Church commissions $38 million tala Center

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 29 September 2018, 12:00AM

The official dedication of the Upolu West Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S.) was held yesterday morning.

The new center located at Mulifanua cost the L.D.S. a total of $38 million tala and was solely funded by tithes from church members. 

The dedication of the Center was conducted by the President of the Upolu West, Taupaū Oliva Mulipola.

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan, he said the project was completed within the time-frame of 18 months. 

“The funding of the center was from the tithing money and there is no debt in the building of this new center. The center includes the chapel, class rooms, toilet blocks, gym and offices for the bishop and secretary of the stake. It also includes a conference room and all technology that is much needed such as computers and amongst other things,” he added.  

The church was first established with the current Stake boundary in 1953. The first branches were Mulifanua and Samatau. From the Mulifanua branch, Lalovi was established in 1995, Mulifanua 2nd in 2013 and Satuimalufilufi in 2016 from Lalovi.

Manono was established in 1976 and Falelatai in 1978 wards were established from Samatau.

As of today, there are six wards and one branch which is Satuimalufilufi in the Upolu West Stake. The former Stake Center headquarters was located in Manono but will now move to this newly built Stake Center in Mulifanua.

The celebration of this new project was held for three days and started on Thursday with cultural performances by the wards and branch.

According to the Taupaū, the building will be used by the whole of the Upolu West Stake except for Sundays, when Mulifanua 1 and 2 will use it for their church services.

Speaking at a gathering yesterday to mark the occasion, he stressed the importance of tithes and giving back to the Church. 

“It is also said in the Bible that from the fruits of our work we have to give 10 per cent of the fruits of our work back to God because this belongs to Him.

“And this is how we were able to build this project, and it was the money from the church members tithing that we were able to make this, and the reason why there is no debt in the building of this project.

“This is why the church is blessed because we give back what belongs to God and that is His tithing,” he added.

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 29 September 2018, 12:00AM
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