The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) has postponed the 58th birthday celebration for their youth ministry after it was pushed back due to state of emergency restrictions.

The C.C.C.S. has moved the celebration, first set for Saturday, 31 October, to 7 November to allow time for special guests to travel from Savai’i and take leave from work to attend the party.

This is the last year for Reverend Elder Limuaa Samuelu and his wife, Daru Samuelu, to attend. They will be leaving C.C.C.S. Saoluafata in 2021.

Rev. Elder Samuelu visited the Samoa Observer on Friday with clippings collected over the years of news coverage of the Saoluafata C.C.C.S. Youth Ministry.

“We have participated in so many events,” said Rev. Elder Samuelu.

“We always like to support the Government’s efforts.”

The clippings provide an interesting glimpse of Samoa going back as far as 16 years.

Rev. Samuelu is featured on the front page of the Observer’s Wednesday, 10 November, 2004 issue, seated next to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi.

Saoluafata C.C.C.S. Youth have been featured in the Observer numerous times, including when they participated in the 13 Days of Christmas program in 2007; and when they launched a CD in 2005 that contained “Tulouna le Paia O Samoa,” the song which claimed them first place in won first place in the Teuila Festival Song Competition.

The youth group also performed at World Water Day in 2006 and were covered by former newspaper reporter Jasmine Netzler.

As part of the youth ministry’s celebrations, they will bid farewell to their fautasi (longboat) on Saturday, 31 October, the week before their celebrations begin.