Adventist Heritage in my Home Island

To discover all the other exciting events happening in Adventist Heritage month, visit the Adventist Heritage website.

Pastor Maveni Kaufononga, hailing from Tonga, is happily married to Annie, who is from the Cook Islands. They are blessed with two children, Siaosi and Tepaeru, both of whom are currently employed in the Cook Islands. Maveni has dedicated his career to serving the church since 1988, taking on various roles such as a local church pastor, district director, school chaplain, youth director, and now serving in an administrative capacity. His extensive journey has taken him to different locations, including Tonga, the Cook Islands, and presently Fiji. He finds great joy in witnessing the growth of the Adventist movement, actively preparing the world for the imminent return of Jesus. 

What is Adventist Heritage Daily Devotional?

Imagine a thriving Adventist movement in the South Pacific. Do images or stories come quickly to mind? This podcast recounts important events, stories and memories from Adventists throughout the South Pacific. These mission stories from our past are proof that the Adventist movement is alive and thriving. Listen to these podcasts and step out to join these pioneering Adventists with Jesus on His mission of making disciple-makers in the South Pacific.

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).