 |
The 2020 graduate pastors, some with their spouses. |
A GRADUATION TO REMEMBER
by Kalita Splendor
THE beautiful morning sun rose perfectly
above the placid eastern waters as it threw its beaming rays onto the grey glittering
stretch of Bwaruada sandy beach that travelled almost half a kilometre to a river
mouth, located at the south end named Wailakawana.
Hulled onto the dry sandy beaches are
countless number of banana boats and few traditional dug-out canoes. The banana
boats travelled miles across the mighty Milne Bay seas powered by different
size of outboard motors to witness the pioneer Diploma Minister’s Graduation at
United Church Bwaruada Regional Bible College on Normanby Island in the Esa’ala
District on Sunday, November 29, 2020.
The boats took hours and days to arrive
from the many outer islands that are sprinkled in the Solomon and Coral Seas
where most United Church followers live in the province; operating under the
banner of the Papuan Islands Region (PIR).
 |
The sign that welcomes all visitors and trainee pastors. |
Boats arrived from Misima; Woodlark; Kiriwina;
Goodenough; Engineer Group of Islands; Fergusson and Normanby Islands; many
also from the mainland areas of East Cape; West Tawala and Alotau town areas.
Whereas those that lived nearby joined the occasion using their dugout out-trigger
canoes.
The boats arrived, laden with United Church
clergies and their contributions of pigs and food stuff for the host of the
traditional feast known as “Sagali” in
Dobuan dialect commemorating United Church in Papua New Guinea’s milestone
achievement; especially within PIR for the pioneer graduation of Diploma
Ministers from Bwaruada Regional Bible College than from the usual Rarongo
Theological College in East New Britain Province.
Contributions were carried on shoulders and
others on heads as they excitedly marched and danced to pile on the feast
platform; accompanied with unison echoes of traditional chants blended with
kundu drum beats that filled the whole Bwaruada atmosphere on Saturday,
November 28 reminding everyone of the joyous occasion about the achievements of
United Church in PNG.
The achievement came about because of the
success in the decentralisation of its Diploma Minister program from its main
theological campus at Rarongo to the regional college.
 |
The pioneer Diploma Ministers Graduation
time at Bwaruada RBC led by UC PNG Moderator Rev Bernard Siae and outgoing
UCCHOE Director Rev Morea Kila
“We decided to make a feast to commemorate the
achievement; having similar biblical concept when the Israelites did a Passover
feast to indicate their transition from one stage to another.”
The feast signified the goodness of God
that carried them through their trouble times, Rev Anieli further elaborates
about the feasting coinciding with the graduation.
Bwaruada and George Brown Regional Bible
Colleges are the two regional institutions that piloted the new concept and all
went well through God’s grace regardless of being faced with the hurdles of
insufficient infrastructure; equipment and teaching materials.
Principal of Bwaruada RBC Rev Dohela Isowa
admitted that it was difficult to implement the concept as the college was cash
trapped. The institution was given a year only to prepare and deliver Diploma
program.
“The institution had to sacrifice monies
and also go to the extent of sending students to dive for beche-de-mer in the
Woodlark Islands to raise K15 thousand and completed a new classroom so the
program can be executed,” the principal reveals.
Regardless of the financial struggles, Bwaruada
RBC took on the challenge and successfully graduated 14 Diploma Ministers on
Sunday, November 29 whereas the sister college, George Brown RBC in East New
Britain graduated only eight.
Reverend Bernard Siae, Moderator of UC PNG
congratulated and told the graduands that they are not only staff of PIR but for
the whole UC PNG after graduation.
He told them to be ready at all times
because the Assembly Office will call anyone up to become a missionary to serve
within or outside of the country.
 |
Moderator of the United Church Reverend Bernard Siae. |
The Bwaruada Regional Bible College is a PIR United Church pastoral training institution with mission to educate; mould; empower and commission its lay persons equipped with God’s word to go out and serve for the church’s extension and to win souls for the kingdom of God.
The college lies five kilometres north of the
Duau Local Level Government station, Sehuleia on Normanby Island. The
institution is located below the ranges and slopes of Koyabuli Mountain between
Nuagisi and Mwadauna and Bwaruada sandy beach is always pondered by crashing
waves that creates natural musical rhythm all year round.
The name Bwaruada came into existence as a
result of tribal warfare amongst the locals of Sipupu; Meudana; Mwadauna;
Dawada and the Wailakawana up stream tribal communities consisting Lomitawa;
Sigasiga; Siyausi and Hadabaweya.
The experiences of the warfare resulted in
bloodshed and many deaths amongst all tribal communities due to the dispute on the
burial of one of its great tribal chiefs.
The institution was first established in
1951 under the name Wesley Boys School then later was moved to Salamo in 1952
which today operates as Wesley Secondary School with the motto as; “Enter to
learn, Go forth to serve”.
While Bwaruada took on board the pastoral
trainings under the District Training Institute (DTI) and the Circuit Training
Institute programs (CTI).
Proper school administration began under an
expatriate principal named F Walker from 1958-1960. Another expatriate, Mr Ian
Whitelock then took over and emphasised more on lay people’s training from
1960-1965. South Sea missionary Rev Taniela Fisihoi from 1965-1967.
Milne Bay local, Rev Lepani Gumagawa then
took over the reign from 1968-1971. The institution was later shifted to
Kalokalo on West Fergusson under the leadership of Rev Joshua Kainamale and got
it returned to Bwaruada in 1974 and remained there until 1984.
The record revealed that the following
ministers served as principals in the college were: Rev Isei Isei Mathew; Rev Terence
Mwemwelo; Rev Henry Tauwaigu; Rev Apenai Tauwaigu; Rev Kali Philemon; Rev Ignitius
Ketobwau; Rev Tau Hobart; Rev Samuel Soahe; Rev Gaudi Gabutu; Rev Steven
Eliesa; Rev Rex Kaikuyawa; Rev John Sailasa; Rev David Nason; Rev Agabu
Anthonio and the current principal is Rev Dohela Isowa.
 |
The Sagali feast foodstuff. |
In 1985, a curriculum was developed and the
college’s name changed to Papua Regional Pastoral College (PRPC) when full three-year
certification program was introduced and continued to 1990.
Additional program came into the institution
from 1990-1994. Pastors were trained towards ordained Ministers of the word and
sacrament. The inclusion of the type two ministers and the CCTC programs then
prepared candidates for entry into Rarongo.
The program continued until in 2010 when it
adopted the two years School of Theology and Mission (STM) program with having
a new motto as; “Do your part and God will do the rest”
When the church in PNG celebrated its 50
years of existence (1968-2018) a new chapter in PIR emerged. The Diploma of
Theology program was then off loaded to the institution and got its name
rebranded to Bwaruada Regional Bible College.
The change is seen as a new dawn and a
dream come true to train ministers for the spreading and planting of the Gospel
in the maritime United Church in PIR and abroad. The achievement has therefore
elevated the college’s status and having the purpose to extend God’s Kingdom.
Bwaruada RBC is therefore a hub for
training and producing Godly human resources and the college remains as one of
the cornerstones for this nation’s prosperity.
The college will always produce and supply
new blood missionaries to go out and serve people who are hungry for the word
of God and uphold Papua New Guinea as a Christian nation.
 |
The beautiful sandy Bwaruada beach. |
pictures by ROSHAND TABUNAIELO
No comments:
Post a Comment