After Category 4 Cyclone Gita ripped through Tonga and Samoa with 145-mph winds, Church spokesman Daniel Woodruff released the following statement:
"All missionaries serving in the Samoa Apia and the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission are safe as Tropical Cyclone Gita moves through the region.
"Missionaries in Tonga are taking refuge in church buildings away from the coast and have taken necessary preparations to help keep them safe," he added. "We pray for all those in the South Pacific who are impacted by this powerful storm.”