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Music is central to ministry to Samoan youth

Since June, Faatauvaa (Va’a) Alaelua, pastor of the Christian Worship Center in Anchorage, Alaska, has worked with Morag Stewart and the East Side Committee on Ministry (E-COM), to complete requirements for ordination. The E-COM unanimously voted on Dec. 9 to approve him for ordination. His ordination on Feb. 2, 2025, in Anchorage will be shared with the PNC on the church’s YouTube and Facebook.

Faatauvaa (Va’a) and Mafa (May) Alaelua at Plymouth Seattle for Annual Meeting.

Three representatives from the Pacific Northwest Conference UCC—Morag Stewart, Dawn Koloi and Karen Mooney—met in 2023 with the Christian Worship Center UCC and one other Samoan church in Anchorage.

Both churches and two Seattle churches were approved to join the PNC-UCC at the Annual Meeting in April at Plymouth UCC in Seattle.

Those churches are the Christian Worship Center and First LMS Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Anchorage, and First Samoan Congregational Christian Church #1 and Samoan Congregational Church #6 of Seattle.

Va’a hopes his ordination will strengthen his congregation and help him build collaboration among the four Anchorage churches, which are all within about 20 minutes of each other.

In his ordination paper, Va’a shared that his involvement in music ministries at various churches—Congregational, Methodist, Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baptist, Assembly of God and Full Gospel—has not just been a calling but also an opportunity to experience and appreciate a range of theological perspectives.

Because they were engaging in mission and outreach through music, he said the churches did not identify them as belonging to another denomination but welcomed them as brothers and sisters united by faith in Christ. 

He explained that the lyrics he has memorized for choirs and praise team music were not just words, but “profound insights that deepened his relationship with God.” Hymns like “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” and the moving story behind it sparked profound contemplation about “how our love is firmly rooted in God’s boundless love,” he said.

“Similarly, ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ led me to confront my weaknesses and shortcoming, yet reassured me that God’s faithfulness is unwavering, even when I stumble,” Va’a commented.

“I wanted to be ordained because I feel God calling me through the UCC,” said Va’a, whose parents were in the UCC. “I’m grateful the UCC lets us worship as we do and I appreciate the UCC theology.”

Va’a will be ordained in a four-way covenant between him, the PNC-UCC, the Christian Worship Center UCC and the Providence Alaska Medical Center, where he is chaplain.

Va’a values the UCC theology of loving, inclusion and interpreting the Bible openly, progressively and conservatively.

“I love the UCC emphasis on not judging and being open to gay clergy and members,” he said. “From a colored person’s perspective, I respect the UCC push for equality, justice and treating each other right. When I was vulnerable, the UCC accepted me.”

Christian Worship Center holds certificate welcoming it to the PNC-UCC.

Va’a shared that the Worship Center involves about 11 families involved—totaling about 50 people. Then he corrected himself, realizing about 30 youth are involved—often bringing their friends.

“The congregation, made up of Samoans and others, are drawn because most of the worship and sermons are in English, guided by the Spirit. Who’s counting!” he said with a smile. “I’m here to minister to them and sing with them.”

Unlike in Samoa where Va’a found youth to be group oriented, he said the youth in Anchorage are more individualistic and influenced by American culture. He aims to foster a sense of teamwork and community among them.

Va’a lived in Honolulu until 1986 when he was 13 and his family moved to assist with the music ministry of a Congregational Church in Anchorage. His parents and the rest of his family have all been church musicians.

Va’a Alaelua leads Christian Worship Center members from Anchorage in a praise song during the 2024 PNC Annual Meeting.

“When we came to Anchorage, there were few Polynesians, but now there is a big Polynesian community,” he said.

In 1998, Va’a left to study at Kanana Fou Theological Seminary, the Samoan Congregational Church seminary in American Samoa. His wife, May, his high school sweetheart whom he married in 1992, studied with him. Both earned a diploma after four years of study. He studied an extra year to earn a bachelor’s of divinity.

With scholarships from the church, he went to Pacific School of Religion in the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., to study in the master of arts in biblical languages, expecting to continue and to work in the doctoral program.

In 2008, however, the church elders asked him to come back and teach at the seminary in Samoa.

He taught for six years, and while the elders encouraged him to return to PSR, he chose to stay. In 2010, he was called to serve a parish in Pago Pago with a thriving youth ministry that attracted 200 to 250 youth.

“We focused on reaching out to youth in town, keeping them safe from drugs and violence,” Va’a explained. “We brought kids from the streets, giving them a place to hang out late at night through our different youth programs.

“It was worship focused on the arts with a love for singing and dancing. We also had a program to preserve our culture and language,” he explained. “In American Samoa, many Samoans try to be as American as they can, and many children do not speak Samoan.”

Va’a involved the youth in summer camp programs that revived an old Congregational Church tradition called “Aoga a le Faifeau.” This program taught children basic math, writing skills, Bible stories and Samoan language and culture.

At the end of 2016, Va’a left and spent time working with his older brother, Kilifi, in Lawton, Okla. During this time, Va’a served as a case manager at the prison and assisted his brother in his church ministry. In late 2017, he was called to serve as lead pastor of another Congregational Church in Pago Pago.

“We had a large youth and music ministry, including one of the biggest choirs on the island,” he said, adding that many of their services, featuring a choir of up to 150 singers, can be found on YouTube.

Va’a began his musical journey playing the organ. While he learned to read music from his brother, Robert, he also has the ability to play by ear. In addition to the organ, he plays piano, guitar, bass guitar and percussion.

In July 2021, Va’a traveled to Anchorage to support his sister after the passing of her husband, unaware she was battling cancer. She passed away in August.

Va’a and May then decided to step down from their ministry in American Samoa to care for his sister’s children.

“I felt I would be a hypocrite to go back to the church I was serving and preach every Sunday about the importance of caring for family, while my own family was in turmoil in Anchorage,” he said. “We prayed for discernment, and God placed on our hearts to stay and help care for my sister’s three children, along with our three daughters. I didn’t want to hurt the Samoan church, but we decided to prioritize the children’s well-being.”

A friend encouraged him to apply for a hospital chaplaincy program at Providence Alaska Medical Center, where he was accepted into the CPE residency program. After the residency, he was hired as a permanent staff chaplain in November 2021. In March, he will be interviewed for certification by with Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc.

Meanwhile, some members of the second church he served in Samoa wanted to establish a new church in Anchorage. He joined their efforts, and they started the Christian Worship Center. Some of those families were Pentecostal.

Va’a contacted David Schoen, leader for the national UCC Congregational Vitality and Discipleship team to explore affiliating with the UCC.

While Va’a grew up appreciating traditional Congregational hymns, he now performs them with contemporary beats and full band arrangements to make them more engaging.

“Music is a big draw,” Va’a said. “We. sing traditional hymns like The Doxology, Holy, Holy, Holy and How Great Thou Art, but in a contemporary style. By repeating the lyrics, people memorize the words, which helps teach the message.”

Va’a also incorporates story time for children to explain Gospel lessons.

“I present the stories in a way that children can understand, while keeping them theologically sound for parents to take to heart. I include humor and funny stories in my sermons because Polynesians love to laugh,” he added, “It’s my nature. I like laughing and having a great time.”

Recently, Va’a shared that his church and youth music ministry received three grants from the UCC.

For information, call 907-444-6095 or email blessedmusic580 @gmail.com.

 

Pacific Northwest Conference United Church News © December 2024

 

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