Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) has a new website‏

The Melpa Lutheran Church was officially registered and launched on the 9th January 2000 as a third Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea. Over 65 pastors, 207 evangelists, 504 male elders, 600 female elders, and over 24,000 followers witnessed the ceremony. The Church has its own Head Bishop, Church executives, 3 Ecclesia (District) Pastors, and 7 Circuits (with their presidents). Ecclesia centers were identified for the establishment of respective offices.

The MLC is a homegrown church. It believes in self-sustainability and is based on a strong believe that giving is better than receiving. The premise of our belief in MLC is the strengthening of the family. The Lord must be invited into the lives of the family. The husband and wife must provide space in their lives for Jesus.

The family is the foundation of all organizations, including villages, congregations, circuits, ecclesia, and the Church. The other two Lutheran Churches in Papua New Guinea must be recognized as sister Churches. All these churches are based on a single doctrine. The philosophy is the same for all Lutheran Churches throughout the world.

After all the rejections, difficulties, denials and embarrassments, Melpa Lutheran Church has finally come to Christ to have eternal peace and rest. Christian members firmly believe that this church was constituted on a solid foundation because of the many sufferings prior to its establishment.

This is a unique church because of its origin as a local Lutheran Church. The church aims to expand and be vibrant in its ministry in Papua New Guinea and abroad. The Church has over thirty thousand registered members throughout Papua New Guinea. MLC-PNG aims to operate alongside the Gutnius Lutheran Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea to uphold the creeds, faith and doctrines of the Lutheran family.

The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) has a new website (www.mlcpng.wordpress.com). Friends, partners, and members of the Melpa Lutheran Church are encouraged to visit the site for more information on the church's current status, mission, vision, pictures, and links to other sites. The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea has her headquarters in Mount Hagen, WHP and has congregations throughout Papua New Guinea.

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Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) has a new website‏

The Melpa Lutheran Church was officially registered and launched on the 9th January 2000 as a third Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea. Over 65 pastors, 207 evangelists, 504 male elders, 600 female elders, and over 24,000 followers witnessed the ceremony. The Church has its own Head Bishop, Church executives, 3 Ecclesia (District) Pastors, and 7 Circuits (with their presidents). Ecclesia centers were identified for the establishment of respective offices.

The MLC is a homegrown church. It believes in self-sustainability and is based on a strong believe that giving is better than receiving. The premise of our belief in MLC is the strengthening of the family. The Lord must be invited into the lives of the family. The husband and wife must provide space in their lives for Jesus.

The family is the foundation of all organizations, including villages, congregations, circuits, ecclesia, and the Church. The other two Lutheran Churches in Papua New Guinea must be recognized as sister Churches. All these churches are based on a single doctrine. The philosophy is the same for all Lutheran Churches throughout the world.

After all the rejections, difficulties, denials and embarrassments, Melpa Lutheran Church has finally come to Christ to have eternal peace and rest. Christian members firmly believe that this church was constituted on a solid foundation because of the many sufferings prior to its establishment.

This is a unique church because of its origin as a local Lutheran Church. The church aims to expand and be vibrant in its ministry in Papua New Guinea and abroad. The Church has over thirty thousand registered members throughout Papua New Guinea. MLC-PNG aims to operate alongside the Gutnius Lutheran Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea to uphold the creeds, faith and doctrines of the Lutheran family.

The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) has a new website (www.mlcpng.wordpress.com). Friends, partners, and members of the Melpa Lutheran Church are encouraged to visit the site for more information on the church's current status, mission, vision, pictures, and links to other sites. The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea has her headquarters in Mount Hagen, WHP and has congregations throughout Papua New Guinea.

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Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) has a new website‏

The Melpa Lutheran Church was officially registered and launched on the 9th January 2000 as a third Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea. Over 65 pastors, 207 evangelists, 504 male elders, 600 female elders, and over 24,000 followers witnessed the ceremony. The Church has its own Head Bishop, Church executives, 3 Ecclesia (District) Pastors, and 7 Circuits (with their presidents). Ecclesia centers were identified for the establishment of respective offices.

The MLC is a homegrown church. It believes in self-sustainability and is based on a strong believe that giving is better than receiving. The premise of our belief in MLC is the strengthening of the family. The Lord must be invited into the lives of the family. The husband and wife must provide space in their lives for Jesus.

The family is the foundation of all organizations, including villages, congregations, circuits, ecclesia, and the Church. The other two Lutheran Churches in Papua New Guinea must be recognized as sister Churches. All these churches are based on a single doctrine. The philosophy is the same for all Lutheran Churches throughout the world.

After all the rejections, difficulties, denials and embarrassments, Melpa Lutheran Church has finally come to Christ to have eternal peace and rest. Christian members firmly believe that this church was constituted on a solid foundation because of the many sufferings prior to its establishment.

This is a unique church because of its origin as a local Lutheran Church. The church aims to expand and be vibrant in its ministry in Papua New Guinea and abroad. The Church has over thirty thousand registered members throughout Papua New Guinea. MLC-PNG aims to operate alongside the Gutnius Lutheran Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea to uphold the creeds, faith and doctrines of the Lutheran family.

The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) has a new website (www.mlcpng.wordpress.com). Friends, partners, and members of the Melpa Lutheran Church are encouraged to visit the site for more information on the church's current status, mission, vision, pictures, and links to other sites. The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea has her headquarters in Mount Hagen, WHP and has congregations throughout Papua New Guinea.

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Disagreement Led to Founding of Independent Church

Mediation in serious church conflicts featured prominently in the April 18-21
Papua New Guinea visit of Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
president, Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian Krause.

Krause told Lutheran World Information (LWI) he was bringing the churches' request that the LWF act as mediator in disagreements that led to the January 2000 founding of the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in the central highlands of the island nation.

The 30,000-member MLC-PNG stemmed from the Mount Hagen district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), an LWF member church since 1976 with 815,000 members. Conflict surrounding Rev. Sanangke Dole, elected Mount Hagen District bishop in 1982, led to open quarrels in local congregations in 1985. Differing interpretation of causes of disagreement and mutual accusation led congregations in Melpa, to separate from the ELC-PNG and form the independent church.

But ELC-PNG bishop, Wesley Kigasung and Dole assured Krause that both churches were in full agreement on basic scriptural and confessional teachings, which significantly improves prospects of finding solutions.

Krause noted the MLC-PNG as "a growing church fully of vitality," well established and financially self-supporting, even though not in partnership with other Lutheran churches. It had applied for LWF membership. But, according to the LWF constitution and by-laws,
membership is only possible in consultation and by agreement with other local LWF member churches. A prerequisite would be unison of all the Papua New Guinean Lutheran churches.

In Wabag, in the central highlands, Krause visited the Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New Guinea. An LWF member since 1979, headed by Bishop David P. Piso, the church has around 95,000 members. It grew from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (USA)
missionary work.

During his visits to all three churches Krause delivered sermons and gave speeches in daily worship services attended by several thousand people. Click here to read more!

To read more about the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG), click here to go to the MLC-PNG website.

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Disagreement Led to Founding of Independent Church

Mediation in serious church conflicts featured prominently in the April 18-21
Papua New Guinea visit of Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
president, Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian Krause.

Krause told Lutheran World Information (LWI) he was bringing the churches' request that the LWF act as mediator in disagreements that led to the January 2000 founding of the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in the central highlands of the island nation.

The 30,000-member MLC-PNG stemmed from the Mount Hagen district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), an LWF member church since 1976 with 815,000 members. Conflict surrounding Rev. Sanangke Dole, elected Mount Hagen District bishop in 1982, led to open quarrels in local congregations in 1985. Differing interpretation of causes of disagreement and mutual accusation led congregations in Melpa, to separate from the ELC-PNG and form the independent church.

But ELC-PNG bishop, Wesley Kigasung and Dole assured Krause that both churches were in full agreement on basic scriptural and confessional teachings, which significantly improves prospects of finding solutions.

Krause noted the MLC-PNG as "a growing church fully of vitality," well established and financially self-supporting, even though not in partnership with other Lutheran churches. It had applied for LWF membership. But, according to the LWF constitution and by-laws,
membership is only possible in consultation and by agreement with other local LWF member churches. A prerequisite would be unison of all the Papua New Guinean Lutheran churches.

In Wabag, in the central highlands, Krause visited the Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New Guinea. An LWF member since 1979, headed by Bishop David P. Piso, the church has around 95,000 members. It grew from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (USA)
missionary work.

During his visits to all three churches Krause delivered sermons and gave speeches in daily worship services attended by several thousand people. Click here to read more!

To read more about the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG), click here to go to the MLC-PNG website.

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Disagreement Led to Founding of Independent Church

Mediation in serious church conflicts featured prominently in the April 18-21
Papua New Guinea visit of Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
president, Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian Krause.

Krause told Lutheran World Information (LWI) he was bringing the churches' request that the LWF act as mediator in disagreements that led to the January 2000 founding of the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in the central highlands of the island nation.

The 30,000-member MLC-PNG stemmed from the Mount Hagen district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), an LWF member church since 1976 with 815,000 members. Conflict surrounding Rev. Sanangke Dole, elected Mount Hagen District bishop in 1982, led to open quarrels in local congregations in 1985. Differing interpretation of causes of disagreement and mutual accusation led congregations in Melpa, to separate from the ELC-PNG and form the independent church.

But ELC-PNG bishop, Wesley Kigasung and Dole assured Krause that both churches were in full agreement on basic scriptural and confessional teachings, which significantly improves prospects of finding solutions.

Krause noted the MLC-PNG as "a growing church fully of vitality," well established and financially self-supporting, even though not in partnership with other Lutheran churches. It had applied for LWF membership. But, according to the LWF constitution and by-laws,
membership is only possible in consultation and by agreement with other local LWF member churches. A prerequisite would be unison of all the Papua New Guinean Lutheran churches.

In Wabag, in the central highlands, Krause visited the Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New Guinea. An LWF member since 1979, headed by Bishop David P. Piso, the church has around 95,000 members. It grew from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (USA)
missionary work.

During his visits to all three churches Krause delivered sermons and gave speeches in daily worship services attended by several thousand people. Click here to read more!

To read more about the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG), click here to go to the MLC-PNG website.

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Disagreement Led to Founding of Independent Church

Mediation in serious church conflicts featured prominently in the April 18-21
Papua New Guinea visit of Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
president, Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian Krause.

Krause told Lutheran World Information (LWI) he was bringing the churches' request that the LWF act as mediator in disagreements that led to the January 2000 founding of the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in the central highlands of the
island nation.

The 30,000-member MLC-PNG stemmed from the Mount Hagen district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), an LWF member church since 1976 with 815,000 members. Conflict surrounding Rev. Sanangke Dole, elected Mount Hagen District bishop in 1982, led to open quarrels in local congregations in 1985. Differing interpretation of causes of disagreement and mutual accusation led congregations in Melpa, to separate from the ELC-PNG and form the independent church.

But ELC-PNG bishop, Wesley Kigasung and Dole assured Krause that both churches were in full agreement on basic scriptural and confessional teachings, which significantly improves prospects of finding solutions.

Krause noted the MLC-PNG as "a growing church fully of vitality," well established and financially self-supporting, even though not in partnership with other Lutheran churches. It had applied for LWF membership. But, according to the LWF constitution and by-laws,
membership is only possible in consultation and by agreement with other local LWF member churches. A prerequisite would be unison of all the Papua New Guinean Lutheran churches.

In Wabag, in the central highlands, Krause visited the Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New Guinea. An LWF member since 1979, headed by Bishop David P. Piso, the church has around 95,000 members. It grew from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (USA)
missionary work.

During his visits to all three churches Krause delivered sermons and gave speeches in daily worship services attended by several thousand people.

For more information, click here to go to the MLC-PNG website.

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Disagreement Led to Founding of Independent Church

Mediation in serious church conflicts featured prominently in the April 18-21
Papua New Guinea visit of Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
president, Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian Krause.

Krause told Lutheran World Information (LWI) he was bringing the churches' request that the LWF act as mediator in disagreements that led to the January 2000 founding of the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in the central highlands of the
island nation.

The 30,000-member MLC-PNG stemmed from the Mount Hagen district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), an LWF member church since 1976 with 815,000 members. Conflict surrounding Rev. Sanangke Dole, elected Mount Hagen District bishop in 1982, led to open quarrels in local congregations in 1985. Differing interpretation of causes of disagreement and mutual accusation led congregations in Melpa, to separate from the ELC-PNG and form the independent church.

But ELC-PNG bishop, Wesley Kigasung and Dole assured Krause that both churches were in full agreement on basic scriptural and confessional teachings, which significantly improves prospects of finding solutions.

Krause noted the MLC-PNG as "a growing church fully of vitality," well established and financially self-supporting, even though not in partnership with other Lutheran churches. It had applied for LWF membership. But, according to the LWF constitution and by-laws,
membership is only possible in consultation and by agreement with other local LWF member churches. A prerequisite would be unison of all the Papua New Guinean Lutheran churches.

In Wabag, in the central highlands, Krause visited the Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New Guinea. An LWF member since 1979, headed by Bishop David P. Piso, the church has around 95,000 members. It grew from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (USA)
missionary work.

During his visits to all three churches Krause delivered sermons and gave speeches in daily worship services attended by several thousand people.

For more information, click here to go to the MLC-PNG website.

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Disagreement Led to Founding of Independent Church

Mediation in serious church conflicts featured prominently in the April 18-21
Papua New Guinea visit of Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
president, Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian Krause.

Krause told Lutheran World Information (LWI) he was bringing the churches' request that the LWF act as mediator in disagreements that led to the January 2000 founding of the Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) in the central highlands of the
island nation.

The 30,000-member MLC-PNG stemmed from the Mount Hagen district of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), an LWF member church since 1976 with 815,000 members. Conflict surrounding Rev. Sanangke Dole, elected Mount Hagen District bishop in 1982, led to open quarrels in local congregations in 1985. Differing interpretation of causes of disagreement and mutual accusation led congregations in Melpa, to separate from the ELC-PNG and form the independent church.

But ELC-PNG bishop, Wesley Kigasung and Dole assured Krause that both churches were in full agreement on basic scriptural and confessional teachings, which significantly improves prospects of finding solutions.

Krause noted the MLC-PNG as "a growing church fully of vitality," well established and financially self-supporting, even though not in partnership with other Lutheran churches. It had applied for LWF membership. But, according to the LWF constitution and by-laws,
membership is only possible in consultation and by agreement with other local LWF member churches. A prerequisite would be unison of all the Papua New Guinean Lutheran churches.

In Wabag, in the central highlands, Krause visited the Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New Guinea. An LWF member since 1979, headed by Bishop David P. Piso, the church has around 95,000 members. It grew from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (USA)
missionary work.

During his visits to all three churches Krause delivered sermons and gave speeches in daily worship services attended by several thousand people.

For more information, click here to go to the MLC-PNG website.

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THE MELPA LUTHERAN CHURCH IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (MLC-PNG)

The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) is an offshoot of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG). The doctrines are the same as that of the original ELC-PNG Church and the Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC), but operate as an independent Church with its own administrative structure. It has its own Bishop (Sanangke Dole) and Ecclesiastic officials. It is presently headquartered in Mount Hagen, but has definite plans to expand to other parts of the country by opening regional and district offices in close cooperation with ELC-PNG and GLC-PNG.

The primary objective of the Church is to follow the footsteps of the great teacher, healer,
helper, redeemer, and savior in spreading the word of God so that all who believe in him
may find everlasting peace and life in Jesus Christ. Thus, a fundamental aim here is to set
out the philosophical parameters for a spiritually fulfilling and healthy living.

Our vision for the Church is threefold: (1) spiritual development; (2) social development;
and (3) maintenance of public order and harmonious human relationship. We anticipate
that over the next decades the church will grow on the basis of faith in the Lord. It is the
responsibility of pastors to train their members in a correct manner so that they become
responsible citizens. The emphasis ought to be on theological training.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said; I am the real vine, and my father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will become clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you.

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me (John 15). The words that Jesus spoke to his disciples over 2000 years ago remain true to this day. It is therefore appropriate that we view pastors as the branches and the people as the grapes.

If pastors teach people correctly and follow the principles of the Bible, then the people will
remain strong and faithful to God. In this way the church will gain strength and grow.
The word of God and faith in God is the foundation of this church. Without faith (attaching
the branch to the vine), the church has no future. Believing in God is important, but it is
also necessary to proclaim that Jesus is Lord and to announce the Good News to everyone.
The message to Christians can be found in the first letter of Peter:

But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, and God’s own
people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of
darkness into his own marvelous light. At one time you were not God’s people,
but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now
you have received his mercy (I Peter 2:9-10).

As this message indicates, Christians must take heed of advice from the Bible whilst at the
same time announce to the world that God has done great things for them.
Our vision for the future is that the church will grow in strength so that all our programs
can run successfully. It is our greatest desire that missionaries from this Church may oneday
witness for God in other countries. As the scripture says:

Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in
the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey
everything I have commanded you.

Our greatest desire is to work with the other two sister Lutheran Churches and the
independent state of Papua New Guinea as equal partners in development. We believe that
the churches are in a better position to understand the problems of rural people than the
government which is based away from the ordinary people and claims to represent its
citizens but rarely gets in touch with ordinary people in remote parts of the country.

For more information, click here to go to the MLC -PNG website.

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THE MELPA LUTHERAN CHURCH IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (MLC-PNG)

The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) is an offshoot of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG). The doctrines are the same as that of the original ELC-PNG Church and the Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC), but operate as an independent Church with its own administrative structure. It has its own Bishop (Sanangke Dole) and Ecclesiastic officials. It is presently headquartered in Mount Hagen, but has definite plans to expand to other parts of the country by opening regional and district offices in close cooperation with ELC-PNG and GLC-PNG.

The primary objective of the Church is to follow the footsteps of the great teacher, healer,
helper, redeemer, and savior in spreading the word of God so that all who believe in him
may find everlasting peace and life in Jesus Christ. Thus, a fundamental aim here is to set
out the philosophical parameters for a spiritually fulfilling and healthy living.

Our vision for the Church is threefold: (1) spiritual development; (2) social development;
and (3) maintenance of public order and harmonious human relationship. We anticipate
that over the next decades the church will grow on the basis of faith in the Lord. It is the
responsibility of pastors to train their members in a correct manner so that they become
responsible citizens. The emphasis ought to be on theological training.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said; I am the real vine, and my father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will become clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you.

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me (John 15). The words that Jesus spoke to his disciples over 2000 years ago remain true to this day. It is therefore appropriate that we view pastors as the branches and the people as the grapes.

If pastors teach people correctly and follow the principles of the Bible, then the people will
remain strong and faithful to God. In this way the church will gain strength and grow.
The word of God and faith in God is the foundation of this church. Without faith (attaching
the branch to the vine), the church has no future. Believing in God is important, but it is
also necessary to proclaim that Jesus is Lord and to announce the Good News to everyone.
The message to Christians can be found in the first letter of Peter:

But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, and God’s own
people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of
darkness into his own marvelous light. At one time you were not God’s people,
but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now
you have received his mercy (I Peter 2:9-10).

As this message indicates, Christians must take heed of advice from the Bible whilst at the
same time announce to the world that God has done great things for them.
Our vision for the future is that the church will grow in strength so that all our programs
can run successfully. It is our greatest desire that missionaries from this Church may oneday
witness for God in other countries. As the scripture says:

Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in
the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey
everything I have commanded you.

Our greatest desire is to work with the other two sister Lutheran Churches and the
independent state of Papua New Guinea as equal partners in development. We believe that
the churches are in a better position to understand the problems of rural people than the
government which is based away from the ordinary people and claims to represent its
citizens but rarely gets in touch with ordinary people in remote parts of the country.

For more information, click here to go to the MLC -PNG website.

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THE MELPA LUTHERAN CHURCH IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (MLC-PNG)

The Melpa Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (MLC-PNG) is an offshoot of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG). The doctrines are the same as that of the original ELC-PNG Church and the Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC), but operate as an independent Church with its own administrative structure. It has its own Bishop (Sanangke Dole) and Ecclesiastic officials. It is presently headquartered in Mount Hagen, but has definite plans to expand to other parts of the country by opening regional and district offices in close cooperation with ELC-PNG and GLC-PNG.

The primary objective of the Church is to follow the footsteps of the great teacher, healer,
helper, redeemer, and savior in spreading the word of God so that all who believe in him
may find everlasting peace and life in Jesus Christ. Thus, a fundamental aim here is to set
out the philosophical parameters for a spiritually fulfilling and healthy living.

Our vision for the Church is threefold: (1) spiritual development; (2) social development;
and (3) maintenance of public order and harmonious human relationship. We anticipate
that over the next decades the church will grow on the basis of faith in the Lord. It is the
responsibility of pastors to train their members in a correct manner so that they become
responsible citizens. The emphasis ought to be on theological training.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said; I am the real vine, and my father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will become clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you.

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me (John 15). The words that Jesus spoke to his disciples over 2000 years ago remain true to this day. It is therefore appropriate that we view pastors as the branches and the people as the grapes.

If pastors teach people correctly and follow the principles of the Bible, then the people will
remain strong and faithful to God. In this way the church will gain strength and grow.
The word of God and faith in God is the foundation of this church. Without faith (attaching
the branch to the vine), the church has no future. Believing in God is important, but it is
also necessary to proclaim that Jesus is Lord and to announce the Good News to everyone.
The message to Christians can be found in the first letter of Peter:

But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, and God’s own
people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of
darkness into his own marvelous light. At one time you were not God’s people,
but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now
you have received his mercy (I Peter 2:9-10).

As this message indicates, Christians must take heed of advice from the Bible whilst at the
same time announce to the world that God has done great things for them.
Our vision for the future is that the church will grow in strength so that all our programs
can run successfully. It is our greatest desire that missionaries from this Church may oneday
witness for God in other countries. As the scripture says:

Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in
the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey
everything I have commanded you.

Our greatest desire is to work with the other two sister Lutheran Churches and the
independent state of Papua New Guinea as equal partners in development. We believe that
the churches are in a better position to understand the problems of rural people than the
government which is based away from the ordinary people and claims to represent its
citizens but rarely gets in touch with ordinary people in remote parts of the country.

For more information, click here to go to the MLC -PNG website.

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