White Sunday celebration has united two of the biggest denominations in the village of Leusoali'i in Upolu today. 

Members of the Methodist Church and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) at Leusoalii gathered under one roof to celebrate the day dedicated to the children.

In doing so, the children of Leusoali'i joined thousands of other children throughout the country in celebration.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Reverend Leauma Fa'alafi, of the Methodist Church, said the joint service is not new and that it was done before in previous years.

“The significance of praying together, it represents unity amongst the younger generation,” he said.

He added that if the children are nurtured with the word of God, then they will grow up and be good role models.

“The aim of this day is to guide the young ones to God. A life dedicated in serving God has the most blessings and that is why the children will be performing items based on the Bible.

“Without God in our lives, life becomes meaningless and has no true purpose.”

Rev. Faalafi said that parents also play an important role in raising their children.

“A problem faced by most parents nowadays is that their own children become disobedient due to various bad influences but the Bible says in Proverbs 22:6 ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’

The President of the Methodist Church Sunday School at Leusoalii, Utuimalie Paneta, said White Sunday is a very special day.

“We are not only uniting in harmony as one people with two different denominations but it is also a chance for both Sunday schools to share their message of hope with each other.

“It is not a competition, the most important thing is to glorify God in all that we do.

“The children are gifts from God, and Jesus said ‘… unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’

Ms. Paneta stated that there are 57 students and 15 teachers in their Sunday school.

“The children have prepared songs, plays, dances, bible recitations all based from the bible to drive out different messages that are important in our everyday lives.

“The preparations only took two weeks with non-stop practices and we hope that all the hard work will bear good fruits.”