Dedication Of A new Beginning

A dedication service was conducted by Ps. Mainao Lemasa and the Kotte District President Rev. Kelly Rabisang on the 21^st September 2014 here in the ELC-Kotte District headquarters in Heldsbach Finschaffen, Morobe province of Papua New Guinea.

A kin to church mission history of the ELC-PNG, Heldsbach was one of the first permanent mission establishments of the Lutheran Church of PNG in 1903.  Several years later the first formal evangelist school was built in 1914 with 14 intakes of students from the Wareo, Wemo, Heldsbach and Qembung “Ufung” (Congregation).

The dedication service held with a crowd of 50 people was the main event in the church education centennial celebration of the Heldsbach establishment in 1914.

Rev. Lemasa conducted the order for the service while the president Rabisang preached and officially dedicated the monument land site. The president preached the text in Genesis 28.16-18 on the subject of Jacob’s dream of the angel’s stairways that connected heaven and earth. Through this experience, Jacob declared his headrest the opening into  heaven

The president proclaimed that God is truly present amongst the church through Christ. Through Christ God reaches the believers and lives amongst them.

The president proclaimed that God is truly present amongst the church through Christ. Through Christ God reaches the believers and lives amongst them. Therefore, the land dedicated for the monument contains the historical significance of God’s establishment in PNG through the Church education. The monument should continually remind us and the future generations of how God came amongst us.

After the service, Rev. Fuatone Messere leading the ceremony allowed for speeches to be given. Speeches were made by Mr. Soe Zure representing the relatives of the pioneer evangelist student intake of 1914. The former district secretary Mr. Makoc  Batikiec  also spoke of his observations in the past and some important missing passed resolutions within the current management of the district.

On the other hand, Mr. Abeng Zuhukepe representing the community highlighted also the sacredness of the monument site. Primarily the locals believed that their descendants originated from here and the traditional name for the site known in local dialect is “Angoango”. Ironically, the founding father of the Heldsbach mission station, senior Johannes Flierl chose this location to build his first hut.

He commented that, their forefathers peacefully dedicated their land for the service of the gospel to the church. But the locals will always live and work together with the church without dissent to land issues. However, it is also imperative that there must be development and service to be delivered by the church. As such, a long term plan should be directed by the construction of a proper building over the monument.

The dedication service ended with words of appreciation from the president Rabisang to the efforts by the district Education Centennial Celebrations Committees and the resources and support that came from the relatives of the pioneer evangelist.

He reminded those who attended that the church is the people and we need to take ownership of the church in order to develop. Indeed, so be it, we have been given the task to manage wisely that entire God has given abundantly and for God’s own glory. This is a seed of a new beginning.

Peace.

Partnership 2014