Family first, bishop tells soldiers at end-of-year church service

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) must build itself through family order, a clergyman says.
Anglican Bishop of Port Moresby Danny Guka said this in his sermon during the army’s end of year church service at the Sir John Guise Stadium indoor complex yesterday.
Guka said the purpose of the gathering was to bring together servicemen and women of the Department of Defence to stand together as a family of God to give thanks to God for a successful year.
“We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, so be soldiers of influence.
“Be families of influence to other families and also to your neighbours
“Your accomplishments this year were the result of your coming closer to God.
“You must be thankful that you have a commander that emphasises a lot on godly virtues.”
Guka said the theme of the service – Building PNGDF through family order – related to the inception of the new Defence White Paper of 2013 which emphasised putting God first.
PNGDF commander Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo said putting God first reflected the force’s commitment to its constitutional responsibilities and core tasks.
“The sovereign protection, our response to natural disasters, our assistance to civil authority and international obligations are witnessed by our people,” Toropo said.
Toropo said the PNGDF aimed to provide a secure environment for the government and the people.
He said another huge success of the force was its role in the conduct of the 2017 general election.
He said the number of disciplinary cases within the military have decreased this year.
“This has changed the ethics of a lot of our servicemen and women,” Toropo said.
Finance Minister James Marape, who was at the church service, thanked the soldiers on behalf of the Cabinet and members of Parliament for serving PNG distinctively.
Marape told soldiers to count themselves as blessed because unlike their fallen comrades, they were still standing.