Corruption case before court

BY FRANCO NEBAS

THE Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELC) of Papua New Guinea has taken several of its senior employers to court on corruption related charges.
The first case involves church Finance Secretary James Pena, and ELC-PNG against a lessee of a prime property in Top Town, the other against three whistle blowers, and the last one against nine organizers of several protests in March.
The protests were addressed by Church Secretary Albert Tokave and legal adviser Dr Eric Kwa on April 11. They were described as an eruption of strong under currents of dissent against the church's management.
The church head office had grounded to a halt last week when all its workers at Ampo, Lae, walked out of their offices and sat outside the rain trees last Wednesday and Thursday. This happened after two whistle blowers, church valuer Andie Aitikus and business arm, Ampo Risk's, general manager Albert Selmbia were arrested and detained for two days and denied bail by police. Another female employee of Ampo Risk, Nancy Raymond, was missed by police arresting officers.
While the workers were sitting under the trees waiting for Mrs. Aitikus and Mr. Selmbia to be released, Assisting Bishop Zau Rapa lashed out at church worker, former journalist Chris Donald, and accused him of tarnishing his name in newspapers.
Mrs. Aitikus and Mr. Selmbia were detained by the police fraud squad last Tuesday on accusations of stealing close to K80,000 according to Finance Secretary James Pena. But church workers refuted the allegations in an affidavit stating that Mr Pena had over-stepped his responsibilities. They described his claims as "based on personal vendetta and retaliation and not on sound judgment". The allegations were referred to the church ombudsman in February.
The ombudsman, Goroka-based lawyer Brian Koningi, is currently at Ampo conducting investigations into the allegations against Mr. Pena. Much of the complaints raised in affidavits filed in the Lae district court last week accused Mr. Pena of entering into business deals without the approval of the church council, the highest administrative decision making body of the ELC church.
Mrs. Aitikus and Mr. Selmbia appeared in court last Thursday but the case was adjourned to the 15th of this month at the request of police. Mr. Pena has taken a restraining order on behalf of the church to stop the church employees from organizing any protest or going past 200 meters surrounding the church head office.

Stand Up for Jesus (Psalm7:15)

The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. Psalm 7:15

Troublemakers tend to self-destruct. There is no need to get worked up over their acts of deception. They are dishonest. They lie when the truth will suffice. The harm they intend to inflict on others comes back to hurt them. Troublemakers attempt to discredit those they are jealous of, and in the process, discredit themselves. Troublemakers conceive elaborate plans with evil intent. It is all about them and their agenda. They can easily tell us one thing and do another. With delight, they can push our buttons to get what they want. With a straight face, they can make up stories to embolden their position. Their deception is a means to an end. In their mind a good outcome justifies a polluted process. It doesn’t matter how they get to the goal as long as they reach the goal.

We stand up to them in the right spirit without crushing their spirit. They are totally insecure and fearful, afraid to admit their insecurities. Because their acceptance is based on performance, they are always looking for ways to impress others. They miss the point that they are totally and unconditionally accepted in Christ. He is our stability for security. It is not what we do that keeps us secure; it is who we are and whose we are. In Christ we have all we need. We do not have to impress others; we just need to be who we are in Him. The fruit of the Spirit will do the talking for us. People are impressed with follow-through, not fancy false promises.

We trust God with troublemakers. We are not their judge and jury. He can handle them in His timing and in His way. We have our own sins to confess and repent of on a regular basis. Our sins may not be as blatant, but they are still present. We may not sin in as pronounced a manner as a troublemaker; nonetheless we still struggle with dishonesty and deception. It may be on a smaller scale, but we still weigh in as ones who struggle with being troublemakers. So let’s contrast the life of a troublemaker by being a blessing maker. Let’s be a blessing instead of a curse. Let’s extend consolation instead of consternation. Let’s focus on giving instead of taking. Let’s be a solace instead of a pain. Let’s serve instead of being served. Let’s encourage instead of discourage.

Furthermore, we must pray for troublemakers to trust God. We must pray they will offer Him their lives for His glory. We can replace gossip with prayers to God on their behalf. At the right time and in the right way, we can help them understand their destructive ways. Otherwise, they will destroy themselves. They prepare destruction for themselves by preparing themselves for destruction. We can be a catalyst of Christ’s to guide them away from this path of self-destruction. But we must do everything out of love and respect in the context of our relationship. We can give them the respect they never had, and they may begin to respect themselves. God’s grace can change troublemakers into blessing makers. We are proof.-WH