Women among five with preaching licences from Nazarene Church

The Point Four Nazarene Church in Lae, Morobe, has presented licences to two women and five men to preach.
The licences were presented to Ali Staky, Henry Balbe, Yambon Moiam, Simon and Lorna Pakba by the church’s North Coast district superintendent, Rev Gabriel Kaulo, last Sunday.
The five were then dedicated by the principal of the Melanesian Nazarene Bible College, Rev Jacob Uri.
Moiam Perry and Beverlynn Moiam were also given licences in absentia.
It was the first time for the church to give licences to lay people. Local church pastor Joel Kaipel said the seven elders had assisted him in preaching but had not been formally licensed as lay preachers.
Pr Joel said the preachers would only be preaching in their local church, small fellowship groups and in Sunday
school, youth and women fellowships.
The licence will only be for a year and it qualifies them to undertake Extension Bible Study courses offered by Melanesian Nazarene Bible College in distance mode to become pastors.
“When going out, I know there’s someone at my back to take care of the congregation,” said Pr Joel.
Lorna Pakba said preaching was not new to her and husband Simon.
“We’ve been preaching several times in our local church but the certificate gives us more responsibility to take on challenges that come with the preaching ministry each year,” she said.
She said that being a mother and housewife, she has a lot of responsibilities but it was God’s calling and plan so she will still do something to preach to the unreached.