Church celebrates anniversary

MISSIONARIES Dr Neville and Joyce Burtle who first funded the Nazarene Church in Chimbu joined others in Kundiawa to celebrate the church’s 40th anniversary recently.
They traveled from New Zealand with their grandchildren Aron and Caitie Jackson to be with church members from Jiwaka, Chimbu and Eastern Highlands provinces for the event.
Burtle expressed satisfaction over pastors and district superintendents who faithfully served the church over the years and urged them to continue spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
Church member and Karamui-Nomane MP Geoffrey Kama praised the good efforts of successive church leaders to strengthen the work of the church.
Kama discourage the Church’s leaders not to seek donations from politicians but concentrate on the gospel.
“Stop writing letters asking for money. Many of you write and get money but nothing was present to show for where the money was spent. I do not want you to write to MPs (members of parliament) asking for money or donation,” Kama said.
Kundiawa town church Pastor Reverend Mundi Dama said in 1979, the Burtles brought the Church to Chimbu after 23 years of being in the country.
“The Nazarene Church came to PNG in 1956. It was brought to PNG from America by couple missionaries Sidney and Wanda Knox.
“After searching for a place to settle, they found Kudjip in Jiwaka where the church building infrastructures including the current Kudjip Nazarene Hospital was established,” Dama said.