Sahu installed Bishop of Malaita

HUNDREDS of people from the Church of Melanesia gathered at Fiu Village on Sunday to witness Malaita’s new bishop Sam Sahu installed. Rev. Sahu became the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Malaita. He took over from retired Bishop Terry Brown.Sunday’s consecration ceremony began with a welcome ceremony for invited guests from overseas, Honiara, other provinces and parts of Malaita.This was followed by a procession led by Gwailiki panpipers to Christ the King Cathedral. Senior Bishop of Central Solomons Rev. Charles Koete conducted the Liturgy.Reverend Cliff Bird of the United Church gave a sermon on the theme "Participating in the work of the Kingdom of God."Rev. Bird highlighted the need for human participation in the work of the Kingdom of God.He said the challenge today for the church and for its leaders is to proclaim the word of God in ever-changing and ever new situations."This is no easy challenge for the church and its leaders but it is a challenge that must be addressed."Within these challenges are windows of opportunities and it is necessary and urgent task of the church and leaders to identify these windows of opportunities and translate them into mission opportunities. This must be the new paradigm for the mission in our nation and beyond," he said.Bishop Sahu, when giving his address to the congregation, said he look forward to work together with church leaders, political leaders, chiefs and business leaders."We must stand together and together we must go forward,” he said. "We need to address critical areas such as the gospel and culture and areas as discipleship. Together we must work for good leadership and quality leaders," he said."Together we are called to lead and to serve."Bishop Sahu said he wants to see the church in Malaita built with the power of God. "To make an impact for this nation especially Malaita, we have to hold our values and beliefs together," he said.Feast and entertainments from various parishes around Malaita took place after the service.The ceremony ended with an Island night dinner hosted by John Lamani and his wife Catherine, at their residence at Gegema, near Kilufi’i Hospital. Bishop Sahu is from East Kwara’ae in Malaita Province and has four children.He obtained his Masters of Theology from Trinity Theological College in Singapore and Licenticite of Theology and Graduate Diploma from Auckland University in New Zealand. Prior to taking up his new job, he was secretary to the Melanesian Board of Mission.He has been working for the Church of Melanesia since 1990.Governor General Sir Nathanial Waena, Attorney General Gabriel Suri, Premier of Malaita Richard Na’amo Irosaea and representatives of other churches also attended the ceremony.





Source: SIBC