Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand Incorporated


The New Zealand Samoan Assemblies of God or, officially The General Council of the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand Inc. are a group of Pentecostal congregations predominantly made up of Samoan people. It was established in New Zealand in the early 1960s by a group of Holiness/Pentecostals from Samoa bringing the message of Pentecostalism to their Samoan people living in New Zealand. Certain pioneers such as the late Reverend Makisua Fatialofa with his wife Evangelist Mauosamoa, the late Reverend Dr. Samani Pulepule with the late First Lady Sapapalii, along with the late Reverend Fereti Ama with his wife Lady Leausuone, were the foundation members of the first ethnically fellowship to align itself with the Assemblies of God in New Zealand. It was this Samoan fellowship that contributed to the growth of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand making it the Nations fastest growing church. By 2005 there were 89 SA/G congregations throughout New Zealand and in that same year some members in the Samoan fellowship felt the need to be a self-governing body and formed its own constitution which split the SA/GNZ national body in two. In late November 2005, 45 churches left the A/GNZ umbrella and formed a break-away group, while 40 churches remained under the A/GNZ movement, although this was the end result both Samoan fellowships still work alongside one another.
The newly established movement remained under the leadership of the Most Reverend and Chief Apostle, the Late Dr. Samani Pulepule who served as the General Superintendent of the General Council since the 1960s. His position extended internationally and was also the Worldwide Chairman of the Samoan Assemblies of God International Fellowship. Dr. Pulepule was a member of the Executive Council in the A/GNZ. Dr. Pulepule also was the founder and senior pastor of the Samoan A/G in Grey Lynn who officially changed their name to Auckland Samoan A/G in 1998, this church had weekly attendance of over 800 people. On Sunday 29 September 2011, Dr. Pulepule formally retired from his posts in the Assemblies of God movement and was commended for the service of over 40 years in the movement. In early winter of 2013, the Chief Apostle and the First Lady died within a week. During the 2012 Business Conference, the General Council elected Reverend Motu Mati'a and First Lady Silaumua to lead the National Church. However, in 2016 more changes were made in the movement and it is now under the direction of the newly elected General Superintendent, The Most Reverend Tafuna'i Muaiava and First Lady Vāepa.
The Samoan congregations who remained under the A/GNZ umbrella, elected Reverend Aila'ula'u Faletutulu as the new Samoan representative in the Executive Council. This group of churches are known as the Assemblies of God in New Zealand . Reverend Faletutulu and Lady Nancy, along with Evangelist Mauosamoa Fatialofa are the senior pastors of the Napier Samoan A/G. Reverend Faletutulu served as the National President of the Youth Department for a number of years until in late 2005 he was elected as the new Samoan Overseer.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand are divided into 6 Regional Councils, and operate under a mother-church of that district. These Regional Councils gather together as the General Council of Churches at the movements national convention annually, but gather regionally every 3 months. The Districts are as follows: North Auckland Conference, South Auckland Conference, North Central Conference, South Central Conference, Wellington Conference and the South Island Conference
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand should not be confused with the Assembly of God Church of Samoa in New Zealand who are group of 27 churches that had left the Samoan Assemblies of God in 1974 due to the dissatisfaction of one local minister of having the Samoan churches align with the Assemblies of God movement, wanting the Samoan churches to be run by the Samoan people. He formed an independent group of churches formally known as the Assembly of God Church of Samoa in New Zealand. This group of churches served under the leadership of the late Pastor Mesako Sanerivi who formed and encouraged this break away group. They have 22 churches in Australia, and only one in Samoa.

Introduction

The Samoan Assemblies of God movement in New Zealand is made up of a grouping of local churches the members of which who are predominantly migrants from Samoa and their New Zealand born families, who share the religious beliefs of the Assemblies of God movement worldwide.
The Samoan Assemblies of God is an affiliated part of the Samoan Assemblies of God worldwide.
They work co-operatively with the Samoan Assemblies of God churches of Samoa, American Samoa, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii and of Mainland USA, and with any other religious organisation in New Zealand that shares the same Christian beliefs as the Assemblies of God movement worldwide.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand believe in the power and person of the Holy Spirit, a belief that reaches back over two thousand years of Church history to the day of Pentecost when the Christian Church was born.
The 20th century Pentecostals movement was born when students at a Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, came into the conclusion that the Biblical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was speaking in other tongues. From that time, there have been spiritual revivals accompanied by Pentecostal phenomena, as in the Welsh Revival of 1904 and at Azusa St, Los Angeles in 1906. Pentecostals found it necessary to set up their own Church structures, one of which, is the Assemblies of God, now found in most countries throughout the world.
Whilst the religious belief is the foundation cornerstone of the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand, the members and local churches forming the Samoan Assemblies of God acknowledge that daily administration of local churches requires the observance of legal, ethical, social, and cultural values of the societies in which the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand operates.
The Samoan Assemblies of God movement in New Zealand started at Vivian St, Wellington in 1962 as a Pentecostal movement. The movement commenced in Auckland in 1964 by foundation members who were members of the Pentecostal movement from Samoa.
In 1964 the foundation Congregations in Wellington and Auckland adopted the name Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand and worked closely together.
In 1967, Dr. Samani Pulepule the former Chief Apostle, migrated permanently to New Zealand and he was the first Pastor officially called by founding members to lead the Samoan Assemblies of God churches in New Zealand.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand and the Assemblies of God in New Zealand share the same faith and worked cooperatively since 1967. With the consent and assistance of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand, the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand used some of the structures of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand, such as provision of pastors' credentials. Some of the local churches of the Samoan Assemblies of God paid tithes and made financial contributions to the Assemblies of God in New Zealand to assist with administration costs.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand worked independently of, but cooperatively, with the Assemblies of God in New Zealand. The cooperative relationship of the two parallel fellowships led to a mistaken belief that the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand were governed by the Constitution of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand are a group of individuals who are predominantly Samoans by birth or descent, in presently unincorporated local Churches, who share a common interest in Pentecostal Christianity and the fundamental philosophy of Assemblies of God movements worldwide as one of cooperative fellowship between local Churches.
By voluntary agreement, local churches of the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand have collectively formed an umbrella national body known as the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand Incorporated, for the benefit of all local churches.

Beliefs

Fundamental doctrines

The central beliefs of the Samoan Assemblies of God are summarised in its Statement of Fundamental Truths. Numerous other Christian groups share some or all of these tenets, and some positions are considered more central to the faith than others. The following is a summary of these 16 non-negotiable Truths:
  1. The Bible is inspired by God and is "the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct".
  2. There is only one true God who exists as a Trinity.
  3. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and, as the second person of the Trinity, is God.
  4. Man was created good by God but was separated from God through original sin.
  5. Salvation "is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ". For more information, see the Core beliefs section below.
  6. There are two ordinances. Believer's baptism by immersion is a declaration to the world of the believer's faith in Christ. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death.
  7. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate and subsequent experience following conversion. Spirit baptism brings empowerment to live an overcoming Christian life and to be an effective witness. For more information, see the Core beliefs section below.
  8. Speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
  9. Sanctification is "an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God". It occurs when the believer identifies with, and has faith in, Christ in his death and resurrection. It is not believed to be a "second definite work of grace", as in some other Pentecostal denominations, but is understood to be a process in that it requires continual yielding to the Holy Spirit.
  10. The Church's mission is to seek and save all who are lost in sin; the Church is the Body of Christ and consists of all people who accept Christ, regardless of Christian denomination.
  11. Divinely called and scripturally-ordained ministers serve the Church.
  12. Divine healing of the sick is provided for in the atonement.
  13. The "imminent and blessed hope" of the Church is its rapture preceding the bodily return of Christ to earth.
  14. The rapture of the Church will be followed by the visible return of Christ and his reign on earth for a thousand years. For more information, see the Core beliefs section below.
  15. There will be a final judgment and eternal damnation for the "wicked dead".
  16. There will be future new heavens and a new earth "wherein dwelleth righteousness".

    Core beliefs

The Samoan Assemblies of God considers salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, divine healing and the Second Coming of Christ to be its four core beliefs.

Salvation

The Statement of Fundamental Truths states, "Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God". The Assemblies of God holds the Arminian position on salvation; while it agrees with the Calvinist position that God is sovereign, at the same time, it believes that mankind has free will—free to accept or reject God's gift of salvation and eternal life. Therefore, the Assemblies of God disapproves of the doctrines of double predestination and the unconditional security of the believer which holds that once saved it is impossible for a person to be lost. Instead, the Assemblies of God believes that salvation is received and kept by faith, if faith in Christ is lost, then salvation is lost.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

According to the Statement of Fundamental Truths, "All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek" the baptism in the Spirit. It also states, "This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church". It is a separate experience from and occurs after salvation. This baptism gives to the receiver an "enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry". There are four experiences listed in the Fundamental Truths that result from Spirit baptism: "overflowing fullness of the Spirit", "a deepened reverence for God", intensified consecration and dedication to God and his work, and "a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost". The "initial physical sign" of having received this baptism is "speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance". This experience initiates the believer in the use of spiritual gifts.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is not a requirement for membership or participation in an Assembly of God church. However, it is a requirement for ministerial licensing and ordination. The practical implication of this is that candidates for ministry who have not had this experience are not eligible for formal ministry. Given the congregational elements of AG polity, the culture of each Assembly of God church varies. In some churches, the practice of speaking in tongues is common while in others it rarely occurs.
An increasing minority of pastors has expressed concern that there is a lack of biblical support for the claim that Spirit baptism must always be accompanied with speaking in tongues. This concern corresponds with a decrease in the number of Assembly of God adherents reporting baptism in the Holy Spirit; according to the AG's Office of Statistics as of 2003 less than 50 percent of adherents had this experience. These challenges to the AG's traditional position were noted in a 2007 report by the AG's Spiritual Life Committee:
Despite these challenges, the 53rd General Council in 2009 passed a resolution reaffirming the doctrine of initial physical evidence.

Divine healing

The Assemblies of God understands divine healing to have been provided for in the atonement. Looking to scripture, such as and, the AG believes that Christians can pray for healing. Indeed, it believes scripture gives elders of the church the responsibility to pray "the prayer of faith" over the sick. It believes God can and does heal, but believes that God is sovereign and that, whether one is healed or not, a person's trust must be in God. It sees no conflict in trusting God for healing and receiving medical care. Healing testimonies regularly appear in the official publication, the Pentecostal Evangel, and prayer for healing and testimony commonly occur in church services.
While adamant that divine healing is a reality, the AG is not dogmatic on the subject of how one is healed. Margaret Poloma summarised this view stating, "Physical healing is not certain, automatic, or subject to formula. At the same time, it remains a tenet and practice of the Assemblies of God". It rejects the view that healing is caused or influenced by positive confession, as found in Word of Faith teachings; nevertheless, given the somewhat decentralised nature of the fellowship, these teachings have influenced some congregations.

Christ's Second Coming

The Statement of Fundamental Truths articles 13 and 14 articulate the Assemblies of God's official teaching on the return of Christ to Earth. It is a dispensationalist and premillennialist eschatology which includes the pre-Tribulation rapture of the Church—the "imminent and blessed hope". The rapture of the Church will be followed by Christ's visible return to earth and his reign of 1,000 years. This millennial reign will usher in the salvation of the nation of Israel and universal peace. The Assemblies of God is specifically opposed to the theologies and practices of universal salvation, setting dates for Christ's return, post-Tribulation rapture, and amillennialism.

Position statements

The Samoan Assemblies of God has released statements on various issues not addressed in the Statement of Fundamental Truths. These position papers are usually written by the Doctrinal Purity Commission, a standing committee of the General Council, which reviews and responds to issues referred to it by the Executive Presbytery. Position papers are not official positions of the Samoan Assemblies of God unless recommended by the Executive Presbytery and approved by the General Council. Position statements touch on biblical, theological, and social concerns.
The national movement as a corporate body is known as the Samoan Assemblies of God, locally the church is known as the Samoan Assembly of God.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand are divided into 6 district councils, each council operates under a mother-church. The leader of each district is a representative in the executive presbytery, and are formally recognized as the Overseer. Each district operates autonomously, and gather once every three months to build strong relationships with other local branches which in turn is the equipping process of evangelism. The North Auckland Conference is currently led by Reverend Muavae Ta'ele Mika, there are over 30 churches under his direction, this regional fellowship includes West Auckland and Central, the mother-church is Auckland/Grey Lynn Samoan Assembly of God. The South Auckland Conference is led by Reverend Seleni Taoai, and currently has over 40 churches under his leadership, this regional fellowship includes East Auckland, the mother-church is Mangere Samoan Assembly of God. The North Central Conference, which is located in the upper north island and includes Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regions consists of 15 churches, the mother-church of this district is Tokoroa Samoan Assembly of God, but is led by Reverend Tapelu Aupa'au from Taupo. South Central Conference consists of 10 churches, this region includes Manawatu, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay Regions, the mother-church is officially recognized as the Napier Samoan Assembly of God, but is led by Reverend Levi Kereti from Hastings. Wellington Conference has over 30 churches, although the mother-church is officially Porirua Assembly of God and formerly Wellington Samoan Assembly of God, the head church of this region is located in Wanuiomata. South Island conference consists of the whole South Island, which has 20 churches, is led by Reverend Iosefa Taula.
The Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand gather annually at their national conventions which is formally referred to as the General Council of Churches, it is held in the three main New Zealand centres of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. These conferences only last 3 days and are always during the Easter Weekend break. Every two years, the fellowship have General Elections where registered delegates nominate and ordain the Eldership, who are formally recognized as the National Executive Council. Each local church is required to have 8 representatives present at every conference, that includes the Senior Pastor, First Lady, Assistant Pastor and Spouse, Secretary and Treasurer of the local church, Youth Pastor and Sunday School President, these are known as the Official Business Delegates, and have the right to address local matters and discuss church business with the Leadership board and have the power to vote. Dr Samani Pulepule has been nominated and ordained with a vote of 100% since 1968 right up until his retirement in 2011.

Controversy

The church was under-going court cases and was fighting for assets, mainly the Samani Pulepule Centre the Samoan Assemblies of God Headquarters in Mangere, Auckland which seats up to 4,000 and contains the National offices of the fellowship.
In 2005 when the Samoan Assemblies of God formed an incorporated society, AOGNZ suspended all pastors credentials and stripped their membership as a New Zealand Assemblies of God fellowship. That same year in December, the Samoan Assemblies of God had a special service at the Samani Pulepule Centre with World leaders of the Assemblies of God. All pastors that had suspended credentials as ministers of AOGNZ, and churches that had their memberships stripped from them, were again formally ordained as Assemblies of God members and ministers, an affiliated part of the Assemblies of God worldwide. 45 Pastors were ordained and 45 churches were officially registered as the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand Incorporated.
In 2006 the church had a World Conference in Samoa, which saw New Zealand represented by both Samoan fellowships, this had shown the division amongst the New Zealand churches as both groups performed separate musicals. During the world leaders meeting, Pastor Ailaulau had walked into the conference room where the meeting was taking place, but was then told to leave. The other World leaders stated that there is only one Samoan fellowship in New Zealand, and that it was the fellowship directed by Pastor Samani Pulepule. This was also the conference where Pastor Samani Pulepule was ordained as the General Superintendent of the Samoan Assemblies International.
In 2007 a group of Samoan pastor's from AOGNZ had broken into the Samani Pulepule Centre and changed all the locks. Immediately the Samoan Executive Council was alerted, and arrived at the Convention Centre finding the group of pastor's with a court document saying they were permitted to do this, through Police investigation they found that the court document was signed by one of the pastor's themselves, and ordered the group of pastor's to immediately leave the premises, and if they were found on the property again, they would be arrested.
In 2009 Both parties of the Samoan Assemblies of God have come to an agreement and have stopped all court cases. See
There are now 126 Samoan Assemblies of God churches in New Zealand under the leadership of the new Chief Apostle Reverend Tafuna'i To'oseu Muaiava. Since the split in 2005 the church continues to grow and has rekindled the relationship between the other Samoan fellowship, and they continue to work together.

Past Church events

Since the beginning of the Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand, they have hosted four past World Conferences. The first World Conference that New Zealand hosted was in 1982 known as the "Jesus the Saviour Conference" which was attended by over 1,000 members of the church, and also members of the Auckland City Council, the Manukau City Council, the then General Superintendent of the AOGNZ and World Leaders.
The 1992 conference was the beginning of a Revival never seen in New Zealand before amongst the Samoan people, the churches numbers had tripled since the last world conference in New Zealand, and the new Samoan Assemblies of God headquarters that seated up to 3,000 people was officially opened. This was the first time the Samoan Assemblies of God churches from Germany were in attendance.
In 2003 the Samani Pulepule Convention Centre was renovated and extended to seat over 4,000 people and in 2004 the number of churches in New Zealand had grown to 89 with a membership of 15,000. During the "Pray and Obey Conference" in 2004, there were over 15,000 people in attendance, with over 2,000 members from Samoa, 2,000 members from Australia and 800 members from Mainland USA, and larger proportion of members from American Samoa, Hawaii and Alaska. This conference also made national news headlines due to the traffic it had caused on the motorway as parked cars had reached the south-west motorway causing huge delays all week long.
By 2008, the churches in New Zealand had split, bringing the numbers of adherents from 16,000 to 9,000. New Zealand was asked to host the world convention during the World Leaders Meeting in Samoa 2007, Samoa had just hosted it the previous year, Australia and Mainland USA had no venues for such a Conference, and the Samoan AOG Convention Centre in American Samoa was too small. There were doubts on hosting the Conference in New Zealand, because the Samani Pulepule Centre was then undergoing court cases, and the fear of losing the Centre when it came to the time of the Conference had people doubting whether New Zealand was able to host the Conference, however the "Revive the Spirit of Pentecost – Toe Fa'aolaola le Agaga o le Penetekoso Conference" went ahead in December 2008 and New Zealand had hosted the 16th World Conference.
There have been numerous events the church has, such as the Katinas Concert. Also numerous Youth Rallies the Church hosts, and other community events.
Youth Conferences have been held at Auckland Samoan Assembly of God which is a church that seats 1,200 people. Also, Otara Samoan Assembly of God has hosted these Youth Conferences.
During Queens Birthday Weekend, each region has their own conference like events, which includes the National Bible Exam. Those that qualify for the National prizegiving receive honorary gifts at the National Conference. At the end of each month, each district council gather together for a combined service.

The Executive Council

The Executive Council is made up of ordained Pastors who have served for more than two years at their local church. Elections are held biannually at the National Conference which is always held during the Easter break at the Samani Pulepule Centre, the church's headquarters.

People from the Samoan AOG in New Zealand