1800 998 122Contact
DONATE

Free Wesleyan Church Tonga Tag

by
News
August 14, 2024

A few weeks before her induction as the 17th President of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA), we spoke to Reverend Charissa Suli about UnitingWorld, her journey into leadership and hopes for her time as President.

There was a time when Rev. Charissa Suli didn’t think church leadership could be for people like her. 

“My home congregation was one of the first Tongan or migrant congregations that was established in the Uniting Church in Australia,” she says.

“I grew up in a tradition where it’s predominantly been older Pacific men who are the leaders and the ministers and that was my normal, which was fine, but it meant I didn’t think so much about paths like ordained ministry for myself.”

That was until, as a young adult, Charissa was invited to use her gifts of singing and worship leading to serve at a cross-cultural gathering.

“The gathering was filled with so many culturally diverse people, younger and older generations, and I saw Pasifika women, Korean women, Armenian ministers, it really surprised me.”

“For the very first time, I saw a Pasifika woman (Rev Dr Seforosa Carroll) leading a Bible study… and I said to myself: ‘I can do that.’”

Rev. Suli preaching at Bankstown Uniting Church as part of the Pacific-Australia Emerging Leaders Summit in 2023.

Encouraging others

Looking back today, Charissa acknowledges many mentors and vital opportunities that enabled her to step up into ordained ministry and church leadership.

“There’s faithfully leaning into the gifts God has given me, but it has also been about people giving opportunities, people seeing me for who I am, passing me the microphone and saying, hey, it’s your turn to speak.”

Her journey has made her a passionate advocate for helping provide opportunities and platforms for others to take up leadership, particularly women.

“Because I always believe that there’s enough room for all of us at the Lord’s Table, and if we run out of the chairs, then get the fala (mat) out, get the camp chair out. Because when I think about God’s inclusive and agape love, it’s so wide and so deep and it’s not going to run out. I truly believe that God will utilise each of us, in ways that we will never understand.”

Seeing the work of UnitingWorld come to life

“I’ve loved the opportunities I’ve had to see the work of UnitingWorld come to life,” says Charissa.

“The most recent experience I’ve had connecting with our overseas partners was being at a Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWCT) conference last year, after the tsunami.”

“I was sitting at the front table, during one of the lunch times, and the FWCT President quietly says to me, “we’re just about to do a presentation of thanks to UnitingWorld… the National Director’s not here, but you’re here… I need you to represent the Uniting Church and present to the conference.”

Charissa knew churches in Australia had given generously to support Tonga after the crisis but didn’t know what exactly that translated into.

“So I get up and I’m rushing to the microphone, trying to think of what we gave, what it meant for people and the rebuilding effort,” she recalls.

“Then before my eyes, this truck is driven into the middle of the square pulling an enormous boat that was donated through UnitingWorld, and with it was life jackets, shovels, gardening and kitchen equipment… anything you can think of that’s going to help a community grow and rebuild again.”

It was just a glimpse of a huge range of equipment that was acquired to help resource and reconnect outer islands to sources of livelihoods that had been wiped out.

“I stood there with tears in my eyes because I got to see in real time the incredible work that happens behind the scenes,” said Charissa.

“And it wasn’t just me, I could see the leaders who were from the smaller islands who had really been doing it tough and they had tears coming down off their cheeks as they saw this equipment and knowing how much it’s needed and will be put to good use.”

“That was really beautiful and profound moment,” she says.

“It was really special to see the fruits of all the fundraising done by local Uniting Churches and how it comes to life when our partners can get what they need to support communities around them.”

“I felt so proud of the work that the Uniting Church and UnitingWorld does alongside the global church.

Hopes for the future

Charissa says she hopes to share and champion the story of UnitingWorld and UCA partners in her time as President, and particularly to lean into our mission of ‘connecting communities for life’:

“…when we have strong relationships, we can incorporate other voices, other generations, from people all over to be part of the talanoa (dialogue) that complements the work that’s already been done in terms of our international aid.”

“It’s looking at who is the next generation in our partner churches, where we can begin to introduce the younger generations who are here in the diaspora so that they continue the important work – because they’ll be standing on the shoulders of these amazing leaders who are here now in leadership, but who are we passing the baton to? I think that’s so important as we look to the future of our church.”

Despite being the first Tongan President of the UCA, Charissa is quick to point out that it wasn’t a factor in her discernment or thoughts about what she hopes to achieve in the role. “If God is calling me here, it’s a new opportunity to channel God’s love,” she says.

“If there’s something I think the President should do, it’s to remind the church who we’re called to be, to inspire the church to lean into their spirituality, to lean into their community and think about what are some of the ways we can strengthen our relationships with God and with each other.”

“And we need to remember the good news that we have to tell our world. We shouldn’t be silent. We have such good news to tell!”

Amen.

, ,

by
News
May 12, 2022

We’ve been blown away by your response to help our neighbours in Tonga after the devastating volcano and tsunami that hit in January. Our partners the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWCT) immediately rolled out the Tekina ‘I Moana initiative, the disaster management and recovery arm of the church. Your support helped our partners to visit eight villages in the hardest-hit areas across Tongatapu and the Ha’apai islands to provide essentials like food, clothes, and shelter, as well as disaster chaplains to offer counselling and spiritual encouragement to those displaced by the tsunami.

Surveys were conducted during the visits to evaluate the loss and damage, although it was recognised that for many people it was too soon to even contemplate their future needs. Our partners say it meant a lot to the communities that the church visited them so soon after the disaster.

Disaster preparation helping long-term recovery

Back in 2018, UnitingWorld supported FWCT to build and stock a large storage facility for building materials (pictured) to be able to begin repairs to damaged buildings quickly after disasters rather than having to wait for supplies to be shipped in from outside. It was used for Cyclone Harold and is now being used for reconstruction work on the most affected homes.

 

Your support means UnitingWorld can help re-stock this facility and ensure significant reconstruction of destroyed homes and public buildings.

Going forward, your gifts will enable the FWCT to provide urgently needed supplies of small boats, tents, temporary toilets, school bags, basic tools, petrol, generators, water tanks and fishing gear to island communities whose homes were destroyed. Thank you so much!

Please continue to pray for the response efforts. A COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent restrictions on movement have hampered visits to the affected areas, needs assessments and the overall recovery.
,

by
News
February 23, 2022

“After the first explosion, we knew what is coming next, everyone rushed to the mountain; after the 2nd explosion the whole population is on the mountain. We started singing hymns and songs and we prayed as the night fall. We have no time to worry and listen to the destruction of the whole island by the tidal waves” – resident of Fonoi island.

As communication with Tonga gets a little easier, we continue to hear reports of the damage caused by the Volcanic explosion on Saturday 15th January 2022. We’ve heard stories of trauma and loss faced by those who relocated to Tongatapu, and those who were visited by chaplains from the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWCT). There is extensive damage to homes, churches, hospitals, schools and other property and possessions. Thankfully only three people lost their lives. Destruction of boats, roads, wharves, internet cable, airports, cars and trucks mean that reaching those affected has not been easy. People must line up for an hour of internet access, and so information comes to us in snippets and phone calls happen whenever folks are available. COVID-19 is now in Tonga, adding further stress and the resulting lockdown has restricted movement.

What is being done to assist people?

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga “Tekina ‘I Moana” initiative is the disaster management and recovery arm of the church, and has been busy packing and distributing care packages for affected people.

  • They have done rapid needs assessments in affected villages, and developed a three-staged approach to recovery. They will respond, reconnect and rebuild.
  • They’ve already visited eight villages to distribute water, food, clothes and provide counselling.
  • Within the next two months they plan to provide larger items – tents, temporary mobile toilets, beds, blankets, school bags and materials, boats, chainsaws, generators, petrol and the means to replant root vegetables.
  • In the rebuild phase, several residences and public buildings will be repaired.

Your donations to UnitingWorld have been used to support this initial response work, and funds will be targeted to support some of the ongoing and longer-term efforts.

Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to build the strength of our friends in Tonga. We and the Free Wesleyan Church appreciate your prayer and giving so much! You can find an extensive report on the ongoing recovery and rebuild plans prepared by the Free Wesleyan Church here – it’s absorbing reading and speaks to the competence and commitment of our partners. 

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga have other funding partners and are working closely with the Tongan Government. UnitingWorld is working with FWCT to determine which aspects of their plan the funds you helped us raise will support. For more information, please contact us at info@unitingworld.org.au and we’ll do our best to answer any questions.

Cyclones and droughts are increasing the frequency and intensity across the Pacific. We support our partners to prepare vulnerable communities and reduce the impacts of natural disasters.

Please consider a gift to help communities build resilience to disasters; building better homes, preparing shelters and evacuation plans and increasing our partners’ capacity to provide emergency support and pastoral care.

Support disaster preparation work here

 

,

by
Blogs
July 3, 2019

Last week I had the great privilege of attending the Annual General Conference of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWC) with Uniting Church President Dr Diedre Palmer.

The day we arrived in the capital Nuku’alofa we were swept up in the famous hospitality and fellowship of the Tongan people. Our church partners invited us to feast with 3,000 of their members and then join in worship among a thousand choristers.

The sound of their harmonies soaring over a massive brass band is something I’ll never forget.

Along the way I was blessed to meet some of the leaders and members of FWC; hear their stories, hopes and struggles, and experience the great wisdom and dedication they have to offer.

The conference was an opportunity to connect with our partners in fellowship and share in the life of their church. Among many issues raised, the important matter of the Uniting Church’s decision on marriage at the 15th Assembly was discussed with openness, honesty and integrity.

Re-elected FWC leaders, President Rev Dr Ahio and General Secretary Rev Dr Tevita Havea reassured us that they have been on the same journey with their New Zealand and United States partner churches, and that our partnership is built on strong foundations of respecting difference while holding to unity in Christ.

They affirmed that Tongan members of the Uniting Church were under the oversight and authority of the UCA and shared our joy in the vibrant life of the Tongan National Conference. They manifested their love and partnership in the honour and recognition they showed Dr Palmer and I throughout the conference.

Dr Palmer reaffirmed to our partners the Uniting Church’s commitment to respect and protect the rights of all members and partners to hold differing views of marriage and make decisions based on those views.

Dr Palmer and UCA General Secretary Colleen Geyer issued a short statement after the discussions.

It was the first official visit to Tonga for both Dr Palmer and I, but the warmth, trust and the good faith that was extended had very little to do with us personally. We were embraced as members of an extended family, our forebears and theirs had built a strong bond of respect and friendship and we were but the latest embodiment.

Holding partnerships like this is a privilege that I treasure deeply and sometimes feel the huge weight of. But I’m reassured in the knowledge that some connections are already far stronger than anything I might manage to mess up.

Malo

-Sureka

Dr Sureka Goringe
National Director
UnitingWorld

Tonga was part of the Methodist Church of Australasia from the early 19th century until 1977 when the Uniting Church in Australia was formed and the Wesleyan Church gained its autonomy (thus the “Free” in its name). In Australia, the Tongan National Conference within the Uniting Church has grown to become the biggest of the twelve national conferences. Read more

, ,

by
Blogs, Cyclone Gita Recovery (Tonga), Project Updates
March 8, 2018

Rev. Dr Stephen Robinson
National Disaster Recovery Officer
Uniting Church in Australia Assembly

As the plane lifted off from the Kingdom of Tonga, I had a familiar twinge of the heart as the island left my line of sight. While I was returning to the comfort of my own home with reliable power, phone and internet, and clean water, there are so many people in Tonga that won’t have access to these things for some time.

On Monday 12 February, Tropical Cyclone Gita devastated the islands of Tonga, with winds of 230km/h whipping the Southern Coast of the main island of Tongatapu. Locals had taken warnings seriously and prepared as well as they could, but lightly built houses were no match for the monster storm. The fact that it struck at night probably saved scores of lives, as people were bunkered indoors and avoided injury from flying roofing iron and falling trees. The negative is in the lasting memory of families who huddled together through the terror of a sleepless night of pitch darkness and screaming wind, hoping and praying their place of shelter would hold together.

With the dawn’s light, people ventured out to assess the damage and found this particularly confronting. Many houses lost all or part of their roofing, torn metal and splintered wood, thousands of trees felled and palm fronds scattered. Rain continued to inundate many houses that had escaped the worst of wind damage.

Power poles leaned precariously or snapped off completely, and power lines lay across muddy roads. In the centre of the main city of Nuku’ Alofa, the walls of Parliament House were blown out and the roof crumpled to the ground, a state of emergency was declared which included curfews to keep people from the CBD as many shops were emptied of ruined goods.

There are no cyclone shelters in Tonga so while most people remained in their homes during the storm, the most solid gathering places are in the church buildings that play a prominent role in Tongan community life. The people’s faith in their church communities means there is a place to come together and share their experiences of loss and hope.

Red Cross, Caritas and other groups are doing important work in delivering supplies to the most affected – food, water, and temporary shelter, but it is the churches that are at the forefront of bringing the community-building psycho-social support which will restore hope.

I flew into Tonga two weeks after TC Gita with Rev. Nau Ahosivi. Nau is a Tongan-born minister in placement at Concord Uniting Church. It had been our second trip together; the first – in 2015 – also had Rev. Alimoni Taumoepeau. This first trip was an initiative of UnitingWorld, at the request of our church partner, the Free Wesleyan Church Tonga, to train a network of chaplains to support people in the event of disaster or crisis.  From this first training course, which included a ‘train the trainer’ component, the Tongan Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (TDRCN) was born.

The training course is an ‘islander’ variation on that used in NSW/ACT and South Australia. It has also been used in supporting the churches in Fiji and Tuvalu. It covers a range of subjects including: the nature of disaster, how it affects communities and people, how people react and are affected by critical incidents and trauma, calming and communication techniques, vicarious traumatisation (how the carer can be affected by the work) and self-care.

After TC Gita hit, the Free Wesleyan church deployed the chaplains we had trained in 2015. Valuable work done by Michael Constable of UnitingWorld had assisted them in pre-disaster preparedness, mapping the areas of need and making assessments. Chaplains were able to respond to people who needed them most, but this was not easy for them as conditions were far from ideal. The weather this time of year is hot and steamy. The cyclonic winds had dropped to dead calm and the heat and humidity from the water brought with it discomfort and the threat of mosquitoes bearing Dengue Fever and the Zika Virus. The chaplains spoke of how shocked they were by the damage to both the natural environment and the villages they visited, of talking to people as they sat under plastic tarpaulins or in the tents in which they now live. The chaplains themselves have stresses in their lives, many having endured the cyclone and having their own homes flooded, before leaving to care for others.

Our first afternoon with the group involved debriefing these chaplains, allowing them to share their experiences and process them together. The next two days were spent on the training which melded their understanding with the context of their experience.

The church had requested identification vests for the chaplains which allowed them to (as with other aid workers) show who they are and what they are doing. I was able to work with a local Sydney manufacturer who put in extra hours and made these from white cotton (allowing for tropical heat) at less than cost price, donating the cost of their labour to support the effort. The chaplains are out again, working in teams, supporting local ministers as they visit and listen to cyclone-affected people.

My work

I have been working in the area of emergency ministry and disaster recovery for some time now.  Ordained in 1993 and becoming a Rural Fire Service Member and chaplain in 1996, I have worked in in the Welfare area of the state response for many years. In 2007 I helped to establish the NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network which I continue to oversee (this is a ministry of the UCA NSW/ACT Synod). In my role as National Disaster Recovery Officer, I support the development of disaster recovery preparedness and response from the church and its agencies. I work with the Synods in supporting the development of ecumenical disaster response chaplaincy, peer support (looking after ministers working in communities affected by crisis) and supporting disaster recovery long-supply placements with Presbyteries, assisting community recovery.

Sustained support

I am acutely aware that disasters come and go with the nightly news. A cyclone hits, a fire damages a community, an earthquake causes loss and damage, and then something else happens. We may be mindful for a time – but then a new crisis demands our attention. This is an understandable reality.  The problem is that, for the people involved, recovery may take years and their needs actually intensify over the first six months to a year – as their lack of resources and frustrations become more apparent. This is when they need sustained support. How can we best support the sustained effort?

Prayer is mightily important. I had some conversations with people of the church who spoke to me about how important it was to them that they were remembered and supported in prayer by the brothers and sisters in Christ from nations far away.

Giving is vital.  Often our first reaction is to gather goods, clothing and food to send. I believe this comes from a need to send something tangible to people. Unfortunately, this has its limitations: what is sent is not always needed. There is, at present, no food shortage in Tonga, while some crops were damaged, fishing continues and supplies from New Zealand and elsewhere continue to flow unabated. Donated goods may actually damage the local businesses and economy; for every item sent from Australia, a local Tongan business will lose a sale and locals may lose work. Containers cost money to send and fees at the wharf. They also take time to empty and sort. During my time in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam, they spoke of the wastage of time and effort in transporting and emptying the containers.

The greatest need at the moment is cash that can purchase new building materials through local suppliers, employ local workers and support a damaged economy.

, , , ,