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OUR STORY
In 1998, Atapana and Vicky Ete with their family moved to Melbourne from New Zealand after a vision was planted in the heart of Atapana to start a fellowship under leading of the Holy Spirit. The hunger for the Holy Spirit came when Atapana first met Pastor Viliamu Mafo'e as he was a special guest speaker at a crusade. There, he got baptised with the Holy Spirit and spoke to Pastor Viliamu Mafo'e about his desire to be used by the Holy Spirit and God led Atapana & his family to Melbourne.
Holy Spirits’ movement through Worship Centre, Samoa
Just as the Lord was beginning to move in Melbourne, there was a mighty Holy Spirit revival growing in Samoa. In 1990, a vision was given to
Viliamu and his wife Lavina of a new church that would be established in Apia, Samoa. In God’s own timing, He gave birth to the Worship Centre Christian Church where Viliamu and Lavina became founding Senior Pastors. There are now churches planted throughout Samoa as well as several churches in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa & America.
Worship Centre reaching Melbourne
In February 2000, Samoa Worship Centre, Melbourne was officially opened. As there was no appointed Pastor, Atapana continued to lead the church alongside fellow elders at the time. After attending the Worship Centre Conference in July 2000, To’outa & Palolo Aloali’i were appointed to lead the church in Melbourne. Towards the end of 2000, Pastor To’outa & Palolo Aloalii moved to Melbourne later on the church was known as ‘Victory Worship Centre’.
Birth of Everlasting Light Worship Centre
Seven years after the official opening of the church, there was a need to reach out to the greater regions of Melbourne. As that desire continued to grow in Atapana Ete’s heart, confirmation came through prayer and fasting and in February 2008, Pastor To’outa Aloalii released Atapana alongside elders Ta’a Faleao and Manuo Samuela with their families to establish a branch in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
Prayer meetings and bible studies were held each week at Sassella Park Hall in Deer Park as ‘Community Worship Centre’. The movement happening through Worship Centre Churches worldwide also continued to move in Deer Park, with many coming to Christ, relationships being restored and lives being changed. On March 7th 2009, the church was officially opened with the new name ‘Everlasting Light Worship Centre’ confirmed by Pastor Viliamu Mafo’e through the scripture of Isaiah 60:19-20 and Atapana and Vicky Ete were appointed Senior Pastors. Church services had to move to Deer Park Secondary College then on to Glengala Primary School to accommodate the growing numbers each week and in 2010, the church successfully purchased a block of land in an industrial estate in Derrimut, West Melbourne which was later sold in 2016.
Just as the Spirit was continuing to touch lives and move in Samoa through Apostle Viliamu Mafo'e the movement came to Victory Worship Centre through the Holy Spirit working through Pastor To'outa Aloali'i so is the continuation of the movement flowing out to Everlasting Light Worship Centre. Five years on, we have seen a few more churches branch out from ELWC into new Worship Centre branches:
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Pastor Caleb & Nerisa Faleao - Senior Pastors at Shalom Worship Centre in Campbellfield, VIC
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Pastor Pela & Tupulaga Fuaiva'a - Senior Pastors at Sacrifice Worship Centre in Perth, WA
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Pastor Paepae & Maanaima Brown - Senior Pastors at Trusting God Worship Centre in Sunshine, VIC
Praise God for His Love, Goodness & Mercy endures forever!