First female minister ordained during synod, 50 baptised

THE Highlands Region United Church started its 16th synod on Monday, it will end tomorrow.
More than 50 Christians were baptised last week followed by a church opening on Saturday and ordination of the first female minister on Sunday.
Hundreds of people gathered for the occasion and other church denominations in the area supported United Church in making the events successful.
During the church opening, Bishop Rev Stanley Buka said it was through the help of the Imbonggu District Development Authority under the leadership of former MP and works minister Francis Awesa that K10,000 funding was made available to the church.
Christians from the Marep villages wards one and two had combined to build the church.
“Though the funding was not enough to complete the church, Christians committed their time and did their best,”Buka said.
“It was through the grace of the Lord that a funding of about K5,000 was made by Karinz LLG president Simon Tolpe that resulted in the completion of the church.”
Buka said Christians had a duty to perform and that was to preach the Gospel and not keeping it to themselves.
President Tolpe said there were about 117 churches in the district and 15 different denominations and he made sure churches in the LLGs received some funding from him.
He said during his term as the president, he had involved in building 30 new churches and committed K3,000 for the final touches of the new church that opened on Saturday.
He said due to the work of Christians in the district, many of the law and order issues had come to a standstill.