Adventist Heritage in my Home Island
The Adventist Church places significant importance on the global dissemination of the Gospel message. Remarkable tales of missionaries venturing far and wide to spread the Adventist Message abound. On certain occasions, it is solely the Holy Spirit that propels the propagation of this unique Message.
My upbringing took place on Tungua, a small island within the Ha’apai group of the Kingdom of Tonga. In those days, the island housed a mere 500 inhabitants. The Adventist faith was established on our island by Pastor Muti Palu, who was initially a teacher. Through his devout study of the Bible, he embraced Adventism, discovering truths such as the Sabbath, tithe, baptism, and dietary guidelines. Subsequently, he realised that the Adventist Church taught these biblical principles. Around 1952, Pastor Palu initiated the establishment of our church on the island.
His family, however, disapproved of his newfound faith and, in his absence, destroyed his home. Remarkably, Pastor Palu's response to this incident led the church to even greater growth. He facilitated the education of several children from our island at Beulah College, our Adventist high school on the main island. Some of them were baptised, including my father. Growing up, I witnessed the church member’s unwavering dedication to God.
One unforgettable experience was our travels to the district meetings aboard the Mamanatataki'aho, a large sailing boat that accommodated us all. When the wind favoured us, the journey took merely three hours—when it didn't, it could be significantly prolonged. However, I witnessed the Holy Spirit's work in our church, even in the absence of missionaries. One story involved inviting a non-Adventist individual to translate missionary stories during Sabbath school. This sparked his interest in delving deeper into the truth, ultimately leading to his baptism.
Our Adventist heritage embodies the history of God's divine workings, and we are privileged to be active participants in His work.
Verse of the day:
"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8).
