Church elders from the Gordons church in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, held a retreat on Sabbath, April 6, at Pacific Adventist University’s Koiari Park campus, with a special focus on developing spiritual leadership for the end times.
The retreat included sessions facilitated by seasoned leaders: retired Central Papua Conference president and veteran evangelist Pastor Tony Kemo, who covered the spiritual discipline of a church leader; Dr Joses Imona, who unpacked leadership in the book of Daniel; and Dr Loren Poli, whose speciality is in leadership in both the Old and New Testaments.
According to Dr Poli, who is also a member of the South Pacific Division’s Biblical Research Committee, reports from the PNG Union and SPD have shown quantitative growth in Central Papua Conference. However, the main challenge has been whether these figures translate to qualitative or organic growth at the local churches.
Participants reported greatly appreciating the leadership principles derived from the lives of Moses, Daniel and Paul as well as the presenters’ deep insights taken from the biblical texts’ Hebrew and Greek contexts.
According to organisers, application of biblical principles in today’s modern world has been a challenge for many local church leaders.
Gordons church, like most churches in Port Moresby, plans to organise its branch churches and launch out much deeper in the next five years.
Feedback provided by participants indicated that training such as the retreat provided, was essential for focused organic growth—a sign of maturity at the local church.
Gifts were presented to the speakers by senior elder Koney Samuel. He elaborated the need to be committed, courageous and faithful amidst a time of great apostasy.
The Gordons church elders plan to have another retreat towards the end of the year to reflect and review plans for the next five years and beyond.
