Tonga Evangelistic Efforts Move Everyone—From Children to Guests—to Action

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 before, and now dusk is rushing to set in.

A group of children, sons of some of the adults attending, make the most of the premeeting 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 neighborhood as if telling people that it is time to come to the meetings.

Children from the Houmakelikao Seventh-day Adventist Church smile before the beginning of the July 13 evangelistic meetings in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

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 July 12-26 as part of the Trans Pacific Union Mission for Christ. The regional evangelistic push was, at the same time, part of the multiyear South Pacific for Christ initiative.

A half hour before the scheduled start, some church members and visitors already await the beginning of the meeting outside the Houmakelikao Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tonga on July 13. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

In the kingdom of Tonga, a spread-out and mostly isolated archipelago located not far from the international date line, church organizers 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 emphasized.

For Tonga Mission president 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, 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.”

Salesi Manu, church elder of the Ma’ufunga Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tonga (right), smiles by the church clerk, who keeps track of visitors to the venue where evangelistic meetings took place in July. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

Besides local pastors, many Adventist Tongans living abroad in New Zealand and the United States also traveled 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 traveled 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.”

A local church choir shares a special musical item before a guest speaker preached from the series “Mysteries Revealed,” at the Ma’ufunga Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tonga on July 13. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

Local church teenagers and Pathfinder members 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.”

Every evening the Escape Café Restaurant in downtown Nuku’alofa became a venue where evangelistic meetings took place in July. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

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 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.

Uepi Lea, first elder of the Nuku’alofa Seventh-day Adventist Church, says that people like him help run the local church operations while pastors take care of smaller congregations. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

According to organizers, 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 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,” Lea said. “Pastors then are freed to support the growth of smaller churches.” According to Lea, church elders take care of the two largest churches in Tonga.

Fanueli Mataele, president of the Tonga Mission, was also a guest speaker at one of the churches in the area around Nuku’alofa. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

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.”

A woman dressed in a traditional skirt listens to the message at Nuku’alofa Seventh-day Adventist Church on July 13. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

Teenagers were actively involved in the series, including this girl, who led the congregational singing at Nuku’alofa Seventh-day Adventist Church. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

Darius Jankiewicz, field and Ministerial Association secretary in the South Pacific Division, was the guest speaker at Nuku’alofa Seventh-day Adventist Church, while his wife, Edyta, spoke on family relationships. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

During the July evangelistic series guest speakers included local pastors and administrators, as well as Tonga-born preachers living in New Zealand and the United States. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

A group of Seventh-day Adventist women serving in Prayer Ministries pray outside one of the venues in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, while someone is preaching inside the sanctuary on July 13. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

Visitors from the community follow the message on prophecy in Tonga, July 13. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

Colin Lutui, first elder of the Tofoa Seventh-day Adventist Church, and evangelistic meetings coordinators at the venue. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]

The Tofoa Seventh-day Adventist Church was one of several who have a very active Children’s Ministries Department and also function as a wellness center. [Photo: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]