Lae, Morobe Province | July 4, 2025 — We continue to witness vibrant signs of life and unity in the youth ministry, as 300 young people from the ELC-Mumeng District departed this afternoon from Voco Point in Lae, bound for the coastal Taimi congregation of Deka Circuit in the Jabem District.
Their journey is part of an exchange basket and thanksgiving fundraiser to support the Taimi congregation, which will host the 49th Jabem District Youth Conference in August 2025. Traveling in 17 dinghies, the young pilgrims made their way across the Huon Gulf after descending from the Mumeng highlands—more than 1,000 meters above sea level—to Lae by road, followed by a sea journey of roughly 60 kilometers to the Bukawa coastline.
According to Wesley Saking, Youth Treasurer of the Jabem District and an elder of Yambo Parish in Deka Circuit, this is the first time such a large-scale fundraising and fellowship exchange has taken place between these two districts. “This is church growth in motion,” he said. “The youths are not just raising funds—they are building bridges of faith and walking the talk of discipleship.”
The program begins with a thanksgiving event on Saturday, July 5, followed by Sunday worship and fellowship on July 6 with the Taimi congregation and nearby villages. The Mumeng youth delegation will return home by sea and road on Monday, July 7.
This local initiative is part of a broader momentum across ELCPNG, as each of the Church’s 17 Districts prepares to host their own District Youth Conferences ahead of the National Youth Conference, scheduled for September 2025 in ELC-Is Simbu District. The National Youth Conference is a biennial gathering, held every two years, drawing youth representatives from across the nation. In contrast, District Youth Conferences are held annually, offering local congregations and circuits the chance to engage young people in spiritual growth, leadership, and community outreach.
The dedication shown by the Mumeng youths exemplifies the wider spiritual energy sweeping through the Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea. As they journey from the mountains to the sea, from Mumeng to Bukawa, they embody the heart of Christian fellowship: sharing burdens, lifting one another up, and planting seeds of hope and service.
This is more than just a boat ride or a weekend event — it is the unfolding of a greater narrative: the Church is alive, the youth are rising, and the Spirit is moving. From the coastal shores to the highlands, the Gospel continues to unite, inspire, and grow through the lives of young believers committed to building the body of Christ.
