Sixty undergo baptism to begin missions

The newly-baptised Ekalesia (Christian) with the congregation minister Rev Vai Boanere (yellow bib around neck) and Marama Lucy Boanere (next to him) and the church deacon after the baptism ceremony at China Habour Beach on Sunday. – Nationalpic by LARRY ANDREW

SIXTY new Ekalesia (Christians) of Lae United church underwent water baptism to begin their missions.
The water immersion baptism ceremony was conducted on Sunday morning by the congregation minister Rev Vai Boanere, Marama Lucy and deacons and their wives at China Habour Beach with more than a hundred followers present to witness the ceremony.
The baptised men and women were blessed, dedicated and presented with baptism certificates by retired deacon Kila Vuivagi during the worship service at the church.
Rev Boanere said the LUC congregation celebrated the baptism of the 60 new Ekalesias with the ceremony coinciding with the church’s honouring of early Methodist missionary Rev William Edward Bromilow.
Rev Bonanere quoted Jesus from Matthew 29:19-20, saying “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptise them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Rev Boanere, as the new Lae United church congregation minister, taught and prepared the baptism candidates through a “seekers” class for two months before the ceremony.
Lae United church chairman Totona Heni, together with senior deacon Kila Vuivagi and LUC deacons chairman Mwayoyu Giyorera, thanked Rev Boanere and his wife for conducting the mass baptism.