Our Stories
The Unspoken, Hidden and Most Needed Training
Heating the stones for the “mumu”.
There is a saying: “Where there is fire there is smoke” I have experienced it being used in a negative context where someone tried to cover up for a mistake. We all know that any wrong committed under the sun cannot be covered up completely, someday it will be revealed! Just as a smoke is an evidence of the presence of a fire, the smoke that I have created, is an evidence of yet another successful basic computing course.
This time it was held at Gaupa Four Square Gospel Church for both Western Highlands and Jiwaka pastors. Tek Ministri (LTPNG) staff has not conducted training in these two provinces before and so it was a great opportunity to deliver this training.
Pastor Saina with her first print job.
The training was embraced with open arms by the participants that the Foursquare Gospel Church, Western Highlands Provincial Overseer, Pastor Saina Berry, described it as the unspoken, hidden and the most needed training for modern pastors.
Pastor Saina who travels overseas for speaking engagements and conferences said that one important thing in her mission ministry and business life is the computer skills. She joked that the Tek Ministri (LTPNG) staff were sent to deliver this training only for her.
As facilitators, we saw the hunger for training as pastors spent long hours to get as much as possible in the two weeks we were there. We are finding it a custom for participants to sleep at the classroom for security for the equipment but more importantly to spend time on a computer. The inclusion of a portable printer onto our packing list is working wonders for the participants. The excitement of holding a finished printed document is awesome!
I have heard “hallelujahs” in a church service so many times but to hear it as a result of a printed document is something worth saying it! Hallelujah!
Yes for you computer natives, the process of printing out your document from a flash drive is a process done without much thought.
For our participants, it is indeed a great undertaking to save a document from a folder in the training computer to a flash drive and then print it out from another computer connected to a printer.
Now translate it into a pastor’s ministry life in a remote Papua New Guinea setting and it amounts to time and money.
Participants’ determination to continue without a break!
Pastor Hannah Solomon working on her PPP.
For instance if a pastor gets on a public transport to travel to town with plans to print and distribute a church program but has not saved it properly on a flash drive, time and money to make use of that opportunity is wasted.
This scenario makes BCT a unique training to equip pastors to work with what they have in their different situations.
We praise God for the feedback that we got. It is that the pastors won’t have to stand in a queue to get their programs typed anymore, they can now type it themselves.
That is why we need to be sensitive to train them to use whatever is available in their locality. Our current advice to the pastors is to save up money to buy computers for their ministry because we see what they can produce during the training.
First PPP slide done by and shown by Ps Roy.
This particular graduation was special experience to us because it was held in the evening.
I can still remember the loud applaud by the church members, family and friends as the participants used the skills learned to preach and show slide shows using the Power Point Presentation.
We thank the Lord for everyone who were involved to put this training together, especially Deo Mondo (MAF Technologies Electronics Technician) who have a heart to extend BCT to the pastors in Jiwaka and Western Highlands Provinces.
The appreciation gifts and love offering was given with such generosity and appreciation to match their zeal for such a training.
Preparing the pig for the “mumu”.
The delicious “mumu” graduation meal.
In closing, I thank God in the words expressed by Pastor Paul Kaumb (Foursquare Gospel Church Overseer for Jiwaka Province) who pointed out that it was the first time for pastors from both provinces to come together since the separation.
Thank you Lord that in you we have unity!
The BCT participants.
Gaupa Foursquare Gospel Church – Baisu, Western Highlands Province.