Alumnus advises ‘Keep dreaming!’

In 1999, when the Rev. Dr. Siosaia “Saia” Tu’itahi 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. 

“I came to CST with my wife, two young kids, and no job,” Saia recalled. Initially, his family depended on the kindness of others to cover expenses for school, food, and other necessities.

The classroom experience proved eye-opening for Saia. “A process of deconstruction and reconstruction of my faith approach to the Bible and Christianity took place,” 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. 

“At CST,” he continued, “I questioned and analyzed everything I could to come up with my answers or complete my schoolwork.

“I did not want to ever become a pastor,” he admitted. “I come from a longtime Methodist family on my mother’s and father’s sides.” His maternal grandfather and two uncles are clergy.  He argued that he had witnessed “too much poverty, stress, and thankless time seen by those in ministry.” Still, the call to the ordained ministry persisted.

The Rev. Dr. Willie Foreman, who launched the Tongan ministries at First United Methodist Church, Compton (Los Angeles County), California, visited St. Mark’s UMC in San Diego County. “He called Tongan pastors from Los Angeles to connect with Tongans in San Diego,” Saia said. “We started a Tongan-language ministry at St Mark’s in 1996.” Saia was elected lay leader.

“During that time,” Saia said, “Willie 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.” 

He left a well-paying job, secure health insurance for his family, and a house. “For a Pacific Islander,” Saia said, “this is the accomplishment of the ‘American dream’ left behind. But God’s call was higher.”

Today, Saia and his wife, Monalisa Salakielu Tu’itahi, have four children – Kaveinga, 25; Nipa, 22; Le’ota, 19; and Tevita “Viti,” 17.

Recently, Saia began a new role as a district superintendent in the California-Pacific Annual Conference. He looks forward, he said, to “undergirding 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’s kingdom here on earth.”

After struggling with his vocation for so many years, Saia believes that acknowledging God’s call is key. “You have to be sure that your call is to the ordained ministry prior to committing to that work,” he said. “Issues 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.”

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. 

He has two words of advice: “Keep dreaming!”