1) Where are you currently serving? Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.
I currently serve as the Lead Pastor of First Tongan Christian Church (DOC) located in West Valley City, Utah. We are a multi-generational and bi-lingual congregation that emphasizes both Tongan and Modern culture. Our mission statement states, “Seeking Christ, Fostering Community, and Cultivating Culture.” One of the ways we try to uphold God’s mission is through our music ministry under the direction of my younger brother, Sifa Uesi. He helped start a marching band for the church by offering free music lessons to the community. Students come from different backgrounds regardless of religious affiliation, race, age, gender, etc. The congregation also works in partnership with our fellow sister congregation, Granger Community Christian Church (DOC), led by Rev. Vinnetta Golphin.
2) What are some of your memories from your time in the DLI program?
Some of my memories from the DLI program involve being able to meet other Disciples from across the country. Worship and fellowship with fellow DLI participants were refreshing, considering there are not many Disciples here in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were activities that helped build our relationship with each other and with God. It was also nice to hear different perspectives about how to do church as well as reflect how we can help our particular congregations. It was a really good time, especially when Beau Underwood talked about the meaning of hashtags (this is when hashtags became a thing lol!).
3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in the DLI program?
One of the skills I gained by participating in the DLI program is learning how to network and stay connected not only within DLI but the wider church and the community. I believe networking is an essential part of ministry, and I learned how to essentially connect with people that I had never met before. To this day, I still connect with my fellow DLI members, even some who have continued to higher positions in the church as well as serving their respective communities.
4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?
One way that this experience helped me to become a better leader is learning how to build relationships, which I believe is one of the components of the Disciples of Christ ethos. The invitation to the table is not necessarily about a ritual but about relationships. Christ sought relationships with his disciples and those on the margins of society. Building relationships with my fellow DLI participants opened my eyes that the table of life extends to different parts of the world. I witnessed this when we gathered together at the table to break bread. Building relationships is therefore an act of service to the community.