Martin and Marie Dicke—Missionaries November 2017 Volume 2, Issue 4 Serving the Lord in Papua New Guinea Celebrating 500 Years of Reclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ

By Martin Dicke In 1948 the Good News of our salvation through Jesus Christ came to the Enga Province of Papua New Guinea through Lutheran missionaries. Last month, thousands upon thou- sands of Papua New Guineans celebrated this Good News probably with more joy and fervor than many in the . 500 Year Celebrations for the Gutnius Lutheran Church started on 13 across the moun- tains in the Hagen District and were held in the Porgera, Kan- dep, Laiagam regions as well at circuits and individual churches ending with celebrations at Birip and Irelya on . The celebrations included marches, Bible Studies, lectures on Martin 1) Watching a Reformation skit at Yaramanda on October 29. The back of the shirts say “1517-2017 500 Year and his theology, wor- Jubilee Lutheran Reformation—Baibel Tasol, Marimari Tasol, Bilip Tasol, Krais Tasol (Scripture Alone, Grace ship services, and showings of Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone).” 2) Pointing to the cross of Jesus Christ while explaining Luther’s Rose at a the 2003 movie. I presentation on Martin Luther at Wabag Lutheran Church on October 30. 3) Marching from Wabag to Irelya on suppose some might think there Reformation Day October 31. 4) Smiling women on the October 30 seven-mile march from Wabag to Birip singing and was too much focus on Martin joyfully proclaiming their salvation through Jesus Christ. The woman in the front has “500” painted on her face. Luther, however if a person Anniversary of the Reformation. ciples of Jesus Christ. The Holy central to their life and faith. truly focuses on Luther, they We could all learn something Spirit used their witness to bring When Jesus Christ is boldly pro- focus on Jesus Christ because from the Papua New Guineans many back to the faith and bap- claimed, the Holy Spirit is able Luther always points to Christ. who did the exact opposite. tize many more. In some areas to work and Christ builds His I heard that there were Luther- They used October to proudly there were mass baptisms of 50 church as He promised in Mat- an churches in the United States celebrate and proclaim who they or more souls. We used the cele- thew 16:16-18. May God protect that really didn’t do much if are to the entire valley and coun- brations to remind believers that and richly bless His Church anything to celebrate the 500th try: baptized and redeemed dis- the cross of Jesus Christ must be here. Contact Information in PNG Our contact information in Our e-mail addresses are: For videos and more photos, PNG is as follows: [email protected] visit www.facebook.com/ Martin and Marie Dicke [email protected] DickesBacktoPNG. PO Box 803 To subscribe to this newsletter To contribute to our mission Mt. Hagen 281 or become a Prayer Partner, work, please see the bottom of Western Highlands Province please visit http://eepurl.com/ the page on the other side. Papua New Guinea b9Y4X1. Two Faithful Harvest Workers in the Fields (Luke 10:2)

After taking communion at Irelya on October 31, I walked among the crowd and met two very interesting and historic people. On the left is Ete who was among the people my Uncle Bill thanked in his message (at left) for helping My uncle, the Rev. Dr. Willard Burce, was invited to preach at Irelya’s Refor- them when they arrived at Irelya in 1949. At the right is Pastor Pes Ivi. mation Day celebrations. Unable to come, he sent a message which I was privi- When the Porgera was opened up for mission work in 1962, he walked the leged to read. His subject was: “What would Martin Luther say if he were here mountains with my dad and Rev. Ob Spruth to begin mission work there. He with you today?” It is in English. If you would like a copy, please contact us. still serves the Porgera area today as the pastor at Mungulepa Kongregesin. Devotional Thought: Apologists for Salvation by Grace It can be challenging to be a “apologists” for it just like in the the Lollards of England, and Jan the church back to Jesus and the faithful Lutheran in Papua New Reformation. But at times dis- Hus (c1369-1415) and the Huss- Holy Scriptures, but it wasn’t Guinea and proclaim the Scrip- cussions are futile. One Luther- ites of Czechoslovakia. Hus was that easy. And it never will be, tural precept of salvation by an church in Muritaka found burned at the stake in July 1415 until Jesus returns. Like all the grace through Jesus Christ alone. their weekly arguments with the after the Council of Constance Apostles, may we remain faithful A new church might come into SDA church to be so distracting who also sent a delegation to dig to the Lord Jesus until the end. they just abandoned their up the bones of your area with new “bebop” “Surely I am coming soon.” church building near the road, and burn them posthumously. music and half your congrega- Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. tion leave to join it, not really went up the hill about 300 Then came Martin Luther (1483- thinking about or understanding yards, and built a new one. 1546). He simply wanted to point Revelation 22:20 the theology it professes. Argu- For awhile in the history of the ments might break out with the world the Good News of Jesus local Seventh Day Adventist Christ was all but lost. Century church who tell you that because by century, council by council, you worship on Sunday and eat pope by pope teachings and pigs, you are damned. Or you practices were added to the faith might be confronted by one of that are not found in Scripture. the “movements” who still call As early as the 1100s there were themselves Lutheran, but think some who saw these problems they know more than Luther and advocated for reform. All and profess a theology that is were met with fierce resistance anything but Jesus. As a result, by the established church. There faithful Lutherans here tend not was Peter Waldo (c1140-c1205) to be “apologetic” for their and the of France, faith, but rather active John Wycliffe (c1320-1384) and Marching up the long and very steep Irelya hill on October 31.

There are many opportuni- To support the work of Martin and Alternatively, you can send checks You can also send your gifts to our ties to serve as short-term or Marie Dicke with a tax deductible payable to the LCMS with “PNG/ dear friends at the world famous: GEO missionaries. Check gift or to establish an ongoing Dickes” on the Memo Line to: out the current list and Mission Central download an application at giving plan, visit lcms.org/dicke or lcms.org/service. Click on call LCMS Mission Advancement at LCMS Mission Advancement 40718 Highway E-16 “Service Opportunities.” (888) 843-5267. 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd. Mapleton, IA 51034 St. Louis, MO 63122-7226 (712) 882-1029