Before Loren Cunningham started Youth With A Mission, he was a missionary with the Assemblies of God. One of the nations that he traveled to often was (Western) Samoa. In the span of 14 months, he saw 1,100 natives come to Jesus as Savior.

In just one service, the missionary evangelist saw 132 people answer an altar call and dozen of people delivered from demons. One of the converts went from being a drunk to being the village evangelist. Samoans were returning from New Zealand to pastor church of the people getting saved by the power of the Spirit.

In the midst of it all, the governments of Pago Pago and Apia both offered land for churches to the Assemblies of God.