Nineteen ordained from Malua Theological College

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 24 SEPTEMBER 2022: Nineteen students ordained from the Malua Theological College as ordained ministers after four years of bible studies at the Malua campus and preparation as minsters of the Congregational Christian.

Today’s thanks giving service was led by Reverend Elder Siolo Tauati of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa and the ceremony was well attended by families and friends of the graduates from Samoa and abroad.

In today’s ceremony, the new ministers were accompanied by their wives as they were blessed by the church elders. Most of the nineteen graduates will now await the call to serve at congregations without church ministers or be called to serve through the church system such as teachers in the church owned schools.

Some of the graduates were recruited from the church overseas congregations.

Reverend Iona Leaana and his wife Peka Tiatia Leaana from the EFKS Taelega at Petesa Fou, Portland, Oregon, United States.

One of the graduates is Reverend Iona Leaana and his wife Peka Tiatia Leaana from the EFKS Taelega i Petesa Fou, Portland, Oregon, United States dedicated their success to God and families and friends who endured with them and the circumstances that come with their calling.

“Thank God for allowing us to get this far with our calling! Becoming a Faifeau Samoa isn’t easy, but we are faithful servants and trust that He will pave the way,” Peka Leaana told Talamua.

“Our prayer is that we are used accordingly for His work and that we give our all with humble and loving hearts. May we always remember that Gods plans are bigger than ours.”

The graduation ceremony concludes the pre-meetings including the Women’s Fellowship meetings which were held this week leading up to the CCCS main annual conference which starts tomorrow, Sunday, 25 September 2022.

Malua is the headquarters of the Congregational Christian Church and will be one of the busiest places in Samoa next week as hundreds of church members from Samoa and various countries overseas are gathering for the church’s Fonotele – Annual General Conference as the biggest denomination in the country.

Due to the pandemic lockdowns, the church members are only coming together this month for its annual conference that is normally held in May every year.

The General Conference or the Fono Tele is the governing body which passes all resolutions including the annual budget for the church.

A number of issues pertaining to the development of the church are on the agenda for the main conference.