Work is back in full swing to build a Samoan Church in the U.S. state of Texas, close to 11 months after a ground-breaking ceremony was held by the church's congregation members to formally start construction.

The global COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the start of construction after the ground-breaking ceremony in Stan Schlueter Loop in Killeen, Texas which attracted hundreds of colourfully dressed local residents of Samoan heritage with the ceremony including a roasted pig and traditional Samoan luau called an “aiga”.  

The Samoan Congregational Church of Killeen – aka Samoa-i-Texas (Samoans in Texas) – had hoped their new buildings would be in use by now with an original completion date of November 2021. 

However, pandemic-related supply shortages and construction issues pushed back the completion date to this summer, according to a statement issued by the church. 

“God’s timeline is not our timeline but he is always on time, said lay minister Leasina Lefotu, a 28-year member who has seen the church grow from 20 to almost 200 worshipers. 

However, the project chairman, Teuimaota Sivia Sasa said in the statement that the delay was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed members to get more involved in the design and construction of the new church. 

"For example, our deacons provided 24-hour on site security for 2 weeks, when the metal building parts arrived until it was erected," he said in the statement.

"Inflation caused our metal costs to double and delayed delivery by 6 months, we had $300K worth of steel sitting there and we weren’t taking any chances.”

Members of the church include retired army engineers, electricians and carpenters helped out whenever possible.   

A church member Pelenato Alaimaleata, a retired US Army soldier originally from the village of Alofau in American Samoa said: “I am happy to both serve the lord and utilise skills from my active duty days.”    

Samoa-i-Texas began in 1993 with services held in army chapels, while Sunday school, potlucks and meetings rotated amongst members’ homes and local parks. In 2001, the church purchased a warehouse located on a 3 acre property as their new home.   

The construction of the new 11,000 square feet worship space and classrooms are the final phase in a 20-year plan for the church. In 2010, the warehouse was renovated into a modern meeting hall and church-run daycare center, now known as the Koinonia Christian Academy. 

The church currently alternates worship locations every Sunday between Fort Hood and the current meeting hall in Killeen. However, increased security on the army base have made it difficult for non-military members to attend. 

“We want to create a safe haven for both military and non-military families who want to worship in the Samoan language and for our evening English services," project leader, Deacon Sivia Sasa said in a statement. 

"Our congregation has grown to include many worshippers who are non-Samoan and from other Christian denominations.

"After 30 years, we finally have a permanent site to worship without restrictions. Viia le atua, praise the Lord, we did it."

To mark the start of the final phase of construction, the church women’s group held a massive fundraiser aiga with singing, dancing and yet another delicious pig. The church members are hopeful the next celebration will come this summer, when they have the grand opening.