United Church in Wau celebrates first anniversary

By SAMPSON BONAI in Wau

CHRISTIANS have been urged not to worship foreign gods and live a compromised life of sin.

They have been urged to purify their hearts before they can go closer to the living God.

Wau-based United Church pastor Rev Gaba Legu delivered the message from Genesis 35:1-15 during the first anniversary of the establishment of Wau United Church last Sunday.

New United Church Wau Bethel Congregation pastor Rev Gaba Legu and church elder Tau Meda getting ready to enter the church for the church first anniversary programm

"I urge all of you Christians who gathered here today to commemorate the first anniversary of the establishment of United Church in Wau to remove all the foreign gods," he said.

"Purify yourself to have a clean hearts to enable us to receive all the blessings from God.

"We can't see God's blessings upon our lives if we continue to worship and accommodate all the foreign gods in our daily lives."

New United Church Wau Bethel Congregation members getting ready for the church's first anniversary programme.

Legu urged all Christians to break free  of all forms of sins from their hearts and to walk and live honest and upright lives to enjoy their relationship with God.

New United Church Wau Bethel Congregation members celebrating the first anniversary of the church with an item in the church.

Pioneer church pastor Rev Puri Lama, who was ordained as a pastor in Wau, gave a brief and touching history of the church from its humble beginnings as an outreach congregation in the 1970s to the establishment of the church in  2017.

"The pioneer members of the church held fellowships in classrooms and residential areas from the 1970s,"  said Bulolo-based Lama.

"This is until we were allocated a piece of land in the commercial area by the late businessman Lau Sigrupoi.

"The church was supported by pastors Bangan, Mambu and Giliwan from other sister churches and Bulolo United church over the years.

"Many pastors came and went during the early formative years until Aug 30 2015 when we moved out from the old building in town centre and relocate here to the new church ground."

Lama said he was appointed to look after the Outreach Congregation  and was later ordained as a pastor in Wau.

He said the pastor's house was opened in May 2016.

Before that he had no proper accommodation and had to move from house to house.

Legu later unveiled the board and announced the new name of the church as Wau Bethel Congregation.

This was in front of  delighted and proud congregation members, guests and visitors who witnessed the event inside the church building.

Church elder Tau Meda, with tears,  paid tribute to all founding members of the church who have passed on to be with the Lord. 

He said one of the surviving member of the church who still alive was Rachael Deilala.

The special church anniversary day was celebrated with a big feast and creative dances performed by church members from Wau and Bulolo.

Invited guests included deputy town mayor Norm Baupu, Wau Rural LLG manager Martin Wuling, former Wau Rural manager Judy Pokana, Wau Primary School head teacher Mathew Humango and Tri-Star Security manager Kennedy Paul.