Tonga Scripture Union – Kautaha Lautohitapu
08/11/07 , by Posted by: Admin
Scripture Union started in Tonga around 1965 introduced by Saane (Tufui) Tupou who had been in the UK and was involved with the UK Scripture Union. Since its humble beginning in Tonga High School, the Tonga Scripture Union has been one of the most effective student ministries in the Kingdom. "So many people has testified that the seed of their Christian life was shown by the Scripture Union while in high school", said 'Etilati Va'enuku who is one of the 3 senior full-time staff in the Scripture Union.
Most high schools in Tonga have a Student Scripture Union run by its students and usually, but not always, supported by a teacher from the school itself. Those groups of students organise their own programmes such as weekly prayer meetings and bible studies, and run during school terms. Tonga Scripture Union and its staff work primarily to support these scripture union groups. The organisation also facilitates many other needs of high school students who are passionate about Jesus. "The SU office has books and other resources, it provides a space for students to drop in for a chat and share their daily walk with the Lord, and we are there to listen to anyone who needs a pair of ears" says 'Etilati.
The Tonga Scripture Union office is at the Maseia Plaza in the capital Nuku'alofa. Sitiveni Tu'ilautala – a former government teacher, is the director, 'Etilati Va'enuku the Secretary and Palu Vea work full-time as the Assistant Secretary. They also have a group of young people, around ten of them, who have just left school and want to dedicate time to the Scripture Union. Every one of them from the director Sitiveni Tu'ilautala to the volunteers who spent a week at one time works voluntarily.
'Etilati has worked for the Tonga Scripture Union for eighteen years as a volunteer. No pay! He is the longest serving staff member and we can metaphorically say he is the face of the organisation.
'Etilati Va'enuku the longest serving staff member, started working with the Tonga Scripture Union since he left Tupou College in 1989. He does not get paid which is an amazing feat in our market-driven culture. "I enjoy the work and more so when I see young people, mainly students, come to Christ. It has been a growth process. When I joined the organisation, I did so with two other guys and we were all helping the Scripture Union while waiting to move on to 'proper jobs'. But as I grow in my faith, I find so much joy in seeing young people get saved".
"I have been here eighteen years and there have been some wonderful stories and testimonies of people who found Christ through our work, and that's the drive. Remember it is by law that every child has to go to high school here in Tonga. So the high school ministry is very crucial. So often I meet people who say that they got saved while at high school, or have come back to Christ because they remember something from the schools' scripture union programmes and so on. That's the most rewarding part of my job – the fact that some soul comes to Christ because we are around".
The Tonga Scripture Union sent a mission team every year since 1994 to New Zealand and Australia, something to be proud off. "The Tonga Scripture Union is highly regarded by other Scripture Unions because we are the only branch that sent an overseas mission team every year. No other Scripture Union anywhere else in the world do sent mission team overseas", explains 'Etilati. It is a challenging job trying to put together a team of young people and with very little resources. 'Etilati goes on to say that the key is prayers, "as I said, most of our volunteers are guys who've just left school with very little know-how and very little training. Our office staffs are a small percentage of the mission team so majority are senior students from high schools who have not left Tonga let alone their homes. What do you to? We must rely on prayers".
Why then you sent an overseas mission team when training is crucial and it is the very thing that lacking? 'Etilati reveals that one of their urgent needs is training; a definite need of leaders to train others and something like a training system to be implemented somehow where;
- the office staffs have regular training to be more effective and do not lose their relevancy to young people
- each schools' scripture union leader(s) can be trained to lead their groups well
- those that are going on the mission team to be trained especially in the English language.
'Etilati wants to emphasises that despite the high hurdles they have to get over, he believes that going on mission trips do make young people think and re-evaluate their values. When these guys return from the trip a lot of them are inspired and their faith strengthen massively. Some goes back to their local churches and really get involved, some goes on to find professional careers and become good witness in their work places and some decide to become full-time missionaries.
At the moment the Tonga Scripture Union is busy organising this years' mission trip to the United States in late July. It is a team of 26 and they are hoping to spend a month in the States visiting Tongan congregations specifically the churches youth groups. It is the first time the Tonga Scripture Union mission team visit the States and they feel it is a progress from the usual trip to New Zealand and Australia.
The Tonga Scripture Union is a very important ministry and in need of support.
Visit the Scripture Union website
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