The gospel according to church worker John

By PETER WARI
JOHN Pupu believes that young people who smoke marijuana must surrender to God to end their addiction.
John, 69, from Pausa village in Enga, wants to involve young people in his village in useful activities that will distract them from crime.
Last Saturday, he invited pastors to a gathering to pray for more than 30 youths who smoke marijuana. The event coincided with the completion of a haus krai ceremony for his late wife who died recently.
The father of four boys and four girls had organised a similar programme two years ago. It assisted some young people to lead a more productive life. But others remained as they were.
John only reached Standard Three at the Wanepisa Community School because of tribal fights in the area.
He stayed in the village. In 1964, he tried to enroll at the Wapenamanda Community School but the principal refused to accept him as he was getting on a bit in years.
His father Pupu Lipu, who died in 1993, was a boss boy during the colonial days, a ward councilor in 1964, and village court magistrate from 1978 to 1993.
Dad Lipu had accepted the Good News Lutheran missionaries who came to the area and gave them a portion of his land where the church building remains today.
“My father accepted the missionaries and gave his land to them. I too am a strong Christian believer. We can involve the youths in small and medium enterprises, sports and other activities. But first of all, they need to participate in church activities and be part of a denomination.
“I organised the small gathering to testify (about the church) to them, for them to repent and join a denomination they prefer.”
John urges youths to invite God into their lives in order to live a productive and useful life.
“Surrendering to God is a vital part of the process of addiction recovery. It will release the baggage from the past which is dragging them down.”
John wants to see young people in his Maini tribe live a fruitful life.
“Everyone who is a Christian has a duty to change the lives of youths involved in illegal activities. We cannot just tell them to change their ways through preaching. Preaching has to go together with action. Bring them together in small organised events and help them.”
John had worked at the Bougainville Copper Limited as a driver and later became a crane operator. He resigned in 1978. He was a member of the Enga provincial assembly in 1980 and was involved in the education sector.
He later was involved in other small and medium enterprises and had been supporting church work.

“ We all have a duty to help one another while on earth. We cannot ignore these youths and let them perish in marijuana, alcohol, gambling and other addictions.”

He has been advocating peace in his village and neighbouring communities.
Right now his focus is on helping young people become good law-abiding citizens through the Word of God.
“We all have a duty to help one another while on earth. We cannot ignore these youths and let them perish in marijuana, alcohol, gambling and other addictions.”