Local pioneer missionary dies

 A PIONEER local missionary and one of the longest serving pastors of the Apostolic Church of Papua New Guinea passed away at Port Moresby General Hospital last month after a short illness.

Kakio Piokole, from Aipus village in Wabag, Enga, who died at the age of 70, has served the country through his mission work in places like Manus, Bougainville, the Sepik area and East and West New Britain.

Piokole’s is survived by wife Penny, seven children, including eldest son Clark Piokole, who is a pilot by profession, and 12 grandchildren. 

Piokole is described by his family members as man with few words but passionate in doing what the Lord has called him to do in his lifetime.  

The late missionary had been active in ministry work for the last 43 years and will be missed not only by his church congregations throughout PNG but also by the Body of Christ, which he was part of through his involvement in the unity project.

Son Clark said his father was a real blessing and his first hero and to leave him at such a time was really heart breaking.

He said his father was ordained as a pastor in 1973 and has travelled length and breadth of this country to share the Word of God.

“In the early 1980s, my father was touring the New Guinea Island provinces sharing the Word of God and in early 1990s, he toured the Momase region and Western in Southern region preaching the Word of God.