Criminal turns Bible school teacher

Weekender

By Rev SEIK PITOI
MANY suburbs in Port Moresby have their own stories of gangs, lawlessness and crime.
Yet, we will find that most perpetrators of crime are young people from normal families living together on the same street and going to the same schools in the suburb.
As young people, they make friends with each other. A good friend will always be a blessing, but to get caught up with the ‘wrong type’ of friends will eventually lead to being led astray and going unsuspectingly into activities that are wrong.
Adding drugs and alcohol to the mix results many times in the youth taking part in serious crime, usually followed by prison time – thus turning the once innocent but wayward adventure-seeking young man into a hardened criminal. That is, of course, if there is no timely intervention from an ‘outside source’.
Rev Raka Geve was one such young man. Growing up in the suburb of Tokarara, he did his primary education at the Ororo Community School, then secondary at Tokarara High School from 1989 to 1992.
He did a certificate course in Sales and Marketing at Niugini Computers and Training Centre in 1993 and was fortunate enough to land a job as a salesman the following year with Bishop Brothers.
However, his wrong choice of friends adversely affected his future. Having being part of the notorious gang in his suburb at the time, called Jawas, the lure of gang life got the better of him and he turned down a promising career for a life of street crimes, carjacking and armed hold up of business houses.
“My life was no good,” he recalled. “I took part in many acts of “rascalism”, even holding up shops and business houses. One time, in our attempt to hold up a business premises, I was shot at by police but escaped unharmed. That I think was the turning point for me.”
Knowing the conviction to turn from crime was the Lord speaking to him, especially through the faithful prayers of his wife, a devout Christian, Raka began to seek after God. He and his family relocated to the village and he began to take part in church fellowships and activities.
After a period of time, he had a desire to serve God fully so he began pastoral training from 1997 to 1992 at the United Church Fife Bay Bible College on the border of Central and Milne Bay. He graduated as a pastor and began to serve with the United Church in the East Central Papua Region (ECPR).
Raka began his pastoral career at Kapari village on the Aroma Coast, followed by a stint at Keapara Village. In 2004, he was accepted to do his Type 2 Preordination course at Metago Bible School outside Port Moresby. He graduated with a Diploma in Theology and was ordained the following year, 2005, at his next post, Biga Iruka village, in Rigo District.
He then continued his pastoral ministry at Mailu, and then on to Boku in the hinterlands of Rigo. It was while at Boku that he decided to serve God as a missionary – from the highlands of Rigo in Central to the highlands of PNG – the Southern Highlands in particular!
Being from a different language group and culture, it was going to be a challenge, but the Geve family rose to the task and blended in well with the people of the Highlands. Rev Raka began his tenure as deputy superintendent minister in the Upper North Mendi Mini-Circuit, assisting Rev Justin Wapu who is the current regional secretary.
Following that, he moved to yet another aspect of ministry, as Bible college lecturer. He served as lecturer at the Bernie Collins Bible School in 2015, then became deputy principal in 2016.
Rev Raka has given credit to his being able to change and serve God, firstly to God and His grace, secondly to his loving wife, Marama Raoaonne Geve.
Sina Raoa comes from Kelekapana-Kwapeupa village (known as KK for short), which is along the Aroma Coast. She is the daughter of an ordained minister, Rev Onekali. The couple are blessed with four children and two bubus who are the pride of their lives. Rev Raka fondly says that if it wasn’t for the faithful prayers of Sina Raoa, he would not be a changed man today!
Having their family live with them in the highlands is an encouragement for Rev and Marama Geve, as well as being a testimony to the people of the highlands who can see that this family is not afraid to live among them as being part of their own tribe and people.
They have grown fond of their hosts. “The people of the highlands are like people everywhere else – some are good; some are bad. We have not had any bad experiences since we came, only good ones. We find that even the ‘bad’ people are very respectful towards us, not only being strangers from another province, but as God’s servants. They seem to have respect for God’s servants,” he said.
Currently there are five other pastors from the East Papuan Region serving in the highlands. Two ministers are from Keapara, one each from Paramana, Kapari and Ikega-Wiga villages.
Rev Raka said, “It is so good to see us Central servants of God leave the comforts of our home province and live among our highlands brothers and sisters to bring them the good news of Jesus Christ.”
Rev Raka has clocked up 20 years of service to God – 15 with ECPR and five in the Highlands region. He hopes one day to go to Rarongo to do his degree, something he was selected to do many years ago but could not make it due to financial constraints.
Twenty years serving God beats those early years as a car thief and street criminal. He thanks God for His grace in intervening at the right time.
But he is concerned to see many young people spoiling their lives by taking part in criminal activities. He has one advice: “Crime leads to destruction but God’s grace is available to you in Jesus. Turn to God now!”
Wise words for the youth today from someone who knows what he is talking about.

  • Rev Seik Pitoi is a freelance writer.