A Day in Lae

Lae (pronounced lay) is a major shipping port for Papua New Guinea (PNG) on the northern coast. We came here for several reasons, mostly exploratory in nature. There are two major Lutheran church bodies in PNG – Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELC-PNG). The LCMS founded the GLC, while other Lutheran missionaries established the ELC-PNG. The ELC-PNG is the older of the two church bodies, established in the 1870’s, while the GLC was established in the late 1940’s, after World War II. The ELC-PNG has perhaps 1.5 million members or so, while the GLC has about 300,000. The two church bodies share the same confessional documents and statements but don’t work closely together. Lae is where the ELC-PNG headquarters is located, as well as their seminary – Martin Luther Seminary (MLS).

We visit MLS as part of my explorations in PNG. To my knowledge, no LCMS missionary has visited Lae in at least the last 20 years. Our work and attention has been focused – rightly so – on the GLC and their seminary in Birip in the Highlands, Timothy Seminary. Two different church bodies and seminaries but a huge impact between them on the life of not just Lutherans in PNG but the entire country. Because of the educational systems established by Lutheran missionaries over the decades, graduates of Lutheran schools serve at the highest levels of PNG governmental bodies and other critical areas. Our legacy in PNG is truly impressive!

The campus of MLS is beautiful. Lush and green as befitting a tropical island nation! Our guide is Rev. Mickey Hauser of the Lutheran Church of Australia. He’s been in PNG for over a decade, the majority of that time teaching at MLS. He introduces me to MLS leadership and shows us around the campus.

The beautiful campus chapel is viewable in the distance in the next photo and then an interior photo follows.

I was able to meet with students who are receiving financial assistance in the form of scholarships from the LCMS. They expressed their gratitude, as well as their hope the LCMS can send a teacher to MLS. So if you know of anyone who would like to teach in a tropical paradise…!

It was a good but full day. Lots to take in and process. God is good in so many ways, and even in far flung lands the Holy Spirit continues to raise up pastors to serve the Church and carry it forward. While we are called to serve faithfully, we also rest in the knowledge that everything is possible only by the power of God. It is comforting to know we rest safely in our baptismal identity in Christ, through whom all things are possible!