Thousands of congregations attended the opening of Papua Baptist Church – Jubi/IST
Wamena, Jubi – Ten thousands of Papuan church congregations welcomed the Chairman of the Papua Church Synods, Rev. Dr. Socratez Sofyan Yoman, Chairman of the KINGMI Synod, Rev. Dr. Benny Giay, and President of GIDI, Rev. Dorman Wandikbo S.Th, in Wamena , Monday (December 11).
Three Papuan church leaders, known as trio of herds of the oppressed, were present at Wamena for opening of the 18th Congress of the Baptist Churches of Papua that took place in the Yematsi Sinakma Church in Wamena, Monday (11/12/2017).
The congress will be held until December 14.
The three leaders were with the entourage of Central Board of Churches of Papuan Baptist Church, from the lodge of Sinakma Bahtera Church to Yomaima, venue for the opening of the congress.
Thousands of congregations flooded the streets, mostly barefoot, accompanying the ‘three leaders of the people’ to the congress while dancing Papuan traditional mountainous dance.
“Congress participants are from 27 regions and 313 congregations,” said Chairman of the Congress Committee, Denius Kogoya, in his speech.
The 1st Congress, that was December 1966, was attended by only 276 delegates and 78 congregations. But today thousands are present, as quoted from the 18th Congressional handbook.
The President of GIDI, Rev. Dorman, who brings meditation in the opening of the congress, invites church leaders in Papua, in particular the Baptist church, for not too busy organizing the organization but taking care of congregation.
“Churches should not be busy with taking care of organization. We shall take care of the sheep instead. The shepherd takes care of the sheep,” he said in a sermon.
He conveys the point on how the shepherd keeps their sheep, and according to Wandikbo, there are three tasks related to that.
The first task of the shepherd is to feed. The sheep should get spiritual nutrition, because, those who do not get spiritual food will plunge into the path that is away from God and not be afraid of Him.
The second task of the shepherd is keeping the sheep. The shepherd keeps the sheep so the sheep know the voice of the shepherd.
After you feed and nurture, the last shepherd’s job is to keep the sheep, he said. Sheep are kept so as not to become the object of the ferocity of wild animals.
“Keep them out from the wolves come in,” he said, ending it with truly inspiring musings.
Rev. Benny Giay in his speech representing the Papuan church association said the Baptist church has proved its independence. The Baptist Church does not depend on anyone as the Baptist leader’s voice ‘we drink water from our own well’.
“Today you have proved that you can. You’re great, you can do it,” said Giyai, greeted with applause from thousands of congregation.
He also said, the greatness of the Baptist church is actually the greatness of Papuans who are trampled by the ruler. The greatness of Papuans has actually been recognized scientifically through research civilization of Papuans.
“I just got back from Switzerland. Researchers have proved that agricultural civilization begins in Papua, only the world is hiding it,” he said.
Giay also said the study proves that all bananas and sugar cane that exist all over the world come from Papua.
“(Those are all) cultural potential that we can develop, if only we look at education. Therefore, I order, we note the rights of our children to get a good education,” he said.
Chairman of the Papuan Baptist Church Synod in his speech before opening the congress said that the Baptist church is there to protect the people of God.
Therefore, he hopes that the congress will proceed well to evaluate and plan the future programs to run.
Through the congress, he said, whoever will be elected would be invites to support. However, if he is elected, it is clear to him that he will continue the previous tasks.
“I will take care of God’s people. There should be no murder in the name of NKRI on this land,” he said.(tabloidjubi.com/Zely)
