Sifa Potauaine was born in Tonga, a small island nation in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. He and his family moved to Reno, Nevada in 1979, which he considers his hometown. Before he became a pastor, Sifa was involved in various ministries at his home church in Reno, which ultimately influenced and led to his decision to become a pastor in 2003. Sifa is married to the former Alisi Po’uliva’ati.
Sifa holds a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Church Growth and Evangelism from Andrews University Theological Seminary (Mich.). Before his postgraduate studies, Sifa attended Oakwood University (Ala.) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology with an emphasis in Pastoral Ministry and a minor in Biblical Languages. Sifa and his wife, Alisi, pastor the Harrisonburg, Elkton, and Grottoes (Va.) church district, their first pastoral assignment out of seminary.
In addition to his commitment to the Seventh-day Adventist church, and particularly to his calling to serve in the Potomac Conference, Sifa continues to be involved with Tongan churches and groups in the U.S. through his role as a member of the Tongan Advisory Council on the Tongan work to the Director of the Asian-Pacific Ministry in the North American Division and has conducted periodic preaching and evangelistic meetings on behalf of Tongan churches.
Over the past four years, Sifa and Alisi’s pastoral assignment in the Shenandoah Valley has had a learning curve and has been a humbling and eye-opening experience in ministry. They have formed lasting friendships in the valley, not only with the members of the three-district churches, but with others who live in the community and from other sister churches. They are thankful to God for His continued patience and love. They are grateful for their family and friends here and abroad from whom they have received constant love and support over the years.
