United in mission across Tonga

July 29

The official start for the scheduled evangelistic meeting is still 30 minutes away, but dozens of adults, seniors, teens and children have already arrived outside the Houmakelikao Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tonga. The sun has set just a few minutes earlier, and now dusk is rushing to set in.

A group of children, sons of some of the adults attending, make the most of the pre-meeting free time as they run beyond the chairs, the screen and the projector already in place. Christian songs spring up from the speakers to reach the relaxed neighbourhood as if telling people that it is time to come to the meetings.

The church sanctuary is small, so the local congregation prepared to offer a venue outside their church. It is a temporary arrangement, they say. “We want to build a bigger church soon,” local church elder Vunivesi Taione says. “We keep praying and dreaming, and we know the Lord will answer us.”

Beyond Borders and Languages

The “Mysteries Revealed” evangelistic series took place across Tonga from July 12-26 as part of Trans Pacific for Christ. The regional evangelistic push was, at the same time, part of the multiyear South Pacific for Christ initiative.

In the kingdom of Tonga, a spread-out and mostly isolated archipelago located not far from the international date line, church organisers firmly believe that the key to the success of the meetings is in the involvement of every member, leader, and even teen and child. Everyone has a role to play, they emphasised.

For Tonga Mission president Pastor Fanueli Mataele, this was not just a statement of intent—he made a point to preach by example. After spending several days preaching in evangelistic meetings in American Samoa in June, Pastor Mataele returned to Tonga as guest speaker in one of the local venues in Puke.

“My pastors and I, everyone has an active role during the meetings,” he shares. “I helped the work on other islands; now it’s my time to support the initiative here in my hometown.”

Besides local pastors, many Adventist Tongans living abroad in New Zealand and the United States also travelled to support their country. Their ability to communicate in Tongan—the national language of the Kingdom of Tonga, known as Lea Faka-Tonga—is certainly a plus. But meetings are also held in English, which suits international guest speakers coming from the South Pacific Division in Australia and beyond. “Most young people can speak fluent English,” local leaders explained, “but the older folks feel more comfortable in their native tongue.”

Everyone Involved—Literally

But involvement in the meetings has reached other local and international actors, including Tongan church choirs, as well as other Tongan choirs that travelled from New Zealand to support the evangelistic emphasis. “Many of them still have family, friends, parents or grandparents in Tonga,” leaders explain. “They felt they needed to be here to do their part.”

Local church teenagers and Pathfinders also got involved. Teenagers helped as ushers and deacons, and supported other clerical activities during the series. They helped staff many tables strategically placed outside venues to keep track of the visitors’ contact information.

Prayer ministries members were also summoned. In many venues across Tonga, while the Word was preached inside the sanctuary, groups of women fought the unusually cool evening temperatures to pray for the Holy Spirit to open hearts to Bible truth. “It’s our role in this campaign,” a prayer ministries coordinator said. “Pray, pray and keep on praying for people who are ready to embrace God’s truth.”

Even children had a role to play during the series. While their church or community members’ parents followed the topic of the day inside some of the venues, they participated in activities specifically designed for them. A group of dedicated children’s ministries leaders made sure they left with a new Bible truth or reflection every night.

From a Restaurant to Branch Churches

During the two weeks of meetings, Escape Café, a downtown restaurant in Nuku’alofa, became a venue as well. Every evening it closed early to allow time to rearrange the tables and chairs, place a podium and speakers, and open a space for live musicians. A guest speaker from Weimar University in the United States provided health nuggets every night before the preaching of the topic of the day.

According to organisers, the focus was not on big, packed venues, but on multiple sites with a home feeling to it. For instance, the largest church in Tonga, Nuku’alofa Seventh-day Adventist Church, held meetings in English in its sanctuary led by guest speaker Dr Darius Jankiewicz, field and ministerial association secretary in the South Pacific Division. Every evening his wife, Edyta, spoke before him, sharing tips on how to improve family relationships and enjoy better health. But the sanctuary was far from full. Church elders explained the simple reason: Local church members had been divided into four groups, and they moved to hold meetings at four different evangelistic sites, also in the Tongan language.

Liepi Lea, first elder of the Nuku’alofa church and in charge of the meetings in English, explained their refreshing approach. “We are a big church, so here at Nuku’alofa no pastor is taking care of the congregation. Church elders do,” he said. “Pastors then are freed to support the growth of smaller churches.” According to Mr Lea, church elders take care of the two largest churches in Tonga.

Overall, church leaders and members agreed on one thing: prayer and consistent, coordinated action can open doors for God to act. “We know God will bless our efforts,” they said. “We know that our prayers will be answered and that many will come to accept Jesus across our land.”—Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review