Vavae Toma F.S
Known to many as Tama, Murphy or just Vavae, Reverend Vavae Toma who celebrated his 85th in April this year, has had an outstanding life history. In his religious life he is the pioneer of the ecumenical movement in the Pacific to bring people of different denominations to pray together. During the 1950s he taught at the Malua Theological College until 1961 when he took on some top positions in the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa. During the 1970s and 1980s he built one of the most active congregations at Vaivase which also led to his long association with Samoa College Hostel students. Although he retired in the early 1990s Vavae is still active either with the church or with his aiga in Savaii. Vavae Toma stands out as one of the best communicators in the church. His nickname Murphy is reported to be have coined because of his direct but simple and sensitive manner in either delivering a message or a sermon . Vavae Toma is also an accomplished musician and is the composer for a number of Samoan church hymns. SamoaLive~! salutes this great Samoan personality.