Samoan Bible college raises up local evangelists

Ina and Tanielu Atio’o, from Hosanna Hutt City Church, moved to Samoa in 2009 to work at the Ierusalema Fou Bible College on the island of Savai’i. This college trains students from Samoa and surrounding Pacific islands to plant churches in their home villages.

In 2005 Tanielu received a dream from God with a call to return to Samoa. Not long after he and Ina arrived in Samoa in August 2009 the tsunami hit. This assured them of their call to reach out to the people of Samoa with the gospel of repentance. There have been many challenges but they thank the Lord for his strength and grace.

Tanielu was appointed Dean of Students  and oversees the school’s daily running.  Ina looks after the library, will assist in  computer class and eventually teach.  Living on campus makes them especially  appreciative of God’s provision and  blessings. When fees are paid, the school is  able to buy food and pay the bills and staff.  When students cannot pay their fees, food  is limited to a hot cup of tea for the day and  staff go without pay.  Last year, the Bible  college was blessed  by donations of computers, furniture, and  fittings from two overseas churches. This  enabled them to set up the computer suite  and library at the school’s new site in Tafua.  The school lives in a strong atmosphere of  hope and faith that God will continue to  supply all their needs as they reach out and  fulfil God’s calling in the nation of Samoa.

In March they met with the Director of  Youth for Christ Samoa, which operates  the Laufou Radio Station in Apia, Upolu.  The director gave them the go-ahead to  start a fortnightly one-hour programme.  In Samoa, all radio stations are funded by  those who want to go on-air. Tanielu and  Ina knew that they couldn’t afford to pay  for the time or the ferry travel to Upolu.  They asked God to open the door wide so  that they would know this was God’s will  for them, and, soon after, the director told them he had decided to waive the fee and  asked only for a small donation for power.  Every Saturday morning Ina and Tanielu  minister with their church at Open Air  outreaches at the local market. People are  receptive to the message. They have also
led a group of volunteer translators and  helpers from their church to support a team  of doctors and nurses who travel annually  to Samoa to run free medical clinics. Many  gave their lives to Jesus in the prayer tent.
Their prayer for 2010 is that they will  live with a perspective towards eternity  and that everything they do will build the  Kingdom of God.