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Samoa Youth For Christ Celebrates 50th Anniversary
By Lagi Keresoma
APIA, SAMOA -12 SEPTEMBER 2023: Members of the Youth For Christ (YFC) in Samoa and internationally have come together this week to celebrate the Samoa organisations 50th anniversary milestone.
The three days celebrations started with a parade and the officially opening in-front of the Government building yesterday by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio.
Tuala acknowledged the presence of the founder of the organisation Tavale and Alison Matai’a “who planted the seed that saw the organisation grow.”
Tuala said reaching 50 years is a milestone and believed there were challenges along the long journey.
YFC history
Tavale Matai’a returned to Samoa after completing a scholarship abroad and started teaching at the Apia Primary and Leififi Intermediate Schools from 1971 to 1972.
Late 1972, Matai’a was approached by several evangelists Ene Sagala, Max Rasmussen and Reverend Jerry Appleby to lead the work with the youth.
Despite his heart being swayed towards his calling, Matai’a had a bond to serve the Government and twice he asked the then Director of Education, the late Professor Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa but she refused.
“Aiono Fanaafi later agreed to release me when she realised that I was not taking another job but that I would continue to teach the youth,” said Matai’a.
The then Deputy Director, Magele Perefoti Tamati supported his move and encouraged him to do it then sent a letter to Government schools principals to allow Matai’a to talk to their students.
“That was a major breakthrough for our work,” said Matai’a.
In February 1973, Tavale & Alison Matai’a established the Youth For Christ in Samoa.
In February 1973, Matai’a and wife established the YFC with the emphasis that it was not a church but an organisation that caters for the spiritual development of the youth of Samoa.
YFC was intended to work closely with church ministers of all denominations.
He and Alison then embark on a new journey that took them to various schools such as the Teachers Training College, Samoa College and Avele College where the then principal Seiuli Paul Wallwork allocated a room and place for the organisations meetings and camps.
After 13 years, Matai’a and Alison left for New Zealand due to his wife’s health issues and handed the reigns over to the late Apostle Viliamu Mafo’e in 1986.
In 1997, Mafo’e founded the Worship Centre Church and the YFC work was passed down to Isaia Lameko.
Other leaders that followed included Fitu and Fogatia, Matauasi Aliitasi Auvae, Mauasa Tili and the first woman to lead YFC was Sister Silia Kalepoa Ualesi. The current leaders are Asiata and Patricia Peniamina.
A Methodist youth group performing at one of the open rallies to celebrate the Samoa YFC 50th anniversary.
Prayer meeting with Government leaders
Other than the work with the students, Matai’a also approached the Government Secretary at the time, Simon Potoi and asked for an audience with the late Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana.
Potoi found his request rather different from all the other requests for people to see the Prime Minister.
“I told Simon I wanted to pray with the PM and he said that was strange, but I did get an audience with Tofilau,” he said.
It was from that time that Matai’a would visit Tofilau at 5.00am every Saturday morning for a prayer meeting which was later joined by Cabinet Minister Polataivao Fosi Schmidt then by other Cabinet Ministers.
That led to their Saturday morning singing and evangelism work in-front of the Government building every weekend.
Matai’a believes that it was from those prayer meetings with the Government leaders that led to the establishments of the Government Prayer House – Maota Tatalo at Palisi and the weekly prayer meetings led by different government Ministries.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio and YFC Leaders at Monday’s official opening ceremony.
Salute to the leaders of YFC
Matai’a was emotional as he read out the names of all the leaders and those who rendered support for YFC at its early stage and acknowledged their persistence and perseverance in continuing to develop the spiritual life of the youth of Samoa.
Their support helped made the journey easier and he remembered times when the late Reverend Elder Oka Fauolo invited him to speak to the students at the Malua Theological College.
Those who stood out:
- Reverend Vavae Toma – Chairman, National Council of Churches
- Reverend Oka Fauolo – Principal, Malua Theological College
- Reverend Lene Milo – President, Methodist Church
- Reverend Seloti Alainu’u’ese – Methodist Church Matafele
- Reverend Faatauva’a Tapua’ī – President, Methodist Church
- Pastor Tasi – Assembly of God
- Seiuli Paul Wallkwork – Principal, Avele College
- Albert Wendt – Principal, Samoa College
- Dr. Aiono Fanaafi – Director of Education
- Magele Perefoti Tamati – Deputy Director of Education
- Galumalemana Netina Scmidt – Principal TTC
- Aiga Poasa – Avele College, Deputy Principal
- Asi James Blakelock – Commissioner of Police
- Aliitasi Tanoa – Principal, Vaimauga High School)
The 50th anniversary is scheduled for 3 days with open air rallies and various performances by groups from the United States, Brazil, Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa.