Governor pledges K100,000 for Iokea church

GULF Governor Sir Chris Haiveta has pledged K100,000 for the rebuilding and maintenance of the historical Bert Brown Memorial Church (BBMC) building at Iokea village in Gulf.
Haiveta, who was not present due to bad weather, made the commitment through East Kerema local level government president Robert Paiva during the launching of the fundraising programme at the village on Monday.
Under the “go rural” initiative by the Gulf government, president Paiva, also from Iokea village, committed K10,000 under the District Services Improvement Programme.
He said church partnerships were important in spiritual growth and the godly principles for young people.
He also donated store food supplies to the value of K5,000 for the launch of the programme.
The church has rich historical significance, where the early London Mission Society LMS missionary Tamate James Chalmers first landed on the shores of Iokea in 1883 then moved westward to Kikori to spread the gospel to the people.
However, tragedy had struck where he was killed and eaten by cannibals on Goaribari Island. The United Church Bert Brown Memorial Church, Iokea, was opened on Dec 26, 1974.
The church was named after the missionary Dr Herbert Brown, an early missionary who served during the establishment under the LMS since the opening in 1974 until this year 2024, marks the 50th anniversary.