The Kesi congregation of Port Moresby opened its new United Church over the weekend, at a cost of K200,000, with the funding made available through the Moresby South electorate’s District Service Improvement Program (DSIP).
Moresby’s Kesi settlement community comprises people mostly from Gulf province who are faithful members of the United Church congregation.
Community Leader Joe Mesa said they have been living there for three generations after customarily acquiring the piece of land from the Motu-Koitabuans, through an understanding of goodwill and friendship.
In the mid 1960’s their forefathers devoted their lives to God, which saw the establishment of the church as a foundation for today’s generation. For the last 40 years they have been faithful to God by worshiping in makeshift tents and temporary shelters.
At the moment the church has around 2,000 congregation members.
Moresby South MP, Justin Tkatchenko, was present to officiate at the event and said having realised their commitment to God, despite there being no proper shelter, he pledged to build them a new church.
“The most important thing is it will put a lot of good in the community and help facilitate activities and programs of the youth and women,” he said.
Tkatchenko added that this is the first United Church opening in the electorate and involving church work in the community will bring positive output.
“The church spreads God’s will, it put goodness together in the heart of the people and it changes their mindset and also develops the community in a positive way,” Tkatchenko said.
