Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, General Secretary of the Council for World Mission (CWM), visited the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (CCCS) on 16 May to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the General Assembly of CCCS.
Keum was received warmly by CCCS General Secretary Rev. Dr Taipisia Leilua, who heads one of the first Pacific churches founded by the missionaries of CWM’s predecessor, the London Missionary Society (LMS).
The seeds of faith that have grown into the CCCS were laid by one of LMS’ most prolific missionaries, Rev. John Williams, whose missionary journey was supported by Christian teachers from Tahiti and the Cook Islands, as well as a converted Samoan couple from Tonga.
In his greetings given during the 150th anniversary celebration service held at the Malua Theological College, attended by political dignitaries, ecumenical partners, and former CWM officeholders, Keum commended CCCS for having upheld the ethos of “partnership in mission” as it helped to form and nurture many churches in the Pacific.
“As one of the earliest churches founded by the LMS missionaries, the CCCS carries forward a proud legacy of mission work,” said Keum. “We [now] celebrate how CCCS became not only a recipient of the gospel but a courageous bearer of it, sending out missionaries to proclaim Christ in the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and elsewhere.”
Keum further observed that CCCS’ missionary impulse in the region has been a shining example that mission is no longer from the “centre to the margins” but from everywhere to everywhere.
Addressing historical injustices
Not content with merely spreading the Good News across the Pacific, CCCS has long been at the forefront in being a regional advocate for victims of historical and modern injustices, from speaking up for the descendants of victims of Blackbirding to forced labour under colonial exploitation.
Recognising their efforts in giving the voiceless a voice, Keum praised the church’s courage in confronting the dark, life-denying practice of slavery with a spirit of theological conviction and pastoral care.
Keum encouraged CCCS to take an even more active stance as it works alongside CWM in initiatives such as The Onesimus Project (TOP) and the Modern-Day Slavery Fund.
Biblical foundation for youth
As he closed his address, Keum credited CCCS for being a visionary in its decision to develop their youths. Describing their work amongst the local young people as an “investment in God’s future,” Keum remarked that the building up of youth leaders in faith and in their Samoan identity will not only help to resist the forces of cultural erosion but also imbue in the next generation a rooted and liberating faith.
