Trio welcome New Year with new heart and purpose

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THREE people in Lae welcomed New Year with a new heart and a new sense of purpose in life.
Collin Balio, Korney Paul and Cliff Mau welcomed New Year by being baptised into the family of God as Christians.
The trio decided that 2018 was a year to make a fresh start and to turn away from bad things and walk the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.
At a small ceremony near the Kamkumung Bridge attended by church and family members, the trio was baptised by Pastor Moses Bal of the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) in the Bumbu River.
The UPC Wataloo congregation conducted the baptism following a church service.
After explaining the Word of God to the trio and what it meant to be born again through baptism, the pastor baptised them through full immersion.
He later laid his hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Church members rejoiced and sang praises to God at the River bank as they welcomed the new members of the congregation when they emerged from the river.
Church leader Jacob Joseph Oge said baptism was an age-old Christian rite commissioned by Jesus and it was something all believers must do should they wish to enter heaven (Acts 2:38).
“We have throughout the year baptised many people,” Oge said.
“Now we welcome three other members.
“Baptism is Biblical and is not a manmade doctrine.
“Jesus has commanded that men must be born of the water and spirit to enter the kingdom of God.”
Balio, one of the newly baptised, said he made up his mind to be baptised because he wanted to be a changed man in the New Year.
He said he was tired of living in sin and wanted to be a follower of Jesus. Paul said she decided to be baptised because her husband was in the church and she wanted to join him.
She said it was not good for her marriage and family if she remained outside of the church while her husband was inside serving God.