Yabim district has new Lutheran president

THE Yabim district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) has a new president.
He is Yasam Aiwara, 50, from Langima in Aseki, Menyamya, Morobe.
The Yabim district is one of 17 districts of the Evangelical Lutheran in the country.
Aiwara from the Aseki Circuit was voted president by members of the church at Buang in Bulolo last Saturday.
An estimated 2500 members that included 700 voting delegates turned up for the week-long Sam Siga (conference) at Mapos in Buang.
The meeting was attended by members of the district’s 14 circuits; Yabim, Menyamya, Aseki, Kaintiba, Buang, Malalo, Lae City, Lae, Laulu, Deka, Wampar, Wantoat, Sangang and Watut.
The theme of the conference was “Forgiving the wrongs of others,” based on Matthew 15:18.
The conference commenced with devotions, Bible studies, fellowships and eventually culminated with the voting of the president and the Good News director. Aiwara polled 410 votes ahead of runner-up Pastor Bafikec Bamirinuc (217 votes) of the Lae City Circuit.
He was declared president of the Yabim district around 10am last Sunday.
Prior to being voted into office Aiwara was the environment conservation coordinator of the church based at Ampo in Lae.
After his election Aiwara said: “I will work in unity with all stakeholders of the church to ensure its aims are achieved.
“I thank everyone who has supported me to occupy this important office,” he said.
“It is God’s plan that things turn out this way.”
Yabim district’s outgoing president was David Dani from Malalo circuit.
Tati Solomon, Yabim district council member, congratulated the new leader and called on members of the other 13 circuits to join hands and work together with him.
The next conference will be held at the Aseki Circuit next year.
Aiwara will occupy the office of the president for the next four years.