Michael Tuionetoa was born in Tonga and moved to the United States in 1982. He is bilingual in English and Tongan. He first, joined the Texas Conference in 2015 as pastor of the Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tyler, Texas, before transitioning to the San Antonio Fil-Am International church five years later. In addition to senior, associate and youth pastoral experience at other locations, Tuionetoa has also been a school chaplain, dean and Bible teacher.

He has a diploma in Theology from Fulton College, Nadi, Fiji, a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Pacific Adventist University, Boroko, Papua New Guinea and a Master of Divinity from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. He is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry with a concentration in Growing and Multiplying Churches from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.

He and his wife, Lavenda, have three daughters: twins Claudia and Josephine, who are beginning their first year in college and Nola, a senior in academy.

His motto in ministry: “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).