Nevada-Utah Conference
Tala Ki Mamani SDA Company Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
TOILOSE MO’UNGAAFI
TOILOSE MO’UNGAAFI
pastor in the TonganAmerican Seventhday Adventist work and pastor of the Los Angeles Tongan church, provided the main sermon in keeping with the theme and host, Pastor Sheldon R. Bryan of the Salt Lake Central and Tala Ki Mamani district, closed with a message of the importance of unity as we draw Members of Tala Ki Mamani at launch in 2011. closer to Jesus’ return. Nevada-Utah Conference President Leon “Many people sacrificed much for us to be Brown; Executive-Secretary/Ministerial Director where we are today and we are grateful for Carlos Camacho; and Treasurer Doug Reeves their dedication,” says Sis Veisinia, matriarch of received and read messages. the budding congregation. As a group, Tongan Birthed out of the dedication and hard work American Adventists have been meeting of Tongan pioneers, Manoa and Sis Veisinia together in annual camp meetings for the Mo’ungaafi, Tala Ki Mamani’s fifth anniversary past 35 years. Each meeting is a sacrifice for celebration was the culmination of a year of the mainly lay-led movement as many of their evangelistic efforts aimed at reviving the small pastors are bi-vocational volunteers. company. In fact, at the heart of this year’s “We always want to be true to our name, Tell service was a baptism where four individuals the World,” concurs Manoa Moungaafi, head dedicated themselves to following Jesus. elder of the group, “so anything that we do, we Pastor Etuini Mounga, a volunteer assistant love sharing with individuals of all nations, but at the Seaward church in Seattle, Wash., led in especially those of Polynesian descent.” the seminar as well as in the baptism. Mainly because of the missionary activities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the islands, Salt Lake City is the epicenter of the American Polynesian community, boasting the largest population of both Tongans and Samoans in the continental United States. It is through the Polynesian spirit of sacrificial giving and support that the network of Tongan churches was able to bless Tala Ki Mamani in raising over $30,000 toward their financial goal of having a ministry center to call their own in Salt Lake City. This celebration was held at the Calvary Baptist Church, one of Tala Ki Mamani’s ministry partners in Salt Lake City. EDDY CADET
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eventh-day Adventist Tongan church representatives and ministers from across the United States gathered together in Salt Lake City on Oct. 1 to celebrate Tala Ki Mamani (Tell the World) SDA Company’s fifth anniversary. The theme for the day’s festivities, “Nearing Home,” emphasized the church’s belief that Jesus is coming soon, as well as their conviction that with a little help, they are getting closer to having a building in Salt Lake City that can be a center in their mission to prepare their communities for His coming. The day included singing from groups such as the interdenominational Salt Lake City Mass Choir, the Los Angeles Tongan SDA Choir, the Utah Samoan Youth Choir, and the Methodist Laumalie Choir among many others. Faifekau (Pastor) Sonatane Vunileva, the founding
Pastor Sonatane Vunileva greets members as they leave the anniversary service.
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Pastor Etuini baptizes Ofa at Tala Ki Mamani’s fifth anniversary service.
Sheldon Bryan