Lutherans celebrate 130 years of ministry work

THE Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) started in celebrating 130 years of ministry work in the country over the weekend.
Chairman for events committee Wesley Kerenga said (last week) preparations were underway for the three-day celebrations which will be held from July 8-10 in Lae.
Kerenga said the ELCPNG national office would be organising the event for Lutheran followers in Lae and surrounding areas to commemorate the anniversary.
He said apart from the 130th anniversary ELCPNG would also be commemorating 40 years as an autonomous PNG-run church.
“A year after PNG got its Independence, ELCPNG also declared itself as an autonomous church therefore the anniversary would coincide with it,” Kerenga said.
He said in 1976 ELCPNG began with seven districts and the number has increased greatly to 17 after 40 years of autonomy.
He said the celebrations would be held at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium and would include bible studies, drama, singing, presentations and discussions by church members.
“Christian radio station, The Voice of Gospel 89.1 FM will be live on air to inform listeners of events,” he said.
ELCPNG bishop Reverend Jack Urame said the celebrations of both events would be a milestone for ELCPNG regarding its work.
“From humble beginnings Lutheran church has transformed into one of the leading churches in PNG in terms of the role that it plays in the development of PNG,” he said.
Urame said apart from doing church work throughout PNG, ELCPNG has also been contributing so much to develop education and health.
“We call on all Lutheran members as well as other churches to take this time to reflect and observe this day.”
He said ELCPNG’s followers have risen in number to more than 1.2 million and it was the second largest mainline church in PNG.