K1.2mil house for SDA chief

By ZINA KOIM
PASTOR Ted Wilson, the global leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is staying in a K1.2 million house in Minz, Jiwaka, built specially for him by church members.
Jiwaka area supervisor Pastor John Kundapen said the two-bedroom, self-contained house was named the White House because the church’s general conference president had come from the United States.
Wilson will be in Minj for two weeks, preaching as part of the PNG for Christ programme.
Kundapen said the province began a Very Important People (VIP) programme in 2018.
“The programme is about housing and taking care of people with disabilities, widows, unfortunate ones, the poor and sick,” he said.
“We treat them and look after them as VIPs.”
Under the VIP programme, the 54 heads of the church in the four districts built 54 houses to accommodate VIPs.
“The main centre built here in Minj, which cost about K1 million, will be launched by the world conference president and Prime Minister James Marape,” Kundapen said.
“Since 2018, we have catered for about 10,000 neglected, sick, poor and unfortunate persons.”
He said what started as a pilot programme in Jiwaka had now been practised in SDA churches nationwide.
During the past three nights, the PNG for Christ programme in Minj had attracted 7,000-plus persons.
Wilson’s sermons were broadcast live on Adventist Word Radio, Hope Radio and others.
Wilson posted on Facebook that Sunday night’s event saw many people attending with choirs.
“Unfortunately, rain came during my preaching, but people just put up their umbrellas and listened. It eventually stopped raining, thank the Lord,” he said.