Humble beginnings for Palmerston North church celebrating 50 yearsDAVID UNWIN/STUFF Mylijah Fruaen, 9, performs a solo dance at the Samoan church celebration. A two-day celebration, including a feast and cultural performances, has marked the 50-year milestone for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Palmerston North. It was a far cry from the church's modest beginnings in 1968, when a handful of Samoan families migrated to Palmerston North for employment. "It was difficult times, with lots of financial issues – high interest rates, mortgages – but we and the church members worked hard and fund-raised with free-will giving." DAVID UNWIN/STUFF The church was founded by three families in 1968, and has bloomed into a congregation of 24 families.

Source: Stuff August 30, 2018 04:47 UTC