Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, was on the Aroma Coast in the Abau District, Central Province on Friday.
He was guest at the opening of the new Maopa Levapuka United Church building.
The site of the new church is where the village’s first United Church building was built when pioneer missionary, James Chalmers was in the area.
The Prime Minister flew in Maopa village in the Abau District by chopper and was met by Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu, and Central Governor, Kila Haoda.
The invited guests were then led to the site of the new Maopa Levapuka United Church.
Other guests include Rigo MP, Ano Pala, Minister for Mining, Byron Chan, and Secretary for Department of Personnel Management, John Kali.
The church was named Georita II as it replaces the first Georita church, so named in honour of its long-serving pastor, Reverend George Geno and his wife, Rita.
Representing the George Family was Emily George Taule from Transparency International. She thanked the people of Maopa for continuing the memory of her grandfather’s service of over 30 years of pastoral work.
Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, said the church was important to the community as many times it filled the role of the government. He paid tribute to the local community for their efforts in ensuring the church was completed. He unveiled the church plaque followed by the blessing of the church by Bishop Laka Renagi, Bishop of the East Central Papua Region.
The Bishop also opened the church doors and led the first sermon.
The Prime Minister also made contributions to other local churches including the Gaiva Kala and Egalauna SDA churches to the tune of K100,000 each.
