With over 40 years of ministry, service, and leadership behind him, Reverend Fepai Fiu Kolia has gifted Samoa and the world with three published books that celebrate faith, language, and culture — the legacy of a life fully devoted to God and his people.

The newly released titles — A Theology of the Measina (2024), Fafauga o Upu, Alagā‘upu, Muāgagana o le Gagana Samoa (2025), and O Vavega a le Atua i Loʻu Olaga Lē Feʻauautaʻi (2025) — reflect Rev. Kolia’s lifelong passion for theology, cultural identity, and storytelling. Based in Porirua, New Zealand, where he continues to serve as a Methodist Church minister, his heart remains rooted in Samoa.

In “A Theology of the Measina”, Rev. Kolia explores the spiritual meaning of the measina — the sacred fine mat — as a cultural symbol reflecting the nature of Christ. “The measina is not Jesus,” he writes, “but Jesus Christ was in the measina before Christianity.” The book invites readers to see faith through the richness of their own culture, proving that the Gospel is not foreign, but already present in the values of the Samoan people.

His work, “Fafauga o Upu, Alagaupu, Muagagana o le Gagana Samoa”, is a loving tribute to the Samoan language. Written entirely in Samoan, the book compiles idioms, metaphors, and proverbs passed down through generations. It is more than a reference — it is a call to young Samoans, especially those born overseas, to reconnect with the wisdom of their ancestors and the beauty of their mother tongue.

“O Vavega a le Atua i Loʻu Olaga Lē Feʻauautaʻi,” is Rev. Kolia’s most personal work. It is a collection of poems, reflections, and stories — a testimony of the many ways God has revealed Himself through both trials and triumphs across 64 years of life and 40 years of ministry. The book includes short stories in vernacular Samoan for children, continuing his mission to preserve and pass on the language of faith.

In all three books, Rev. Kolia’s voice is clear: God’s hand has guided every step. And by writing, he says, he honours a calling greater than himself. “Writing is a call,” he affirms. “A vow of commitment to do something for the public.”

He also gives credit to his beloved wife, Ana Fepai Kolia, whose quiet strength and care ensured that his manuscripts were preserved through their many years of service together. “If it were lost,” he wrote, “these books would not come into existence.”

Rev. Kolia’s service spans far beyond the pulpit. He was the first General Secretary of the Samoa National Council of Churches, a World Methodist Missioner, and a regional voice for the Pacific in global ecumenical work. He co-founded key national organisations including the Siosiomaga Society, SUNGO, the Samoa HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee, and was the first patron of the Samoa Victim Support Group.

 He has been a government worker, automotive engineer, journalist, composer, and teacher — but through it all, he has remained a servant of God, rooted in his culture and called to uplift others.

His new books, now available in Samoa and New Zealand, are more than pages and ink. They are woven with purpose, memory, and spirit — a living measina for future generations.

For Rev. Fepai Fiu Kolia, the message is simple and enduring: “These are not just books. They are my offering to God, to Samoa, and to those yet to come.”