Church, State spreading Christianity

EVANGELICAL Lutheran Church of PNG head Bishop Rev Dr Jack Urame says the church has played an important role in uniting the country.
He said this at the 33rd Lutheran synod in Port Moresby yesterday.
Urame said the church had established itself across Papua New Guinea, thanks to its faithful believers and workers and had worked to strengthen communities and complement the Government in bringing services to the people.
He said the partnership between church and State had been crucial in spreading development and Christianity to the people.
Prime Minister James Marape, who was a special guest at the synod, said without Christianity in the country, the different customs and beliefs would have led the country down a different path.
“The contribution of the Lutheran church to the country has been immense, I was reminded that the church was independent from 1956, 20 years before (national) Independence, and shows the presence of churches way before we gained political Independence,” he said.
“The imprint of churches is evident across the country.
“PNG must be a Christian country, we are not just making statements, but these are statements based on convictions that without Christianity, our country would not be united.”
Marape said Christians invested their time and resources in the church and its activities to strengthen these institutions as the benefit would flow back to them and the country as a whole.