Pastor urges people to take responsibility

CITIZENS should refrain from blaming the government, churches, companies or anybody else but, instead, take responsibility for their personal attitudes to make a difference, a pastor says.
Ps Matei Ibak said after 44 years of Independence Papua New Guinea still faced issues with people’s attitudes, mismanagement and corruption in the workplace and of the country’s resources.
“We lack the proper attitude to take ownership and to be responsible as individuals for ourselves and our families,” he said.
Ibak led a crew of 38 on a canoe, Mayau Lale, which departed Karkar Island, Madang, on Sept 3 while the other 120 youths walked from Madang to Lae; both groups arrived on Sept 13.
They were on their way to attend a Lutheran national youth conference in Saya, Salamaua in Huon Gulf, from Sept 21-29.
Canoe Mete Pana from Labu village, Morobe, accompanied Mayau Lale in its advocacy on being responsible citizens.
The campaign was based on the Lutheran World Federation theme “creation not for sale, human beings not for sale and salvation not for sale” with the notion that Christians were liberated by God’s grace.
“The Lutheran church is not against any economic activities in country, however, our government and companies should encourage good stewardship in managing natural resources,” Ibak said.
“We have both sustainable and destructive economic activities being encouraged hand-in-hand over the years and we need to be mindful and preserve some resources for our future generations.”
He said every citizen, especially Christian’s, had a role to play in looking after the environment.