The Methodist churchgoers in Samoa and from abroad have gathered at Faleula Methodist compound ahead of their annual conference to celebrate the spirit of the conference with sporting activities. 

The Methodist Church’s sports week kicked off on Monday with a parade that attracted over a thousand churchgoers.

Church President, Reverend Faulalo Leti officially launched the sports week with words of encouragement to boost the spirit of the participants in his opening remarks.

"The Methodist Church is different from other churches as we are an obedient church, one that listens and respects and this is also the manifesto for you our reliable youth for tomorrow," he said. "Rise up! Rise up as people and servants for Jesus Christ in the future and I officially declare this week of sports for our church open in the name of Jesus Christ."

This is the first time a sports week has been held ahead of the church's main conference. It is understood the week of sporting activities before the main conference will now become part of the church's annual calendar going forward.

The church's annual conference will commence in the second week of July and the organisers expect full attendance with overseas members already in the country for the conference.

When Samoa's international borders closed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all churches moved their conferences online and interacted virtually for the duration of the shutdown. This year's conference is expected to attract more participants as last year it was just church ministers and two church representatives each that were allowed at the conference.

The church's week-long sporting activities will also revive kilikiti, the traditional Samoan cricket with other sports, such as touch rugby and volleyball also added.

Reverends residing inside the Faleula church premises have run exercises and activities throughout the years which is being listed as a normal activity of the year. This includes riding bikes from their homes to wherever they are posted or work each day such as teaching at the church's schools around the vicinity of Faleula. This is compulsory for all church ministers serving at the Faleula campus.

The initiative was to reduce diabetes and obesity amongst the church ministers and their wives as well as their children. The same purpose prompted the sports initiative this year.

Close to 20 synods from across the country and abroad will participate in this year's main conference. They comprise Salafai i Sasa'e synod, Aukilani Matu, Upolu i Sisifo, Apia i Sasae, Upolu i Sasa'e, American Samoa, Apia i Sisifo, South Auckland, Victoria and Australia West, Upolu i Saute, American Synod, New South Wales Australia, Hawaii, Wellington New Zealand, Queensland, and Salafai Sisifo synod.