A Messianic Jewish leader, Pastor Benjamin Berger, who is in Samoa for the All Pacific Arise Conference, says the signing of a covenant by Samoa to renew their faith in God signifies an important step for Samoa.

The covenant was signed by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi on the opening night of the A.P.A. conference being held at the  T.A.T.T.E. building this week.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Pastor Berger who is one of the guest speakers, said he wouldn’t travel from another part of the world unless he knew in his heart that God is doing something new and important for the church and Samoa.

“I think that the conference served a purpose where the Samoan Government united with the church to the Lord Jesus and making a covenant with him for this island and saying it belongs to him," he said.

“And we agree with that, it is something historic and that is something God is waiting for, for the people on earth to consecrate and to dedicate the land and their people to him. I think that is of the greatest significance.

“The covenant that was signed on Sunday night was based entirely on scripture as to what the faith in Jesus Christ is and details of quoting different scriptures and there was a breaking with every ungodly thing – all the idolatry that was here before the gospel came."

Rev. Haseh-Berger said the relationship between Israel and Samoa has all been engrafted into the cultivated olive tree of Israel as wild branches. 

“The Biblical understanding of the people of God is within the Olive tree. I am within the Olive tree, I represented the cultivated Olive tree and you have been grafted onto that tree and within that tree, the unity of the body of Christ is expressed. 

“This is something very important that is taking place in terms of understanding rightly, what is the church of Jesus Christ. There is only one church, today we have over 20,000 denominations but the fact is there is only one church of Jesus Christ.

“Denominations are primarily the result of division that has taken place in the body of Christ over 2000 years and the first break in church history was between the church of the nations and the church of Israel. We are healing the original break and as we heal that break more healing will take place."

Pastor Berger added it has to do with the restoration of the nations on Earth to their proper position and place to prepare for the coming kingdom when Jesus returns.

“What is happening in the world, you can see this more in Europe and the United States, is the breakdown of Christian values and Christian morality. It is a terrible breakdown that has even infiltrated into the churches. 

“The churches that are allowing this to happen are not going to be the church anymore because the church has to be holy and it has to be of Jesus Christ. 

“That is what is happening worldwide. If and when this nation, and other nations in the Pacific really live the Christian life and proclaim the gospel of Jesus, and something will happen that all of this other stuff has no place here, it is going to be a witness in the world today of righteousness, holiness and justice.

“And that is the role of the church. The church is supposed to be a light unto the world. Hopefully what the others in the Pacific are doing here will move the world in that direction,” he said.

Rev. Haseh-Berger said God is going to keep his part of the covenant and Samoa has to to do the same.

The conference continues at the T.A.T.T.E. Building.