SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Lafo Ordained to the Ministry Betty Cooney
E
liu Lafo, pastor of the Compton Samoan church, was ordained to the gospel ministry on Sabbath, Feb. 12. Born in Tutuila, American Samoa, he has four brothers and three sisters who make their homes in California, Samoa and New Zealand.
at Andrews University while her organizations that target middlehusband studied at the seminary. and high school-aged young people. Her greatest passion in ministry is “I am excited when working with to provide spiritual and emotional young people in ministry,” he said, support to girls and young women “and I am intentional in ensuring while also working alongside her that their voice is heard within the husband in ministry. community and the church.” In 2004 Lafo earned a Master While a member of the San Jose of Divinity degree from the Samoan church, Lafo received the Seventh-day Adventist Theocall to professional ministry in 2006 logical Seminary at Andrews from the Southeastern California University. Prior to his minConference to serve as sole pastor isterial education he earned a of the Santa Ana Samoan church. bachelor’s degree in sociology After serving there for 19 months, from California State Univerthe Southern California Conference sity San Jose. invited him to pastor the Compton Lafo’s work experience Samoan church in 2008. in the non-profit field and Lafo and the Compton Samoan extensive work with highcongregation share a passion for risk youth and families have evangelism. Over the past two and a (Back row, l. to r.) Sebastian, Leaisa and Nathaniel with (front row) Eliu and Alilevao Lafo. proven invaluable to his half years, several evangelistic camministry in the urban setpaigns have led to more than 35 ting. He continues to be baptisms. “To God be the glory!” Lafo has lived in California involved in Polynesian community Lafo said. since the early 1970s, first living in Oceanside, where he was raised by his grandparents through his mid-teens. He accepted the Adventist message through the ministry of Pastor Sioeli Puni at the Vista lease take notice that the 63rd regular Constituency Session of the Southern Samoan Adventist Church, and was California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is called to convene as follows: baptized in 1976 at the Tabernacle • Place: White Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church, Adventist Church in San Francisco. 401 North State Street, Los Angeles, California Eliu and is wife, Aloilevao Taue• Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011 lia, have three children: Sebastian • Time: 7:55 a.m. – 1 p.m., or until business is completed. The purpose of this session is to receive reports, to elect conference officers, the Su(22), Nathaniel (19), both atperintendent of Schools, the Executive Committee, and the Bylaws Committee; and to tending La Sierra University; and transact any other business that may properly come before the delegates in session. a daughter, Leaisa (14), a high Delegates are invited to join with the SCC Prayer Team for prayer from 7–7:50 a.m. school freshman. Despite health Larry L. Caviness, President challenges, his wife Alo worked at Velino A. Salazar, Executive Secretary the Center for Youth Evangelism
Notice of Southern California Conference Regular Constituency Session
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