Joseph Booth Jr.
Joseph Booth Jr.
We are grateful and excited to add a talented, spirit-filled preacher to our staff to help us serve better,” said Debleaire Snell, Oakwood University Church (OUC) senior pastor, who welcomed Meshach Mauia to the church’s pastoral team.
Surrounded by his immediate family — wife Mayllyn, sons Jereh and Meshach II, and daughter Jamie — and extended family members, Mauia was installed as an associate pastor of OUC. Toussaint Williams, Ph.D., South Central Conference executive secretary, representing Benjamin Jones Jr., Conference president, led an interview with Mauia.
After earning his bachelor’s in ministerial theology from Oakwood University in 2014 and his master of divinity from Andrews University in 2017, Mauia was invited by South Central to serve as district pastor for Laurel and Soso, Miss. Later, he accepted a call to the Southwest Region Conference to serve as district pastor for Philathea Church in Las Cruces, N.M., and Smyrna Church in El Paso, Tex. Several members from his previous church in Soso attended the service to welcome him back to South Central.
About returning, Mauia said, “It was something my family and I prayed and fasted about for over a year, and God said to come.” He believes this was the right environment for his family right now.
Williams offered a prayer of encouragement and support for Mauia’s ministry. Afterward, the Mauia family was given welcome gifts from Gianna Snell, senior pastor’s wife; Marc Raphael, children’s ministries pastor; and Kimberly Mann, youth ministries pastor.
A native of California with deep Samoan roots, Mauia’s heritage was evident in the traditional attire worn by some of his family members. Over his ministerial journey, Mauia has received several awards, including Literature Evangelism and Intern of the Year awards in 2018, along with Helping Hands, Community Service, and Media awards in 2020.
Mauia’s powerful sermons are blessing the OUC congregation, who welcome his talent and vision. “If you forget everything else about what God has done in my life, I pray that you’ll know this — I love the Lord, I love my family, and I love people,” said Mauia.
South Central | September 2025
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