Young Pacific Islanders with family roots in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji participated in a United Methodist leadership conference in Washington, D.C. While there, the group was invited to blend voices and perform at Foundry United Methodist Church on a Sunday morning.
Script:
(Musical performance at Foundry UMC)
In 2018, these Pacific Islanders were invited to perform at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.
Gwenda Martin, Foundry United Methodist Church: "When they started singing, I thought of "South Pacific," one of my favorite movies. Their voices were just angel-like and they had so much love in their music."
They sounded like a professional choir. In reality, they had just met!
Soana Fieeiki: "Within 24 hours, we came in and we really didn't know each other."
They learned the songs and perfomed, while attending a three-day leadership conference for United Methodist young people.
Choir director: "Altos, you're gonna go… Saa-moO-ah."
In their native Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, or Hawaii... music is a part of the culture.
Monalisa S. Tuitahi: "Our worship is a part of our culture."
Jefferson Saini: "In the songs, you can hear it. The harmonies of our people tell a story."
Soana Fieeiki: "Pacific Islanders are good at being able to come together and combine voices and share love through our voices."
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Learn more about how young Pacific Islanders are becoming leadersin The United Methodist Church.
This video was produced by United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee.
Media contact is Joe Iovino.
This video was first posted on September 28, 2018.
