Congregants who were supporters of the outspoken Reverend Faka‘osi Hau of the Tongan Tokaikolo Church in Auckland defected to join the newly established Mo‘ui Fo‘ou 'Ia Kalaisi Fellowship.
The new fellowship will be under the stewardship of Reverend Sione Havili Maile who has been a long time Secretary General of the Tokaikolo Church and a loyal follower of its president, Reverend President Liufau Vailea Saulala.
Reverend Maile told Kaniva News he has yet to submit his resignation to the Tokaikolo Church but he has already decided to leave and establish the new fellowship.
“There have been indications for me to make this move. But I have waited on God. Just yesterday I was told by God to defect and establish this fellowship”, said Reverend Maile.
“This is the fulfillment of the mission that has been placed upon Reverend Senituli Koloi, the founder of the Tokaikolo Church to defect from the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga and lead His people.
God has called me to lead these people who are hungry for freedom”, he told Kaniva news.
Rev Maile preached in the Tokaikolo Church in Auckland, New Zealand few weeks ago and shocked the church members when he strongly criticised church authorities for what they had done to members who have been known to question the church's management and operations. This move is very unusual for him because of his long time support and faithfulness to President Reverend Saulala.
Reverend Maile said he will conduct a malanga or a prayer service this coming Sunday 14 here in Auckland to mark the beginning of the new fellowship.
Reverend Hau told Kaniva News he is in full support of Reverend Maile and he and his supporters will follow him.
The Tokaikolo Church has come under fire as authorities quivered with indignation that Reverend Hau preached about how he thought it was not right for him and the church members to donate money to a Church that is solely run by President Liufau Saulala without him having any accountability to the followers.
The church eventually sacked Reverend Hau, a move that saw church members divided. Those who were staying in the church but were found out to have leaked information to Rev Hau were sacked and served with prohibition notices not to enter the Church properties.
Reverend Hau took the Tokaikolo Church and its leader, President Liufau Vailea Saulala to court in Auckland but his claims were rejected by the court last month. The court ruled in favour of Reverend Saulala but Hau undertook to appeal the court’s decision.
Tokaikolo Church was founded in 1980 by Reverend Senituli Koloi who has been a former minister in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.
Kaniva News was unable to obtain a comment from the Tokaikolo Church.
Correction: We corrected this article. We preciously reported that Reverend Sione Maile was a long time Vice President of the Tokaikolo Church. That was not correct. Reverend Sione Havili Maile was the longtime Secretary General of the Tokaikolo Church.
