Churches seen as vital partners for PNG

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Churches are important partners for Papua New Guinea to have a “smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy society” by 2050, says Youth Religion and Community Development Secretary Anna Solomon.
She said that on Friday during the Assemblies of God Church’s 70th anniversary celebrations in Port Moresby.
“Churches are an important partner in contributing to the development of PNG in order for PNG to achieve that national goal,” Solomon said.
“One important factor to achieve that goal is that we must look after our children.
“If we protect them as children, then we protect PNG.
“It saddens me to see children being abused.
“Government cannot do it alone.
“We need support from the church partnership to address child abuse.
“As the Government, we are not really able to reach all the remote communities.
“We need church assistance because churches have networks that reach into these remote communities.”
Solomon also said Government needed church assistance in addressing needs of women, youth, people living with disabilities and gender-base-violence.
Meanwhile, AOG general-secretary Pr Joseph Pandu said the church had been supporting the Government in education and social development for the last 70 years and would continue to do the same for the next 70 years.
The celebration was held at the Sir John Guises Stadium for three nights with the involvement of Australian-based Hillsong Band.