The official quarterly newsletter of the New Britain New Ireland Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Issue 1 June 27, 2014

Transcription

1 The official quarterly newsletter of the New Britain New Ireland Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Issue 1 June 27, 2014 Gospel expanded Participants undergoing training at the New Britain New Ireland mission head office. By CAROL CHOLAI SOME Adventists in the New Britain New Ireland mission have gained skills which they will use to enhance the Gospel. Seventeen people from churches in East New Britain and New Ireland attended a weeklong media training workshop in Kokopo on news writing, web designing, photo journalism and sound engineering. The training equipped participants with skills on how to write news articles, conduct interviews, set up their local church websites, do basic photography and how to set up and use the public address (PA) system. The training was conducted from June The Communication Department of the PNG Union Mission (PNGUM) facilitated it. The facilitators were former news editor of The National Jacqueline Wari, IT manager of PNG Judiciary Jerry Leo, PNGUM communication director Pr Andrew Opis and NBNI mission communication director Minister Topatiliu Diave. This training is part of a series conducted for each local mission to assist in achieving the PNG Union Mission Corporate Plan s objective of evangelism and improved communication through media technology. One of the participants from New Ireland Liborius Ato, said this training was timely and urged that for the newsletter and website to be kept updated, it would require a strong committee to be in place at the Local Mission and within the local churches. During the training the participants compiled the first issue of the New Britain New Ireland Mission quarterly newsletter- Island Tavur- and developed its website. It was launched today- June 27. Welcome to edition one On behalf of the officers of New Britain New Ireland Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church, I take this as an honour and privilege to welcome you to our quarterly newsletter Island Tavur. Tavur (conch shell) is a communication tool for the people of New Ireland and East and West New Britain, which this local mission covers. This newsletter will become a tool for disseminating information about God s work of the church in these three maritime provinces. We hope to share our hopes and dreams through the work of the church here. We endeavour to help fly the three angel s messages as the Island Tavur sound its call around the Local Mission, PNGUM and the world through the miracle of the Internet. So whether you are holding this publication in the comfort of your home, the church or accessing it through the internet, we warmly welcome you to our first edition. From the Islands of New Britain and New Ireland, it s all about news. Happy reading. ToPatiliu Benson Diave Director Communications New Britain New Ireland Mission Island Tavur- Page 1

2 Church reaches out to non-adventist school By JOTHAM ISAAC For a church to be visiting a school during weekdays is unusual but it wasn t for Sunnybird Adventist Church on June 5, 2014, as part of the Adventist Week celebrations. Sunny Bird Adventist church visited Vunakanau Secondary School, which is about 3km walking distance from the church, with bowls of food and the joy of sharing the love of God to over six hundred students and their teachers. Namatanai church celebrates women s emphasis day The event was part of an annual event where all Adventists gather to fellowship and share the love God through community service and evangelism. The students not only enjoyed the spiritual food that was shared by the elders, but also the physical food that was prepared by the lovely Sunnybird mothers. A Japanese teacher at the institution couldn t resist going for another round of cakes and fruit punch. One of the church elders Benny Isaac said the food was enough to feed the whole student body and their teachers although he had earlier doubted the food would not be enough for the large number of students. The principal said it was the first time this was done and thanked the church for its initiative. Apart from visiting the school, other activities done during that week were visiting a family which had four children with disabilities, and a combine fellowship at Matupit. By PR HENNING SAMSON THE Namatanai Seventh-Day Adventist Church in New Ireland celebrated the Women s Ministries Emphasis Day with a special programme led by the women. All women, including single mothers and youth girls, took part in the programme on June 14. The message for that Sabbath divine service was about light. The preacher for the hour, Leo Kamaga, reminded the people of the importance of their relationship with Jesus as a light. He quoted from Matthew 5: and encouraged the members to be the light bearers of the word or living witnesses. The Women s Ministries Department ran the Sabbath school, divine service, and Sabbath closing programmes. Participant Mrs Goden Lamus said they are looking forward to similar programmes again or other kinds for the Women s Ministries department because every woman was willing to involved. Women folk are invited to join the team. Church members visiting a patient at Nonga Base General Hospital. Church shares Jesus love with patients By NIGEL CHEUNG Sunnybird Seventh-day Adventist Church shared the Love of Jesus with the sick patients at the Nonga Hospital in Rabaul on Sabbath, June 21. The church leaders divided the members into in two groups and visited each ward. The patients were given some basic necessities like soap and toiletries. They were also fed with healthy food. Each of the church leaders gave words of encouragement about God s great love for men which caused Him to send Jesus to tdie a cruel death on our behalf so that we might be saved. One of the Bible text quoted was John 3:16. We must give all our worries and pains to God for He alone is our only hope in this world. 1 Peter 5:7 says, we must cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us, said elder Siale Victor. The church members sang hymns and prayed individually with the patients. Mr Barry Wamilat, Senior elder of the church said that the hospital visitation played a very important part in witnessing for Jesus and enriched their own lives in their walk with God. Mr Wamilat also said the visit to the hospital was part of evangelism, which is the heartbeat of the great gospel commission. Island Tavur - Page 2

3 YAPA members go out camping THE young people of Sunnybird Adventist church held one of their best camps in May at Karavia. The camp for youths, ambassadors, pathfinders and adventurers was held from May On Friday, the excited children packed their camping gear and were driven to the campsite. Apart from worshipping on Sabbath, the young people on Sunday took part in various activities Part of the group of pathfinders trekking the Lelet-Dalom track. such as canoe racing, swimming, knot tying and the different ways of making fire. Since Sunday was Mothers Day, the young people carried and threw all the mothers into the sea. According to one one of the members, it was a camp to remmber for a long time to come. What an enjoyable camp ever! she said. Pathfinders take on historical path By ALBERT LAENA The Maranatha Pathfinder club of Meltan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kavieng, made an historical event in New Ireland recently. They walked the trek from Lelet to Dalom in Central Niu Ailan. This trek was use by Pr Luke Kavita and Gideon to share the Advent message to the people of Lelet. The pathfinders and their instructors took the week out on the trek. They arrived at the Lankamen Seventh-day Adventist Church on the March 13 where they started to walk. Two elders of Lankamen church with their youths and pathfinders also joined the walk. The pathfinders stopped people walking on the road and prayed with them as they walked from the church to the trek. Pathfinder director Elder Robyn said that this would be an historical event for the pathfinders. The pathfinder and their instructors spent the weekend pack camping and doing other pathfinder honours. They reached Dalom on Sunday and the returned to Kavieng. One of the things they really enjoyed was drinking water out from bamboo and cane. It was a great experience for the pathfinders to share God s love to the people of Lelet and to walk on the trek which had not being used for 40 years. Church mourns passing of Pastor Darius The Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM) has lost one of the tallest iconic pillars of Adventist clergymen. Pastor Matupit Darius (pictured above) of Matupit village in East New Britain died of illness in April at the Port Moresby General hospital. He was more than 55 years old. He was a lecturer in theology at the Pacific Adventist University when he died. Pastor Darius had a unique sense of humor - he was open, flexible and down-to-earth to all level of people he rubbed shoulders with. I admired him since I was a child. He had artistic skills of presenting lectures and delivering sermons. His teaching and journalism attributes are portrayed with distinction. He was a colorful artist- an actor, script writer, producer, a writer, a pastor and teacher and he shared the love of Christ to many. As a father and husband, he cared for his family. He had a wealth of experience one could learn and glean from! The late Pastor Darius is respected as a champion of leaders in the Tolai community, in the Pacific Isles, and the rest of the Adventist global community. Island Tavur - Page 3

4 Church invites backsliders By DIANNE PELAP The Youth Department of the Allen Tagete Memorial Adventist church facilitated a welcome home programme which started on May 30 and ended on the Sabbath. Before the programme was conducted, 40 precious souls were visited by the young people of this church. On Friday night they were welcomed to a table by ushers while inspirational songs were sung by the youths. The very long table was decorated by the women s ministry department with beautiful flowers and this moved the hearts of the invited guests. Special invitations were given out to backsliders and also to the new interests. Church pastor Minister Roger Romas preached a sermon titled Someone Special. At the end of the programme the guests were served with refreshments. In the early hours of Sabbath a Voice of Youth was conducted by the youths at the Vunabakut residential area. Songs of praise echoed through the surrounding areas with the birds humming their melodies. Surprisingly people started moving to where the youths were harmonising the beautiful songs. The community leader thanked God and invited the youths to continue their special ministry. The programme ended with a powerful message by the Youth Director of New Britain New Ireland Mission, Pr Benis Kotoveke. The sermon on the prodigal son was very touching because it was Members of the Allan Tagete Memorial church singing praises to God. Students reach out The Kavieng court house oval was packed with students who took time out of their classrooms to be involved in witnessing and evangelism activities begining June. The Adventist students and their teachers in Kavieng district wanted to be part of the church and joined their church in sharing the message of Jesus Christ in June 17. They called this day The Adventist Education Day. It was a new initiative created by the New Britain New Ireland Mission Education Department to allow students to showcase and celebrate their Adventist faith. The church believes that students must know that they are a part of the Adventist church to share their faith, values and principles as well as growing into maturity of faith. It was an exciting day as students willingly involved in the evangelistic activities. They Marched through Kavieng town and to the court house oval. They raised the flag and a short devotion was taken by a grade Island Tavur - Page 4 three student. After the devotion invited guests spoke to the students. The students then took part in activities such as preaching, singing gospel songs, religious drama and skits, show-casing of arts and crafts in different stalls and gymnastics among others. NBNIM education director Mr Philip Miaba explained the purpose of the Adventist Education Day. It was a new initiative by the department to allow the students to showcase and celebrate their Adventist faith, he said. Some important people who also attended were president of New Britain New Ireland Mission Pastor Makau Daroa, the New Ireland Provincial Education director and the lord mayor of the Kavieng Urban local level Government. It was a very successful programme and all students who participated were encouraged to know and share their faith, walk with the Lord Jesus Christ and also anticipate it to be an annual activity.

5 The Sunnybird congregation at worship on Sabbath. Former members welcomed By SIALE VICTOR Sunnybird Seventh-day Adventist church welcomed 110 former members back to their church on Saturday April 19, The church was packed to capacity with the former, regular members and visitors from Sabbath school to the Youth, Ambassador, Pathfinder and Adventurer (YAPA) programme. The former members were welcomed by the deacons, deaconesses and church members at the church door and ushered in to take their seats. The Sabbath school officers led the Sabbath school with the discussion of the lost sheep, lost coin and the drama about the prodical son. The first part of the parable was dramatised seeing the prodical son getting his share and enjoying his life on worldly pleasure leaving the last part of the parable dramatised in the divine service. Pr Benis Kotoveke, director fo Youth Departmetn for NBNIM preached during divine servcie about the parable of the prodical son. Toward the conclusion of his sermon the scene of the bible Consulting Editor: Andrew Opis story was dramatised where the prodigal son came on the scene with rugged cloths and his father welcoming him with great joy. The youth choir sang an appeal song and Pr Kotoveke appealed to the former members. They responded to their feet and moved to teh front as the Holy Spirit convicted their hearts. After the divine service the former members met the church members and visitors. Lunch was organised served to the former members by the church to continue the fellowship of the church. The Sabbath celebrations were concluded with YAPA programme where three former members and two current church members were interviewed by Elder Benny Isaac who shared their experience and testimonies. The personal ministry leader thanked the church members for visiting and inviting the former members. A representative of the former members thanked the church for such a programme and assured them of their return to be part of the church. Editorial Team: Jacqueline Wari, Jerry Leo, Island Tavur- Page 5 Kenabot builds church in a week The Kenabot branch church was built in one week after the members were advised that they were no longer allowed to use the Kenabot Business College dinning hall for worship. The Kenabot church comes under the Butuwin Allan Tagete Memorial Church of Kokopo. It is one of five branch churches under Butuwin and is the latest building of the branch churches being constructed. The establishment of the church was a result of student ministry. It is located adjacent to the Kokopo Business College and brings together students from the college, Vunapope School of Nursing, New Britain Institute, Kabaleo Teachers College and at times the Sonoma Adventist College. Elder Dick Harry said the building was considered because transportation to and from Butuwin was difficult for the 90-odd members. He stressed that they needed a place within Kenabot to continue worshipping there. Kenabot was also considered due to the growth of residents and there was a need for an SDA church building for Sabbath worship. With help from a businessman who provided materials for the construction and other handy people, the church was built. The cbuilding was dedicated on Friday, December 20, There are over 150 people who worship in the church every Sabbath. There are plans to construct a permanent church building and other developments for the local mission on the land.