As Samoa pauses today to remember the suffering of Jesus Christ the Saviour, two passionate Samoan Christians whose mission is to tell the world about that love, will join them in thanksgiving.

This Good Friday, Tupetoa Ronji and Rebena Tanielu, will join their families in Samoa for a time of fellowship, worship and sharing about the love of God before they return to their work. 

That work is fulfilling the Great Commission by taking the gospel to all corners of the world – including some of the most dangerous places where Christians are persecuted every day.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, the couple shared their experiences after two years of self-funded travel to 33 countries to spread the story of Jesus Christ, and to help some of more than 200million persecuted Christians around the world.

“The gospel is the most important thing in our lives in terms of his death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Ronji.

A Lawyer by profession, Ronji who was born and raised in Auckland, has roots in Falelatai, Tanugamanono, Safotu, Saleaula and Tokelau. His wife, who is an Accountant by profession, has roots in Salani Falealili and Toamua.

In Auckland, they were running a couple of companies which they have decided to put on the backburner as they respond to the calling for their lives.

But the calling comes with a price. They’ve seen some of the most horrific ordeals of Christians being persecuted.

Some of their travel destinations include countries where the Bible is banned, or Christians are regularly persecuted for their faith.

As Samoa pauses today to remember the suffering of Jesus Christ the Saviour, two passionate Samoan Christians whose mission is to tell the world about that love, will join them in thanksgiving.

This Good Friday, Tupetoa Ronji and Rebena Tanielu, will join their families in Samoa for a time of fellowship, worship and sharing about the love of God before they return to their work. 

That work is fulfilling the Great Commission by taking the gospel to all corners of the world – including some of the most dangerous places where Christians are persecuted every day.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, the couple shared their experiences after two years of self-funded travel to 33 countries to spread the story of Jesus Christ, and to help some of more than 200million persecuted Christians around the world.

“The gospel is the most important thing in our lives in terms of his death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Ronji.

A Lawyer by profession, Ronji who was born and raised in Auckland, has roots in Falelatai, Tanugamanono, Safotu, Saleaula and Tokelau. His wife, who is an Accountant by profession, has roots in Salani Falealili and Toamua.

In Auckland, they were running a couple of companies which they have decided to put on the backburner as they respond to the calling for their lives.

But the calling comes with a price. They’ve seen some of the most horrific ordeals of Christians being persecuted.

Some of their travel destinations include countries where the Bible is banned, or Christians are regularly persecuted for their faith.

“In terms of persecution of our brothers and sisters, it’s something that most Christians don’t often think or hear about,” Ronji said.

In Nigeria for instance, Christians are often brutality victimised. 

Ronji recalls one of one of their more heartbreaking encounters with a young Nigerian boy. 

“We met a young boy named Danjuma who was twelve years old,” he said. 

“He had his left-eye cut out, right eye slashed, beaten all over his body, and his private parts cut off, all because he was a Christian.

“This young boy forgives his attackers, and prays that they come to faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the kind of persecution and savagery facing our Christians in Nigeria but that’s also Christianity in a nutshell.

“Christianity, for us, is really about a God who became a man and then died a horrible death for our sins. We are forgiven despite our trespasses so we should also forgive.

 “Easter is a great time to reflect on what Christ has done for us.”

Read more at Samoa Observer