A shared story of faith across generations

The Lutheran Church in New Guinea has been richly blessed because Australian Lutherans said yes to God’s call. In obedience to Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, they crossed geographical and cultural boundaries, often into remote and difficult terrain, to share the word of God. They built relationships, learnt local languages and served with patience and commitment. Through the proclamation of the gospel and their life among the people, God made known the saving love of Jesus to communities that previously had little connection to the wider world.

This shared story began with God’s work in the life and calling of Johann Flierl. As a young boy, Flierl was not considered especially strong or likely to succeed. Yet as he grew, so too did his curiosity and desire to learn. Through reading the stories in a small, illustrated booklet describing those who travelled to serve in other parts of the world, Flierl came to believe that even those thought to be far from God could be reached through the gospel.

After sensing a personal call, he began training at the Neuendettelsau Mission House. His early ministry took him to Australia, where he served at Light Pass in South Australia and later at Hermannsburg (Ntaria) in the Northern Territory. There, he began to learn the practical realities of working with another culture, including language learning, teaching and building relationships within Aboriginal communities.

After marrying Louise Auricht, Flierl responded to the emerging opportunity in New Guinea. Despite repeated delays, administrative challenges and a shipwreck that disrupted their travel, he arrived at Finschhafen in 1886, beginning what he later described as reaching ‘the land of my destiny’.

What he encountered there was very different from anything he had known before. The climate was demanding, and communication required patience, humility and a willingness to learn. Together with Georg Tremel, Flierl established a mission station at Simbang, and their focus extended beyond proclamation to building trust through presence, service and education. A school became central to their approach, demonstrating that they had come to invest in the community rather than take from it.

The early years were marked by significant challenges. Tremel and Flierl faced isolation, local resistance and the constant threat of illness, including malaria. Learning the local language and understanding cultural practices required time and perseverance. Despite these difficulties, further support arrived from abroad, which strengthened the small team. Relationships formed, trust grew, and the first signs of a local Christian community emerged, with the first baptism occurring in 1899.

Increasingly, it became clear that the future of the church would depend not only on foreigners but on local people taking up leadership in the life of the church. This vision developed further in the decades that followed. In 1956, 70 years after Flierl’s arrival, three Lutheran mission organisations came together at the first Synod held at Simbang. From this gathering emerged the Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Guinea (ELCONG). This marked a significant transition from mission work directed from overseas to the formation of an organised indigenous church. At the Ninth General Synod of ELCONG in 1973, Zurewe Zurenuoc was elected the first indigenous bishop of the church.

Following Papua New Guinea’s political independence in 1975, the church declared its own autonomy on 2 July 1976, becoming the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG). This represented a transfer of responsibility for mission, leadership, governance and administration into the hands of the local church.

This year, as the ELCPNG marks 140 years since the arrival of Johann Flierl and 50 years since autonomy, it stands as a living witness to the redeeming and transforming work of Christ, sustained through generations of faithful service. Its anniversary theme ‘Liberated by Christ. Stand Firm. Be Fruitful’ (Galatians 5:1; John 15:16) expresses its ongoing commitment to remain rooted in Christ and in his gospel of redemption, liberation and salvation, while continuing the propagation of the gospel in the world.

Many in the LCANZ who were involved with ELCPNG remain closely connected to the church and its people. They continue to meet regularly for fellowship and prayer and to remember the communities and leaders they once served alongside. These gatherings reflect an enduring expression of partnership in the gospel, which continues to shape and encourage both churches.

As we reflect on what God has done through the partnership between the LCANZ and the ELCPNG, we are reminded that we remain part of his mission. Having received the saving grace of Christ, we are sent to share the gospel with others. The same Holy Spirit who once sent people from Australia across oceans now sends us across streets, into conversations and into the ordinary moments of daily life. We are called to bear witness to Christ’s love, to build genuine relationships and to share the gospel in word and action.