September 2007
The Royal Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga is one of the Islands countries where Sabbath worship begins in the Lord’s worldwide Reform movement, because it is one of the first islands group nearby the date line where the days started..
Tonga, independent Polynesian monarchy in the south-western Pacific Ocean, situated about 650km east of Fiji and north-west of New Zealand. It consists of three main groups—Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Va Va’u—and several outlying islands. Nuku’alofa is the capital and largest city of Tonga.
Tonga is a country made up of more than 150 Islands and islets. Some of the islands are covered with lush vegetation, and others are volcanic and mountainous.
The islands have been inhabited by Polynesian people for over 300 years. Early Tongan history in wrapped in legend., but records of the Tongan rulers date from the 1st millennium A.D.
Tonga is a monarchy. The monarch is supported by a legislative assembly which consists of the 12 members of the Privy council, 9 elected representatives of the people, and 9 nobles elected by their peers.
A long period of disorder and civil wars was ended in 1845 when the islanders were united into a kingdom. In 1899, the kingdom became a protectorate of Great Britain and remains so to this day.
A prolonged draught in 1996 had serious effects on the economy; agricultural production, which brings 80 per cent of expor5t earning was halved. In 1999 Tonga won a seat as a member state with the United Nations.
In 2005 Br. Jerry Eaton visited Tonga on holiday and came across Br. Sikuvea and some other people who were interested in the message of the Reform Movement. Br. Sikuvea was an Adventist minister who was disfellowshipped from the Seventh day Adventist Church because he refused to keep Sunday worship as they do according to the custom in Tonga, rather, he proclaimed the true Biblical Sabbath.
After further communication with Br. Anton Salavyov and the grace of our Lord Br. Sikuvea joined the IMS in December 2005 at the South Pacific Islands Mission Field Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand
Since then, Br. Salavyov has visited Tonga and accepted two families into fellowship. Likewise, there is a lot of interest in Tonga in regards to the Reform Movement. The members and friends in Tonga are looking forward to the first Sabbath keeping church building in Tonga where they can have their official place for worship.
The needs in Tonga are great with a church building required as a head quarters; a salary for Bible workers to spread the last message of mercy to the other groups of islands around, educational and other needs as of paramount importance. They need finance for translation costs from English to Tongan and the colportage has to be developed there also.
We will appreciate your generous sacrifices of financial support to the needs of the new Lord’s vineyard in Tonga
Thank you
Yours Brothers in Christ
–A. Salavyov
Regional Representative
