leave as the YFC was growing and well established, but Mafoe prioritised the vision and left YFC.

Lavinia Mafoe about to cut the ribbon to open the doors to the complex

He shared the vision with a few people whom he asked to be part of the mission to fulfil Gods calling, and after preparation, they used the second floor of the Forsgren’s building currently where the Tanoa shop is as their base.

On 2 July 1997, the first Worship Centre Sunday service took place with only 30 people on top of the Forsgren building.

Years went by and the church grew which created the need for a bigger space.

According to Pastor Misa Ioane, they moved from the Forsgren building to the Tooa Salamasina Hall, then the Apia Park Stadium but again, renovations ended that arrangement. They moved to one of the Government owned gyms at Tuanaimato, but that also came to an end.

“We moved a lot, and have been ridiculed and accused of making loud noises during our worship, but God was always good,” said Pastor Misa Ioane.

Then they had a visit from their members in America at the time when they were occupying the gym. The visiting party offered to donate huge tents and chairs so they could use the land they bought at Sogi for worship.

Since then, they conducted all services, international conferences and meetings under the tent at Sogi.

But that also posed a problem as neighbours complained about the level of the sound which is now resolved by building a house of worship where they control the sound levels inside.

Opening service of the complex last Saturday.

Building faith
Pastor Ioane recalled one of their meetings with the Apostle, deacons and elders of the church and Apostle Viliamu Mafo’e asked them to establish a radio station, and they did.

Later on he asked the deacons and elders to establish a television station, and it happened.

Later they asked about the lack of a house of worship for the church as they were building other things but not a house of worship.

“In a calm voice, Mafo’e asked for forgiveness as he said that was not what God wanted and it was not time yet,” said Pastor Ioane,

“Instead we should first build the faith of the people in God, and the worship house will follow,” was Mafo’es response to the deacons and elders of the church.

Twenty five years later, the Worship Centre had grown locally and internationally with a multitude of faithful followers.

The church founder, Apostle Viliamu Mafoe blessing the new complex.

Divine donation
It was time to build Gods house and Pastor Andy and Leone Forsgren loaned ST$100,000 to the church to start a loan with ANZ Bank and it was the beginning of the four years construction.

When the land was secured, plans and agreements between the church and construction companies and others were completed in 2018. In April same year, phase one started with the laying of the foundation by the Sheng Construction company for ST$1 million to be completed in 11 weeks.

The second phase was the construction of the ST$14 million building structure by the Ah Liki Construction company for 12 months.

Work went smoothly and was within the time frame until 2019 when the measles struck the country and followed by lockdowns and border closures due to COVID-19.

“These events delayed the arrival of the supply materials from overseas as the country was in lock down,” said Pastor Ioane.

There were assistance offered by various members and branches of the church worldwide such as lighting, radio and television systems, LDG screen system, acoustic system, sound proof system and also an expert in sound /noise control and other specific equipment.

Blessing of the Centre
Lavina presented a speech on behalf of her husband, Apostle Viliamu Mafo’e and acknowledged all those who had supported and assisted the work from the beginning to date.

“It was not easy but faith and trust in God has led us to where we are today,” she said.

The main worship centre has a seating capacity for at least 2000 people and the other floors are allocated for the Executive and committee conferences, offices and support services.

Apostle Viliamu Mafo’e then blessed the church followed by a tour of the place, and traditional presentations.