Church prepares for diamond jubilee

Weekender
FAITH
Second and third generation children of former BUC leaders and members. From left: Geno Kila (Pat Ila’ava), David (Daniel Gei), Christine (Lakaoa Gavara) and Romad (Teliesta Abe Veve).

By Rev SEIK PITOI
BOROKO United Church (BUC) is one of the oldest in Port Moresby.
Built in 1958, it was dedicated and opened on July 22, 1961 by Rev Fred McKay, on behalf of the Board of the United Church of North Australia and the Territories. The resident minister at the time was Rev Paul Parkin.
This year will mark BUC’s 60th anniversary! A series of activities is being planned by the congregation to celebrate their diamond jubilee, and the details will be made public as they come to light.
As we approach the anniversary, however, many pioneering families are coming forward with stories of their early days in the church. I too find myself qualified to share a yarn or two as I began there as a Sunday school student in 1969. Ironically, in God’s divine schedule of things, I suddenly find myself back here – this time as the congregation minister! This is a brief account of my time over the years at the Boroko United Church.

Family moves to Boroko
My dad was one of two nationals appointed to the Public Service Board (PSB), with Sir Paulias Matane being the other. The board was run by Australian Public Service officials at the time, and the two men were chosen from among others in the PNG teaching fraternity to be groomed to take over from their Australian counterparts. They had been serving as district inspectors of schools in New Britain when they got selected. Both were trained overseas, especially with the Australian Public Service.
Dad also did a year’s stint at the Birmingham University in England before his appointment. I remember that George Summers was the board chairman, followed by Jerry Unkles. Dad eventually took over from Unkles as the first national chairman.
Following his appointment to the board, our family left Rabaul and stayed a while in our village, Gabagaba, while dad went to England. When he returned, we moved to a house on Moru Street, Boroko East. I went to school with my two older sisters at the Boroko East Primary “A” School. It was 1969 and the South Pacific Games was on. I recall that to watch the marathon, we lined up along the streets in front of the present Boroko United Church and cheered for Gari Vagi, an uncle from Gabagaba who ran for PNG.
On Sundays, we went for service at the Boroko United Church. I was in Sunday school with some of my expat class mates. There was a good mixture of expatriates and nationals at the church. I recall the minister then was Rev Ian Fardon. In fact, the church was called the Ela-Boroko United Church because it was a sister congregation to the older church in downtown Port Moresby. The minister was responsible for both congregations.
When dad took over from Jerry Unkles as PSB chairman, we moved to a lovely house on Touaguba Hill overlooking the Fairfax harbour and Ela Beach, depending on which side of the large verandah you stood. My sisters and I started attending Ela Beach International Primary school. Our family continued worshipping at the Boroko Church, though not as frequently as before because dad was usually travelling domestically or abroad. I personally lost touch with the church and even stopped going for a while.

BUC today. -Picture borrowed.

Boroko Motu congregation
Fast forward about 10 years and we were now at 6-Mile. Dad retired from the public service and bought a store. My sisters and I were attending Port Moresby International High School. Our family returned to the Boroko United Church, this time with the Motu congregation. The Motu service started at 8am and ran until 10am, then the English service commenced. Rev Tim Kelly was the church minister. I recall him preaching in our Motu service using very simple English, and he always began his prayers with the phrase, “ita guriguri” (let us pray). I believe that was all the Motu he knew!
This was my “second time round” at the church and I was older now so was able to remember some of our leaders. Our congregation chairman then was Pat Ila’ava. I went to school with his late son, (Rev) Alu Pat at Pomis. I recall only three deacons in Ravu Puana, John Gavara and Gei Dibura. These were great men who served the people faithfully. Other Motu leaders were Kila Rabona, Sir Kwamala Kalo Vai Gagare and Gia Loi, just to name a few.
The Motu congregation soon had their own pastor, Rev Abe Mamata. Abe from Boku in the Rigo District was an incredible person. He had served for many years in our Rigo area and finally succumbed to blindness. Nonetheless, this didn’t deter him from continuing to serve God. He preached strongly and always quoted scripture which he had memorised by heart. He was such an inspiration to the rest of the church.
At around that time in the 1980s, a Tongan was appointed minister of the church. Rev Sione Kami had been bishop in the highlands region and served in the Southern and Western Highlands provinces. A powerful evangelist, Sione came and lit a spiritual fire in the church. The 200-plus church of casual pew warmers was transformed into a mighty evangelistic river that soon broke its banks and touched the city and nation.
Ordinary members suddenly had a passion to win souls. Prayer meetings, followed by crusades, outreaches and personal evangelism was the order of the day. I am a product of the move in that I came to faith in Christ under the BUC youth ministry led by late (Rev) Barry Sari (John). Sadly, as it happens in every major move of God, a split occurred. This resulted in Rev Sione and the English congregation moving to the current location where the church which now bears his name, the Rev Sione Kami Memorial Church (RSKMC), stands. The Motu church remained at the same location until this day.
Meanwhile, prior to my salvation experience, I was just a religious person who often tried to be good. I had hung out with the wrong crowd and did stuff that I know God didn’t approve of, so I felt I needed to change. Moreover, I wanted to please my parents who kept warning me about the consequences of my waywardness.
So, when my friend Charlie Gei asked me to join Sunday school, I signed up as a teacher! Charlies was our superintendent. However, I soon found that teaching kids and telling Bible stories was not my thing. I also wasn’t patient enough. My two good sisters who taught Sunday school with me were Liz and late Lakaoa Gavara. I’m sure I annoyed them no end with my hypocrisy! So when I saw that I was not Sunday school teacher material, I left. After a period in the ‘wilderness’ away from God, I joined the youth fellowship, through which I eventually came to faith in Christ.

Boroko’s new minister
Coming to BUC this year as the new minister was quite a moving experience for me. Seeing old friends, especially elderly mothers, now widowed, who were my mum’s good friends, brought memories of my parents back to me. And hearing the same peroveta songs they used to sing together brought me to tears. I also met many vibrant and enthusiastic young people who, after they introduced themselves, I found were children of my friends from many years ago.
Amazingly, they too are serving God in the same church their parents did. For instance, late Lakaoa, late Teliesta and Daniel Gei’s kids, plus Chairman Pat Ila’ava’s daughter and family lead the Sunday school ministry, while Deacon Puana’s son, Wari, is an evangelist!
To be back at the church where my spiritual foundations were laid is nothing short of a miracle of God. Over 50 years ago I began Sunday school at BUC, and nearly 40 years ago I made acquaintance with Jesus my Saviour, at BUC.
If the number 40 is of any significance, I would feel comfortable to say that after a period of testing and probation, the blessed Spirit who ignited a fire some 40 years ago is ready to do it again!
Is this the decade we will see another move of God come out of BUC? I pray that as the church celebrates her 60th anniversary in July this year, God will again bless His people with fresh fire to reach the city and nation for Jesus Christ!

Ps: Anyone associated with BUC from 1960 to the 1980s may contact the author on [email protected] or tel 76730892 and 79293896 to share your story.