Pastor Fa'asaoina & Maggievei Opeta
Pastor Fa'asaoina Opeta has a tremendous passion for God’s Word coupled with a love for God’'s people. He has a contagious spirit of generosity that flows through every facet of his ministry. Having received his mandate from God, Pastor Opeta, obediently fulfills his calling as Senior Pastor of The Garden Grove Samoan Assembly of God Church.
He gave his life to the Lord in August 1976 through the Youth Ministry of the Fagasa Asssembly of God church in Fagasa, American Samoa. After graduating from High School, he left the island to attend Bethany Bible College in Santa Cruz.
Called to ministry in 1981, under the leadership of Pastor Solosolo Ve'ave'a in Sunnyvale, CA (Northern California District). Pastor Opeta began his ministry as a lay preacher and worship team, sharing the gospel in Samoan & English language. He moved to Southern California in 1983 and served under Pastor Taulima Devoux in Carson, CA (Southern California District) and then with Pastor Togiva Savini in 1984. He was called to pastor the Garden Grove Samoan Assembly of God Church in 1995, a small congregation of only few families.
In 2006, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the church became the fastest growing church in Southern California. Beginning with less than 30 members in 1995 through prayers and commitment, the church now exceeds 350. In two capacity-filled services each Sunday, Pastor Opeta and the anointed leadership team has now reached out to the uttermost, including planting churches in Twenty-nine Palms (CA), Meridian (Idaho), Moreno Valley (CA), Salt Lake City (Utah) and now assisting with a new church plant in Las Vegas (Nevada). The Garden Grove Samoan AG is making a difference in the lives of its parishioners and the community.
Pastor Opeta and his wife, Maggievei, are an anointed duo that God is using to make a change in the lives of people. They have two children, Henrietta and Hensan who are also involved in ministry.
His vision is uncompromisingly clear, with one central principle; to build and develop a kingdom of empowered people for God. Holding firmly to the commissioned mandate in Matthew 28:18-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations”, Pastor Opeta has taken the gospel into national and international communities of the world.