goodmorningpapua.com – An Acting Governor of West Papua, Komjen Pol (Ret.) Drs Paulus Waterpauw, M.Si started his service to the community by performing a thanksgiving service at the GKI Lahai-Roi Congregation on Mansinam Island, Manokwari, Sunday 22 May 2022.
The thanksgiving service for the inauguration and handover of positions deliberately chose the Mansinam Island as the island of Papuan civilization.
Paulus Waterpauw was inaugurated as the Acting Governor of Papua 12 May 2022 in Jakarta by the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, then handed over the positions from the Governor and Deputy Governor of West Papua for the 2017-2022 period Drs Dominggus Mandacan and Muhammad Lakotani at the PKK Auditorium at the West Papua Governor’s Office, Friday May 20, 2022.
”I chose to worship here, because this is a place in which the civilization of the Papuan people began. From here I will start my task to serve the people of West Papua, my beloved,” said Waterpauw while contributing a hymn during worship at the Lahai Roi GKI Church led by Rev. Lamek Wanma STh, Sunday 22 May 2022.
Mansinam is called the island of civilization because it was from this place that the missionaries Ottow and Geissler and later missionaries preached the gospel that opened the veil of darkness. In addition to preaching the gospel missionaries also teach and educate Papuans by opening schools.
“We exists as we are today because missionaries brought a big change in this land, brought the gospel to open the veil of darkness, brought salvation, the missionary evangelism is what we feel today,” explained Waterpauw.
It has been raining on Mansinam Island and its surroundings since the start of the worship service at 09.30 WIT until it was finished but did not reduce the solemnity and solemnity of the worship which was attended by 549 congregations.
Rev. L Wanma in his sermon based on the Bible reading of Ezekiel 37:1-4 said the prophet Ezekiel was called by God to unite the Israelites who were then divided, those in exile and those in Jerusalem.
”God sent the Prophet Ezekiel to restore the divided nation of Israel, God also sent leaders in the Land of Papua to restore our current condition. God always has a way of helping His people. So don’t lose hope,” he said.
The thanksgiving service for the inauguration of the acting governor and the handover of office ended with a compassion banquet.