Church celebrates 125th year milestone

By Deidre Fanene 04 December 2016, 12:00AM

Members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church rejoiced in thanksgiving yesterday. The occasion was the commemoration of the 125th year since the church arrived in Samoa.

The celebration was well attended by church members in Samoa and abroad.

Among the special guests were the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and the Masiofo, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese.

Also in attendance was Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegoi, Members of the Council of Deputies, Le Mamea Ropati and Tuiloma Pule Lameko, the Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asue Falefatu Sapolu and many other dignitaries.

His Highness Tui Atua congratulated the leadership of the Church in Samoa, the President of the Trans Pacific Union in Fiji Pr. Maveni Kaufanonga and members of the church (read story).  

The Secretary of the Samoa and Tokelau Mission, Pastor Sione Ausage, said S.D.A arrived in 1981.

“Some Seventh-day Adventist missionaries called in at Apia harbour on their way to Australia. The boats exchanged mailbags but passengers did not disembark." 

“The first real contact was the visit of the PITCAIRN in 1891. All Adventist visitors commented about Samoan Christians worshipping on Saturday believing it to be Sunday."

 “This was caused by the earliest Christian missionaries, who came from the western side of the International Date Line, continuing their weekly sequence when crossing to Samoa. Twelve months after the visit of the PITCAI RN the calendar confusion was corrected."

“King Malietoa decreed that Tuesday, July 5, 1892, would be Tuesday, July 4. 

“The PITCAIRN'S stopover in Apia in 1891 lasted three week s and the missionaries hired a house near the post office and canvassed books." 

“Their Saturday services were attended by a handful of English and American acquaintances, including Captain Turner, a 3 visiting businessman and nephew of the man who built the PITCAIRN."

“Four years later the PITCAIRN called again. Dr. Frederick Braucht, after failing to gain acceptance in Fiji with his American qualifications, had continued with the boat to Samoa and with him was his wife, Mina.”

By Deidre Fanene 04 December 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>