The recent Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM) ministerial symposium held at Kabiufa, Eastern Highlands, ended on a high note with the ordination of 12 pastors.
They were ordained on Sabbath, July 22. Five ministers each from the Eastern Highlands Simbu and Morobe missions, and one each from Madang Manus and Sepik missions, were ordained.
PNGUM president Pastor Malachi Yani, when reading the charge to the pastors, challenged them to study more about Jesus and also to care for people.
“In times of trouble, hunger and challenges, we must care for God’s people. God has called us to serve Him,” Pastor Yani said.
Citing 1 Timothy 4:12, he urged the pastors to be wary of the way they dressed, their diet and speech. He also said pastors were watchmen for God’s church, adding they ought to be good teachers.
In response, youth director for Sepik Mission and one of those ordained, Richie Gako, thanked God on behalf of the 12 and added they were happy to be ordained and would continue serving God.
Meanwhile, the 2000-plus ministers, pastors and volunteers attending the symposium expressed their gratitude for the week-long program.
Many left satisfied that they had learned about effective disciple-making through the garden model of discipleship. They attended plenaries on the various stages of disciple-making and workshops in four different locations.
Some of the topics presented by speakers from the South Pacific Division (SPD) and PNGUM were personal spirituality, dealing with theological issues, research and health for pastors.
Pastor Gary Webster, director of the Institute of Public Evangelism at the SPD, led the morning devotions while SPD president Pastor Glenn Townend took the evening devotions.
SPD health strategy leader and executive director for ELIA Wellness, Dr Geraldine Przybylko, and 10,000 Toes campaign coordinator in Australia, Pamela Townend, with help from the 10,000 Toes ambassadors in Goroka, checked pastors’ blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol and advised them on how to avoid lifestyle diseases.
Adventist Technology and its partners also launched Hope Virtual Assistant. Hope VA gives Bible studies and health lessons using WhatsApp.
The symposium helped to prepare pastors, ministers and volunteers for a major evangelistic meeting: PNG For Christ 2024, scheduled for April 24-May 12.
