Lutheran church facing challenges to carry on with missions

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea is facing challenges to maintain its mission areas and carrying on with its Gospel work, a church official says.
Lutheran communications and head of mission’s desk Ps Timothy Luke, who visited Vanimo in West Seouk after four years, found that more work needed to be done by pastors and church leaders.
The church has some mission areas in places few members gather for fellowship or engaged in women or youth ministry.
ELC-PNG mission areas in Vanimo, Wewak, Popondetta, Manus, and Milne Bay have few members engaging in church work. Luke said leaders from the church district overseeing the area (Vanimo) have not visited the area for many years.
He said some congregation have limited knowledge to improve their ministerial activities.
Ps Yaing Joseph from Aitape called on the church headquarters to send programme facilitators to conduct training.
“There is a great challenge that people here are still in their traditional beliefs and church workers must be firm and ready to take on problems and challenges in doing their work,” Joseph said.
He said transportation was a problem affecting church work.
He said they had to pay K50 for a boat ride to Aitape and K70 on to Vanimo, adding that it was too expensive.
“My family and I are happy to serve God and his people of Sera disaster area in Aitape until our term expires,” Joseph said.