White sandy beaches, coral atolls, coconut trees swaying lazily in the wind, church bells ringing in the distance — to more than 600 Adventist members within the Pacific and North Pacific unions, this is a description of “back-home” — the Tonga Islands.

At the annual Tongan Seventh-day Adventist Ministry of America camp meeting, there was an abundance of music, worship and fellowship. From Aug. 4 to 14, music, prayers, seminars and sermons streamed out of the windows of the small auditorium of Central California's Soquel Conference Center.

Among the guest speakers and presenters were Tetileti Pahulu, president of the Tonga and Niue Mission, and many others. Attendees also enjoy musical selections from individual church choirs, a men’s chorus from New Zealand, and a special concert by the Heritage Singers.

This year’s camp meeting celebrated 25 years of organized ministry among the Tongan Adventist people in the western United States. The theme translated into English as: “The Silver Jubilee of Carrying the Torch for the Tongan Adventist Ministry of America”

“Since our camp meeting is lay run with no financial assistance from any organized entity, our ministry has faced many challenges," explained camp meeting secretary Virginia Moungaafi. "In faith we press on, and every year we are able to obtain funding and are able to continue with the work God has in store for us. Our faith is a torch that has been passed on from year to year for the past 25 years and will continue to pass on for as many as the Lord is willing.”

The ministry was founded in 1980 by Asipeli Poulivaati, a pioneer of the Tongan Adventist work in the U.S. Sonatane Vunileva, pastor of the Los Angeles Tongan church, worked closely with Poulivaati and has been the senior pastor for the camp meeting for all 25 years. “The idea for a camp meeting and a Tongan ministry came about because there was no organized Tongan church at the time,” said Vunileva.

Poulivaati and Vunileva dreamed of a yearly gathering where the Tongan people would worship, fellowship and encourage one another. Members would then return to their churches and cities and spread the Advent message to other Tongan-speaking people.

“During camp meeting we encourage the Tongan people to reach out into their communities,” said Sione Vea Latuhoi, current camp meeting president and coordinator. "We try to choose speakers who will educate and empower our people with new ways to reach non-Adventists."

With 25 years behind them, and an organized Tongan Adventist church and three organized Tongan companies, the Tongans are looking forward to the soon return of Jesus Christ. “We will continue to work and pray toward establishing more Tongan churches and companies,” said Vunileva.

The Tongan Adventist Ministry of America camp meeting will meet again next year, June 30 to July 9.