Wesley Kigasung's vision for "healing and reconciliation"

For three days last week, the people of Lae, Morobe province and Papua New Guinea came together as one.

They – from different church denominations - put aside their differences, held each other, wept, and sang songs of praise to the Almighty.

It was, indeed, a time for healing and reconciliation.

It took the life of Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG leader, Bishop Reverend Dr Wesley Kigasung, to bring us all together.

The funeral and burial of Dr Kigasung was something that has never been seen before in this country and will be talked about for many years to time.

In my 20 years in journalism, I have covered many, many funerals, and can vouch for that.

The body arrived at Nadzab airport from Madang last Friday after a week of mourning in which it traveled to Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang, and then Lae before the final journey home to Dr Kigasung’s Aluki village in Bukawa, Morobe province.

The body of Dr Kigasung was given honours befitting royalty from the moment it arrived at Nadzab just after 11am from Madang.

Tears started falling from the moment the Missionary Aviation Fellowship Twin Otter touched down at Nadzab.

The body was met by Morobe provincial government and church officials, as well as members of the Wampar circuit of nearby Markham Valley villages.

The Wampar, once feared warriors before the Miti (Word of God) brought change to their land, welcomed Dr Kigasung with a traditional song of mourning normally reserved for great chiefs and warriors.

It was then taken by hearse, escorted by a long motorcade of vehicles, to Lae, to ELC-PNG schools and churches in the city, and finally to Ampo, headquarters of ELC-PNG, where it was officially handed over by the military to church officials.

The drive from Nadzab to Lae took three-and-a-half hours as thousands of people lined the 45km stretch to pay their final respects.

At Ampo, the body was taken to the old St Andrew’s Church at Ampo for a final service with all members of Dr Kigasung’s congregation before being taken to his official residence for a final night of mourning.

Last Saturday thousands of mourners – including inmates from Buimo Jail - turned up at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium to bid farewell to a man they had come to love.

Representatives from the Lutheran World Federation in Germany, Lutheran Overseas Partner Churches in America, Australia and Germany were also present at the funeral.

Leaders from government, church and the private sector also attended the funeral.

The casket arrived just after 10am where it was received by chief mourner and Assistant Bishop Rev Zau Rapa and Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.

It was then carried by six PNG Defence Force pall-bearers who led the mourning party which consisted of his family, pastors and deacons representing the 17 ELC-PNG districts.

After a welcome address by master of ceremony Bami Sorokeinuc and an opening prayer by Anglican pastor Tennyson Boga, the Mass was celebrated by Reverends Kasek Kautil, Kaek and Boga.

The eulogy was read by Dr Kigasung’s eldest daughter Joanna who said her father always stressed the need to “think like God and not like man”.

After the eulogy, tributes were accorded to Dr Kigasung by Rev Rapa, Mr Wenge, representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and Overseas Partner Churches.

The service ended at 2pm to the song “He Leadeth Me” before the viewing of the body and laying of wreaths by thousands of people.

Dr Kigasung’s body departed at around 4pm on Saturday by road for his Aluki village.

Thousands of people from the Bukawa villages, Lae, Morobe province, Papua New Guinea and overseas flocked to Aluki to see Dr Kigasung buried in a concrete tomb just after 3pm last Sunday.

Heavy overnight rain last Saturday night and Sunday gave way to bright sunshine in time for the burial.

It ended a week of mourning in which Dr Kigasung’s body traveled to Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang and Lae before the final journey home to Aluki.

Thousands of people lined the road from Lae to Aluki to bid farewell to Dr Kigasung as his motorcade drove past.

In emotional scenes, men, women and children wept, sang, waved banners, flags and threw flowers at the motorcade.

In one of the most-moving scenes, at Situm primary school, children sang a touching tribute to Dr Kigasung which brought tears to the eyes of those in the motorcade.

Many commented that the respect accorded to Dr Kigasung between Lae and Aluki, as well as that shown between Nadzab and Lae, and at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, had never been seen before in this country.

At Aluki, tears again flowed freely for its favorite son as local villagers, those from Lae, and others from Siassi Island – the place where Dr Kigasung was born and the last place he visited – sang traditional songs of mourning for the charismatic and much-loved leader of 1.2 million Lutherans in PNG.

As daylight came, I also broke down and wept, for this dear friend and brother of me and my late wife, Hula, who passed away so tragically on Easter Sunday this year.

The funeral service was delayed because of the non-arrival of Morobe Governor Luther Wenge as expected.

The burial was later delayed again because of the slow drying of cement in the concrete tomb because of the wet conditions.

VIPs present included Lae MP Bart Philemon, Tewai/Siassi MP Vincent Michaels, Bulolo MP Sam Basil, former judge Don Sawong and Kambang Holdings chairman Namon Mawason as well as a representative of the American Lutheran Church.

ELCPNG Jabem District president Reverend Gedisa Okamaisa said Dr Kigasung was a “humble” servant of God and the people.

“He left us at a time when we least expected,” Rev. Okamaisa said.

“His death is a call for us to take ownership of the church.”

I leave the last words to Dr Kigasung, who told me in a rare interview in 2006: “I believe with a new inspiration and motivation from the members of the church, the future of the church will be more exciting and challenging.

“But I believe the future will find a new empowerment as people reactivate their faith and are ready to share that faith and through that sharing, they will be able to put their resources together in building their church.

“The future of the church is in the guidance and direction of the Lord God.”

malumnalu@yahoo.com

Bishop Kigasung is laid to rest

Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG leader, the late Bishop Doctor Wesley Kigasung, was laid to rest at his Aluki village in Bukawa, Morobe province, after 3pm last Sunday, May 25, 2008.

Thousands of people from the Bukawa villages, Lae, Morobe province, Papua New Guinea and overseas flocked to Aluki to see Bishop Kigasung buried in a concrete tomb.

Heavy overnight rain last Saturday night and Sunday gave way to bright sunshine in time for the burial.

It ended a week of mourning in which Dr Kigasung’s body traveled to Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang and Lae before the final journey home to Aluki by road from Lae last Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of people lined the road from Lae to Aluki to bid farewell to Dr Kigasung as his motorcade drove past.

In emotional scenes, men, women and children wept, sang, waved banners, flags and threw flowers at the motorcade.

In one of the most-moving scenes, at Situm primary school, children sang a touching tribute to Dr Kigasung which brought tears to the eyes of those in the motorcade.

Many commented that the respect accorded to Dr Kigasung between Lae and Aluki yesterday, as well as that shown between Nadzab and Lae last Friday, and at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium last Saturday, had never been seen before in this country.

At Aluki, tears again flowed freely for its favorite son as local villagers, those from Lae, and others from Siassi Island – the place where Dr Kigasung was born and the last place he visited – sang traditional songs of mourning for the charismatic and much-loved leader of 1.2 million Lutherans in PNG.

Last Sunday's funeral service was delayed because of the non-arrival of Morobe Governor Luther Wenge as expected.

The burial was later delayed again because of the slow drying of cement in the concrete tomb because of the wet conditions.

VIPs present included Lae MP Bart Philemon, Tewai/Siassi MP Vincent Michaels, Bulolo MP Sam Basil, former judge Don Sawong and Kambang Holdings chairman Namon Mawason as well as a representative of the American Lutheran Church.

ELCPNG Jabem District president Reverend Gedisa Okamaisa said Dr Kigasung was a “humble” servant of God and the people.

“He left us at a time when we least expected,” Rev. Okamaisa said.

“His death is a call for us to take ownership of the church.”

A tribute to Bishop Reverend Dr Wesley Kigasung

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, one of the largest mainline churches in the country with up to 1.2 million followers, is mourning the sudden death of its charismatic leader – the American university educated Bishop Reverend Dr Wesley Kigasung – who passed away early today (Thursday, May 15, 2008) aged 57.

He will be remembered by Lutherans all over the country for his skills as a preacher of the Word of God.

Wesley Waekesa Kigasung comes from Aluki village in the Bukawa area of Morobe province.

He was born on July 16, 1950, and is married to Susie Manempen Kigasung of Mindere village in the Rai Coast area of Madang Province.

The Kigasungs are blessed with two daughters and two grand daughters.

The young Wesley Kigasung received primary education in remote Menyamya and later on Siassi Island where he did secondary schooling at Gelem High School (now Siassi High School) from1966 to 1968.

He completed High school at Asaroka Lutheran High School in Goroka, Eastern Highlands in 1969.

Kigasung attended Martin Luther Seminary from 1970-1975 and graduated in 1975 with Diploma of Theology and Bachelor of Theology.

He received further studies at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby from 1976 – 1978 and graduated from the University in 1979 with the degree of Master of Arts majoring in history of PNG).

From 1979 to 1980 he served as Circuit Pastor in remote Kaintiba, Gulf province.

In 1981 Kigasung was called to teach at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae until the end of 1982.

In March 1983 he left with his family for Germany for language studies.

Towards the end of 1984 he again left for further studies in Chicago, USA, where he graduated in 1986 with the degree of Master of Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

Kigasung continued studies for his doctoral degree and completed all doctoral work in 1989, when he received the degree Doctor of Theology from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

He resumed work as Lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary towards the end of 1989.

In 1991 he was appointed Principal of Martin Luther Seminary and served as Principal until 1997.

In January 1998 Kigasung was elected Head Bishop of the church at the Kimbe Synod.

Kigasung is widely respected as an intellectual and a leading preacher of the word of God in this country.

“I believe it is a special gift from God,” he told me in a rare interview in 2006.

“From my early years in school I already developed the skill of speaking in front of my peers.

“Through the years I have challenged myself to develop my abilities in order to serve well.

“I like to read a lot and I have read lots of books on leadership and other books that help to develop my skills in working and communicating with people.

“My philosophy in life is to do well in a given task; to face life and responsibility without fear and doubt; to take criticisms and face difficult situations with humility and respond with positive attitude and be more proactive rather than being reactionary.”

Kigasung says being the spiritual leader of all Lutherans is not an easy task but he finds so much joy in serving God.

“It is not easy,” he says frankly of his job.

“Very challenging and very demanding.

“But there is much joy and satisfaction in serving God's people.

“I find much joy in meeting people of different cultures and different works of life and back ground and of different nationalities.

“You see and experience God's wonders and life in the faces of these different people in the church.

“I leave my future in God's hand.

“This is my last term as Head Bishop.

“I hope and pray that the Lord will grant me good health and strength to serve him in another role after this final term as bishop.”

From January 9 to 13, 2006, the ELCPNG held its 25th Synod at remote Wasu in Morobe province, where Dr Kigasung was reelected for a third four-year term.

The first Synod was held in 1956 at Simbang, Finschhafen, the site of the first landing of the pioneer German missionary Johannes Flierl in 1886.

It was at this Synod that the Church adopted its Church Order (or Constitution)

The first Head Bishop of the newly founded Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Guinea (ELCONG) was elected in 1956.

He was an American missionary, the Reverend Dr John Kuder.

The three Head Bishops preceding Dr Kigasung were Bishop Dr. John Kuder (1956 – 1972); Bishop Sir Zurewe Zurenuoc (1973 – 1981) and Bishop Sir Getake Gam (1982 – 1997).

Dr Kigasung was reelected at a time where there is splintering within the church through the Lutheran renewal movement; when there are criticisms from within the Church itself that it has become sluggish and has been sidetracked from fulfilling its greatest mission of spreading the word of God; that it has become so vocal on business matters without paying any attention to evangelism, ministerial training, health, education and the welfare of its pastors and evangelists; and there has been talk about the creation of a Lutheran university in Lae.

So what of the future?

“The major plans for the future of the Church is to revisit the mission of the church; to revitalise the church to become more responsible and accountable in financial matters; improve leadership responsibility; improve pastoral responsibilities as well as addressing the concerns of the pastors and other church workers.

“I encourage all Lutherans to share their faith in the many gifts and talents that they possess to help build the church.

“I want to introduce to the church the theme for the new period of this church for the next 50 years.

“I want to challenge all genuine and committed Lutherans with the theme: ‘Sharing the Faith, Building the Church’.

“All Lutherans are asked to come forward in support of their church by ‘Sharing their Faith in Building the Church’.”

New mining and petroleum company


A new 100% nationally-owned company has been formed to assist landowners with their mineral and petroleum assets.

The company, Samuel Were Petroleum, a subsidiary of Bright Star Morning Corporation, is run by Samuel Were, a petroleum geoscientist from the Western province who is a graduate of the University of Papua New Guinea.

The company was dedicated by United Church Reverend Siosi Momoru at a ceremony at the NCD Botanical Gardens presided over by Western Province Governor, Dr Bob Danaya, who commended Mr Were for the grassroots approach he is taking to helping resource owners.

SWP is already involved in 14 mining and petroleum projects in Western, Central, NCD, Morobe, and East and West Sepik provinces.

Mr Were said a second batch of 14 projects in 14 provinces was underway while the third and final batch would include 10 projects in 20 provinces.

He said petroleum and mineral resources already discovered included oil shale, pegmatite, tin, iron, aluminium, beryl, lamprolite (diamond host rocks), manganese, chromites and zinc.

“This means new industries to come to the scene,” Mr Were said.

“All our chemical and laboratory testing is done by ALS Chemex Lab in Brisbane, Australia.”

Governor Danaya, who announced that the Fly River provincial government had secured the services of SWP as its mining and petroleum consultant, said the people of PNG should no longer be spectators on their own land.

“Since the 1900’s, Papua New Guinea has always been the envy of the world because of her huge deposits of mineral and petroleum resources all over the country,” he said.

“Our people have continued to be mere bystanders and/or spectators, only performing the roles of labourers or guiders without realising any tangible benefits as resource owners.

“It is therefore in the interest of our people, particularly the resource owners that they are seen to be proactively involved and/or are supported to participate fully in the earth resource projects from exploration to development stages.

“This must be the ultimate that we must strive to achieve in Papua New Guinea.”

PNG orchids wanted in Singapore

Hi orchid gardeners of PNG.

I received this email from Jeremy Seah in Singapore, email pangansari@singnet.com.sg, wanting to buy PNG orchids.

Hi Malum Nalu,

Like to know if orchids from PNG are now available for export?
You have any link to exporter which I can contact via email?

Regards
Jeremy Seah

Gulf Mask Festival

The next event that the National Cultural Commission is beginning to work on it is the Gulf Mask Festival which will be held on June 12-13, 2008, at Toare Village, Kerema, Gulf Province.

The event was initiated and incepted by National Cultural Commission three years ago.

The main objective behind hosting the above event is to revive the Eharo mask which was believe to be extinct.

However, with the above event, the NCC is now reviving this important Mask Culture of the Eastern Gulf People.

For more information, please contact David Taim, Senior Festival Officer, National Cultural Commission, on email culturetok@ncc.org.pg.

Phone : (675) 3235120 Facsimile: (675) 3259119

Website: www.culturetok.org.pg

A tribute to Jack Remus Nawatz

We buried Jack at home in Butibam village, Lae, on Tuesday, November 2, 2004, under one of those typically-beautiful November afternoons.

He had just turned 21 in September, had a pretty Manus girlfriend and a bouncy seven-month son, and was eagerly looking forward to graduating from the University of Goroka next year and becoming a music teacher.

All these hopes and dreams, however, were cruelly snuffed out like a candle in the wind when Jack’s heart gave way at the Port Moresby General Hospital on the night on Monday, October 25.

Jack Remus Nawatz, elder son of my sister Alison and her husband Goromp Nawatz, was born with a heart defect in Lae on September 9, 1983.

It was something that doctors hoped would go away over time; however, this was not to be.

Alison and Goromp were then studying at the University of Technology in Lae and I remember the unparalleled joy that Jack brought into our lives.

Since the two were busy at school, Jack’s grandparents – my mum and dad – looked after Jack as one of their own.

I remember that time in November 1983 when Jack was to be baptized at the Ampo Lutheran Church in Lae.

My elder brother David, who had just graduated a day earlier from Aiyura National High School, sacrificed graduation parties to be with us for the day.

We were all at Ampo Church on Tuesday last week – exactly 21 years later - for Jack’s funeral service.

It was David who read the eulogy – a far cry from 1983.

There is a picture somewhere in one of my old albums, of David and me carrying Jack the day of his baptism in 1983.

We carried his coffin last week.

Despite his short life on this earth, Jack brought so much joy and happiness into our lives.

He was never a strong child, because of his heart defect, and wasn’t actively involved in sports like many of his peers.

He would have made a very good basketball player – all six feet, four inches of him.

Jack, however, found his forte: music.

A very talented musician (Jack could play a variety of musical instruments) since his primary and high school days in Lae, Jack decided that this is what he must study.

In 2002, he went to the UOG, to take up his first year of studies.

I was then living and working in Goroka, with my wife and two sons, and Jack became very much a part of our young family.

Unfortunately, we had to leave Goroka in mid 2002 because my three-year work contract was up, and we left Jack behind.

He remained, and together with some of his best mates, formed a band that often performed at the University of Goroka.

I never realized how good a musician he was until last year, when I was up there for a weekend, I got to watch him play at a concert.

There couldn’t have been a prouder uncle!

This year, because his Manus girlfriend Evelyn was pregnant with their son Steven, the young couple was ejected from permanent accommodation by the seemingly-draconian University of Goroka administration.

They rented a backyard shed, down the hill from the university, and continued to look after their newborn baby while going to school.

Jack, with his weak heart, continued to trudge up the steep hill leading to the UOG – something that often made him sick.

Earlier this year, while in Goroka for the PNG Coffee Festival & Trade Fair, I fell very sick and was admitted to Goroka Base Hospital.

It was kind-hearted Jack and his UOG mates who looked after me.

I promised them drinks at the end of the year – this will never be now.

In September, Jack turned 21.

In October, he came to Port Moresby after final exams, and started complaining of chest pains and shortage of breath.

He was admitted to hospital, with a smile on his face for all family and friends who visited.

He was discharged, however, fell ill again was readmitted to hospital where the heart problem which had plagued him all his life finally claimed him.

I took a picture of Jack and his son Steven in Goroka in May this year.

I took a look at the picture and was reminded of the Lion King, where Mufasa showed his son Simba the world, and said: “You are part of the never-ending circle of life.”

Au revoir Jack!