Gramps Chapel at Tanunda Lutheran Home was the venue for the 2024 reunion of the Papua New Guinea Missionary Fellowship. On Sunday, 10 March, 85 members of the fellowship joined the congregation for a worship service that incorporated elements reminiscent of the mission experience, including the Lord’s prayer spoken in New Guinea pidgin. Former missionary […]
Gramps Chapel at Tanunda Lutheran Home was the venue for the 2024 reunion of the Papua New Guinea Missionary Fellowship. On Sunday, 10 March, 85 members of the fellowship joined the congregation for a worship service that incorporated elements reminiscent of the mission experience, including the Lord’s prayer spoken in New Guinea pidgin. Former missionary Pastor Gus Schutz preached on a theme of church as family – a family of believers spanning all locations and all time.
The beautiful (and air-conditioned) chapel comfortably accommodated the fellowship group for lunch and afternoon presentations as well as the worship service. Pastor Graham Maas explained the history of Tanunda Home including the story of the magnificent wooden crucifix and altar carvings. The catering staff of the home provided a finger-food lunch. Several residents of the Tanunda Home community worked quietly in the background to make sure everything went smoothly.
Erich Holzknecht moderated the reunion program. Highlights of the program were two inspiring illustrated talks.
Hanna Schulz spoke of the challenges and joys of her service over the past four years with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Despite Covid restrictions and personal loss, God continued to provide for the ongoing work of Bible translation and literacy training for and by the Kope people in the gulf area. The work was extended to nearby groups with similar languages. Hanna displayed samples of the small, easily managed, single Bible story books now available in Kope as well as the completed gospel of Mark in Kope.
Pastor Greg Schiller reported on his recent time in PNG when he attended the 34th Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea. The Synod was hosted by the Ialibu District and was a great festival attracting over 5000 people. Pastor Schiller pointed out that it was the young people of the District who claimed Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour who took the lead in organising and hosting the huge event – from planting gardens in time to providing food, constructing a building to accommodate the proceedings, and overseeing the 21st century technology required. The synod story itself was one of God providing what was needed, when it was needed.
In the missionary fellowship group were two men who were young boys when their parents Rev Len and Clair Tscharke entered the previously isolated area of Ialibu as the first missionaries. What God has done among these people in a single lifetime is amazing!
Members of the wider Barossa community contributed wine, books, and other items for a silent auction, organised by Ros Mickan. The money which was raised will support the work of Bible translation.
All-in-all, it was a special day of fellowship, reminiscing and looking forward. A 2025 reunion is tentatively planned for Sunday, March 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pasadena.
If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone LCA International Mission on (08) 8267 7300 or email lcaim@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/
Read more stories about volunteering at www.lcamission.org.au/category/join-gods-mission/volunteers/
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