New Samoan Pastor Ordained under UIMM ⋆ UNITED INTERNATIONAL MORAVIAN MINISTRY

New Beginnings Samoan Church of Wasilla, Alaska became a member Church of United International Moravian Ministry (UIMM) group in January 2025. This is the first ever Samoan Church to join the ranks of end day remnant Moravian Revival Churches. Members of this Church come from Samoa and American Samoa One of thier members, Brother Patali’i M. Asopaolo, served as an Elder of a Christian Church in Samoa. Since he was involved for many years as a Church leader in Samoa, his Church family recommended him for ordination under UIMM.

After interviews, recommendations and eventually a special meeting of the UIMM Directors it was agreed that Bishop William Nicholson consecrate Brother Patali’i as a deacon of the Moravian Revival Churches on February 2, 2025, at 11 am. This historic, as the first-ever ordination of a Samoan Elder into the fulltime ministry, occured at the Anchorage Moravian Church. Attendees included members of the New Beginnings Samoan Church of Wasilla and Bread of Life Samoan Church of Anchorage, and its Pastor Pati Latwer attending. Brother Patali’i is the man shown in photo, 4th from the left.

After the solemn consecration when Bishop Nicholson in his Moravian surplus ordained Brother Patali’i, Bishop Nicholson provided a message of impartation of faithfulness and everyone working together in Unity. He also invoked the image of Alaskan Cranes which fly vast distances across nations. They have three remarkable qualitys. First they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out front leading the flock all the time. Secondly they choose leaders who can handle turbulence. And third, all the time one bird is leading, the rest are honking thier affirmation and encouragements. Truly a message of encouragment for the new Pastor and his flock.

UIMM is currently in 8 nations of the World under the World Fellowship of Moravian Revival Churches. Having Samoans join UIMM is making it truly of additional international and cultural diversity in Alaska, where Churches are primarily use the Yupik and Inupiat Langugages. It’s interesting that these Samoan natives come from what is known as the “Cradle of Polynesia”. This is a beautiful island area and known for amazing styles of music, dance, and visual art . The Samoans who sing in Anchorage and Wasilla provide a very mellow and beauitiful dynamnic style of Christian mustic, awesome to listen to.