Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELCPNG)

The ELCPNG Evangelism Department’s head, Reverend Hans Giegere, said this congregation was founded by a Bougainvillean; a Lutheran church member from Trinity parish at Lae’s Three-Mile area, who returned home in 2017.

Rev Giegere, after his visit to the congregation, revealed that the church member, Dominic Boenvavio, hails from Topu village in Suir LLG, North Bougainville electorate.

While in Lae, Boenvavio was not just an active church member but also an elder of Trinity parish. Upon his return, he felt compelled to establish a Lutheran congregation in his home area.

Head Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG, Reverend Dr Jack Urame, highlighted that there is so much social instability and disorder in our families, communities and nation.

“Therefore, I urge you all to focus on strengthening the family unit as you begin the Year,” said Rev Dr Urame.

“It is important to rebuild the family unit because the basic household of God is disintegrating in the face of diverse social, economic and technological changes taking place in our world today.

“We thank Him for the past years and for the gift of a new year. Every good gift and blessing we enjoy comes from God,” stated Rev Dr Urame.

“Let us celebrate 2023 in the true spirit of peace, unity and harmony. Let us give thanks to our heavenly Father for his greatness, as well as his daily love and care for us.

“As we welcome the New Year, I encourage you to use this year for self-reflection and change.

Environmental advocate, Jotham Keleino, is attached with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG and has been supporting the church’s campaign against the proposed deep-sea tailings placement method.

Keleino, who has a Bachelor in Science degree, was recently speaking with Morobe tertiary students on the impacts of development, stressing on the need to look at the bigger picture.

He believes that money should not be used as a yardstick; instead, people’s lives and the environment should always be the focus of development.

National Health Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Katu Yapi, is concerned that they will have no choice but to close all four major rural hospitals in Morobe and Madang.

Lutheran Health Services, a health ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG, runs health facilities in the Momase and Highlands regions.

During National Remembrance Day on the 23^rd of July, youths from the English congregation hosted an exhibition to share the church’s rich history with their peers.

The Ampo church building of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was built on the 4^th of March, 1933, and dedicated on the 8^th of October, 1933.

It is the oldest building in Lae that survived the bombing raid of the Allied Forces during the Second World War.

The brief presentation was made by Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu in the presence of the three respective circuit presidents of Kote District, Jaka Circuit and Bunanue Parish of Malalo Circuit of Morobe.

Upon presentation of the three 75 horse-power outboard motors at Voco Point on Saturday, May 9^th, Governor Saonu emphasised the need for people to feel the presence of the government right at their doorstep, especially in the rural areas where transportation is vital for progress.

Pastors from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELCPNG) and the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church have been attending CPP workshops in Jiwaka and Western Highlands provinces, to discuss the theological basis of gender equality.

They considered Bible passages taken from Genesis 1:27, “in which God created man and woman in his own image” and Galatians 3:28, which reminds Christians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.