Church’s mass wedding sees 16 couples legalise their union

By LARRY ANDREW
SIXTEEN couples from the Sawdust Adventist Church at Kalili Street, Papuan Compound in Lae, on Sunday were pronounced husband and wife by celebrant Pastor Jonathan Wera after they signed their marriage certificates.
The mass wedding ceremony was the first for the church.
On hand to witness the signing and provide word of advice about marriage was provincial civil registrar Keputong Geibob.
The occasion was jointly organised by the church’s family life department and stewardship department.
The 16 couples during the week went through nightly topics with the main theme being: “Seven ways to keep your Love” conducted by Wera to prepare them for the exchanging of rings and signing of the certificates.
Wera said most of the couples had lived together for a number of years, had children and grandchildren but their marriage was not recognised.
“The opportunity to sign the marriage certificate wasn’t there so the church came up with the programme to help the couples,” he said.