{"id":30895,"date":"2021-10-07T13:39:51","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T13:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cst.edu\/?p=30895"},"modified":"2024-05-04T00:09:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-04T00:09:25","slug":"alumnus-advises-keep-dreaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cst.edu\/de\/news\/alumnus-advises-keep-dreaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumnus advises \u2018Keep dreaming!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1999, when the Rev. Dr. Siosaia \u201cSaia\u201d Tu\u2019itahi packed up his family of four and headed to Claremont School of Theology, he was living strictly on faith. He had just resigned from his job of 16 years as a deputy probation officer for San Diego County.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI came to CST with my wife, two young kids, and no job,\u201d Saia recalled. Initially, his family depended on the kindness of others to cover expenses for school, food, and other necessities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The classroom experience proved eye-opening for Saia. \u201cA process of deconstruction and reconstruction of my faith approach to the Bible and Christianity took place,\u201d he said. This was a huge contrast to what he was taught as a child: that we cannot change what was written in the Bible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt CST,\u201d he continued, \u201cI questioned and analyzed everything I could to come up with my answers or complete my schoolwork.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did not want to ever become a pastor,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI come from a longtime Methodist family on my mother\u2019s and father\u2019s sides.\u201d His maternal grandfather and two uncles are clergy.\u00a0 He argued that he had witnessed \u201ctoo much poverty, stress, and thankless time seen by those in ministry.\u201d Still, the call to the ordained ministry persisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rev. Dr. Willie Foreman, who launched the Tongan ministries at First United Methodist Church, Compton (Los Angeles County), California, visited St. Mark\u2019s UMC in San Diego County. \u201cHe called Tongan pastors from Los Angeles to connect with Tongans in San Diego,\u201d Saia said. \u201cWe started a Tongan-language ministry at St Mark\u2019s in 1996.\u201d Saia was elected lay leader.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDuring that time,\u201d Saia said, \u201cWillie asked me many times to go into ordained ministry. I refused, but he insisted. My wife and I started fasting weekly, asking God if this were the right call. After a year, it became so clear that I packed our things, quit my job, and headed to Claremont School of Theology.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He left a well-paying job, secure health insurance for his family, and a house. \u201cFor a Pacific Islander,\u201d Saia said, \u201cthis is the accomplishment of the \u2018American dream\u2019 left behind. But God\u2019s call was higher.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Saia and his wife, <\/span>Monalisa Salakielu Tu\u2019itahi, have four children \u2013 K<\/span>aveinga, 25; Nipa, 22; Le\u2019ota, 19; and Tevita \u201cViti,\u201d 17.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, Saia began a new role as a district superintendent in the California-Pacific Annual Conference. He looks forward, he said, to \u201cundergirding everything with prayer, beginning with my personal life; building relationships where pastors and churches can openly work and help each other, instead of competing; keeping my feet on the ground as a servant, yet a leader; seeing God opening doors where there are no doors; and [recognizing] the fruits of God\u2019s kingdom here on earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After struggling with his vocation for so many years, Saia believes that acknowledging God\u2019s c<\/span>all is key. \u201cYou have to be sure that your call is to the ordained ministry prior to committing to that work,\u201d he said. \u201cIssues later in the journey stem from failure to follow the right calling in your life. It is between you and God, not what others tell you, although it helps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Saia credits Claremont School of Theology with providing a way to connect him to local churches. He especially appreciates that the seminary is open to all people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He has two words of advice: \u201cKeep dreaming!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1999, when the Rev. Dr. Siosaia \u201cSaia\u201d Tu\u2019itahi packed up his family of four and headed to Claremont School of Theology, he was living strictly on faith. He had just resigned from his job of 16 years as a deputy probation officer for San Diego County.\u00a0 \u201cI came to CST with my wife, two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":30896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21],"tags":[127,133,185,186,36,75],"class_list":["post-30895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumniae-news","category-news","tag-alumni","tag-cal-pac","tag-methodist","tag-saia-tuitahi","tag-students","tag-umc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumnus advises \u2018Keep dreaming!\u2019 - Claremont School of Theology<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Uncover The Inspiring Journey Of Rev. 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