Early Life

Geoffrey Pomaleu was born on December 8, 1961, in Nonga Hospital, Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. The eldest of five siblings and one of a set of twins, he was born to Job Pomaleu Kepo and Martha. They were teachers at Rugen Harbor school, near Kambubu at the time. His twin sister, Julian Sevua, died on June 14, 2012.

Pomaleu began his elementary schooling in 1966 when his father was serving in the Baining Mountains in the southeastern part of East New Britain Province. After a period of two years, the family moved to Kambubu High School in 1967. His father assisted with the construction of the new college at Sonoma. He completed grade 6 in 1974 and commenced high school at Kambubu in 1975.

In 1977, the family transferred to Omaura Bible School in the Eastern Highlands Province. With his three sisters Julian, Glender, and Julie, and his two brothers, Ivan and Max, Geoffrey Pomaleu worked for a short time with his father on the farm and then moved to Manus to experience life in the village for three years. Pomaleu moved to Bougainville in 1983 and then to Port Moresby in 1984 and 1985. During those years of instability, between 1977 and 1985. he worked at various times at building construction, in a second-hand shop, and at a take-away food shop in Port Moresby.

Ministry and Service

Despite being considered a failure by the education system at that time, Pomaleu maintained his faith and faithfulness in church programs taking leadership roles when and where he was needed. Much of Pomaleu's involvement was with the youth department of the local church. Following his return to Manus in 1985, he was convinced by his parents to return to Omaura to do a Level 1 Bible Study program in 1986. The months that followed gave Pomaleu a sense of career. Up until that time he had not really considered ministry as a career choice.

Following his graduation from Omaura Bible School, Pomaleu was invited by the Morobe Mission to be a church pastor. After two years of pastoral ministry in 1988 and 1989, he applied to study for a Diploma in theology at Sonoma Adventist College in East New Britain. He was surprised to be accepted. There he met and married Jochabed Sonos whose family came from Mussau Island, New Ireland Province. He graduated with a Diploma in theology in 1992. His first-born son, Nathan, was born at Sonoma. While at Sonoma, he assisted with the establishment of a new church in the Baining Mountains where he had visited many times as a child.

Following his graduation, Geoffrey and his family was appointed to the Sepik Mission where he served as a Chaplain for Passam National High School and a church pastor for the nearby village church. He also conducted religious instruction programs for Passam primary school from 1993 to 1994. In 1995, Geoffrey was accepted to enter the degree program in Theology at Pacific Adventist University. While studying at Pacific Adventist University Jochabed and Geoffrey had two more children: Joan and Geoffrey Jr. He graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Theology in 1998.

The following year, Geoffrey and his family were appointed to serve in the Biala District, West New Britain Province. He served just one year in Bialla and at the end of 1999 he was appointed to serve in Madang as the Youth Director for the Madang Manus Mission where he remained until 2003. While working in Madang he attended his first summer school at Avondale University College in Australia.

Significant Events

In 2001, Pomaleu was ordained to the ministry as a pastor of the Seventh day Adventist Church by the Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM) president, Wilson Stephen, and the Madang Manus Mission president, John Wawa, at the Madang town church. While serving in Madang Manus Mission in 2003, Pomaleu was debilitated with a serious illness that almost cost his life. After recovering, he was appointed to serve in PNGUM as the youth director in 2004. He was reappointed in 2005 and remained until 2008. He graduated with a Master’s degree in youth ministry in 2006.

In 2009, Pomaleu was invited to serve the Morobe Mission as the general secretary. After serving as the general secretary from 2009 to 2011, he was invited to serve as the president of Morobe Mission taking over from Piuki Tasa who was retiring. In 2015, he was appointed president of the PNGUM.

Pomaleu took up his duties as union president in September of 2015. But within just a few months his health condition started deteriorating and he found himself under continuous medical care. On July 4, 2016, he died in the Angau General Hospital. Left to mourn were his wife and three children. Jochabed Pomaleu continued to be the children’s ministries director for the PNGUM.

Contribution

Geoffrey Pomaleu’s leadership skills enabled him to relate to all classes of people. In 2000, he led the Madang Manus youth to a congress held at Wom Memorial Beach in Wewak Town. In 2005, while he was serving as the PNGUM youth director, he organized a successful country-wide youth congress at Kambubu High School. In 2007, he and his team led the largest ever delegation of Pathfinders from Papua New Guinea to a South Pacific Division Pathfinder Camporee, and then hosted a PNGUM camporee at the end of the year in Manus. While serving the local mission in Morobe, Pomaleu also helped expand the Morobe Mission’s infrastructure. A multipurpose hall was constructed, primary schools were developed, a secondary school was opened in Ragiampun Markham district, and donations were given to assist smaller missions.

Anne, a devoted mother of three and a faithful church member and leader at Busanim Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church, had been tirelessly searching for a job to provide for her family for five long years. Despite her previous experience, she faced numerous challenges in her job search. Nevertheless, she remained steadfast in her faith, upholding her request to God in prayer while searching for opportunities.

Finally, one day, God blessed Anne with a position as a female guard with Guard Dog Security Service. She worked diligently in this position for six months until a payroll officer vacancy was advertised. Anne then prayerfully applied for the position, and her application reached the desk of the payroll officer.

To Anne's amazement, the payroll officer immediately called her for an interview. As Anne walked up to the office, the payroll officer could see tears of joy in her eyes as she signed the contract. It was a moment of divine blessing for Anne and her family.

Today, Anne is a purpose-driven, ambitious, and outstanding staff member who is always thankful for the opportunity she was given. She's glad to have crossed paths with the payroll officer who gave her a chance.

Anne's message to those who are still searching for employment is to do whatever your hand finds to do diligently, even if it is not your trade. She encourages people to stay focused on their goals, not to give up, and trust in God's perfect timing. Anne's story is a true testament to the power of perseverance and faith.

In conclusion, Anne's story is a powerful example of how perseverance and faith can lead to success. We hope that her story inspires others who may be going through a difficult time in their job search to trust in God and remain steadfast in their faith.

As Danny Kulu and his son Matthew hurried down the slippery path of Warakalap mountain, headed for the hospital, they knew they were facing an uphill battle. The young man on Danny's back was in great pain, and the wet conditions made the track treacherous. Despite being careful with his footing, Danny slipped and they both fell hard on the wet ground. Danny heard the crack from his back as he hit the ground, and his head went dizzy. He quickly got up, picked up his son, and hurried to the waiting vehicle.

Weeks later, Danny was advised to get an x-ray to determine the cause of his severe back pain. The x-ray revealed that he had dislocated and cracked his spine, and the doctors predicted that he could potentially be paralyzed. Danny was understandably scared and worried about his future, but he never lost hope in the power of God. He knew that with the Lord on his side, he would be able to overcome any obstacle.

After a month of prayer and trust in God, the Lord honored Danny's prayers and healed him. He was discharged from the hospital and returned home, eventually making his first visit to his church on crutches. Today, Danny is healed and able to walk from his home in Warakalap to attend church at Busanim Creek. He is now an elder at the church, grateful for the Lord's miraculous power in his life.

This is Emily, a 11 year old girl from Morobe Patrol Post. I came across this shy little girl 4 years ago. Emily is not an Adventist and she lives with her bubumeri or 'baka' up at Busanim mountain. She has a little sister named Esther about 4 yrs old which she takes along every Sabbath, Wednesdays and Fridays(FNF) to church. Since the day I met her I made it my business to take care of her. She was eager to join the Busanim Creek Adventurer Club so I bought her Adventurer uniform and registered her into the club. Little Emily became a little missionary to her family and witnessed to all her cousins, her aunts and even 'baka' or grandmother. While I was away on holiday last week, little Emily decided to be baptized. I didn’t know, no one even told me. 

This Sabbath morning I saw little Emily dressed in white. I sat next to her and her little sister, not even a clue that she will be baptized. When they called the baptismal candidates to go in front little Emily stood up and walked to the front. I grabbed her hand and asked her if she's going to be baptized, she smiled back at me and replied, "yes". Fighting back all my tears I squeezed her hand and said ok as she made her way to the front to get ready for her baptism. 

No family members were present to witness her baptism, just Emily herself and her little sister Esther. 

I looked up to the sky and prayed, "Dear Lord take care of this young soul. Help me to be a mentor. 

Heaven rejoices my child. God will not fail you 🙏

Story by: Rachelle Glanville
Read Original Post HERE

It was a rainy morning as Danny Kulu was hurrying down the slippery track of Warakalap mountain with one of his boys on his back to take him to the hospital. The young man on his back was in great pain as he was clinging onto Danny's back as they were coming down to go to the hospital. 

Matthew (his son) is around his 20s and is killing his back as he was hurrying down the slippery road to get to help. The shower has made the track slippery so Danny was carefully placing his feet as they were ascending, all of a sudden Danny's feet slipped and they both fell so hard on the slippery path with Mathew on his back. He could hear the sound of the crack from his back as he hit the ground, his head went dizzy and his eyes went dark as he blinked to regain his sight again. It is just a fall I'll be okay, he thought as he quickly got on his feet picked up his son and hurried to the waiting vehicle.

Weeks later his situation got worse so he was advised to go for an x-ray to find out the cause of his severe back pain. His X-ray showed that Danny had dislocated and cracked his spine, he returned home really worried about what may be next. A couple of days later Danny was admitted to Angau because of a serious spine injury.

The hospital was not the place for me, he thought but the doctors say his case is serious and could lead to disability. Through those days on his sick bed Danny has never lost sight of the Lord, he knows that with the Lord, he can be able to walk again.

After a month and some weeks of total surrender and faithfully trusting God, the Lord honoured Danny's prayers and grant him his heart's desire. He was discharged from the hospital and sent home, after a couple of weeks at home he made his first visit to his church on his crutches. 

Danny has been healed, he now walks from his home at Warakalap and comes to attend church here at Busanim Creek, he is now an elder at the church today thanks to God.

Romans 6:23

1 Timothy 6:15, 16

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6

Psalm 146:3, 4

John 11:11-14

Colossians 3:4

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

John 5:28, 29

Revelation 20:1-10