The Strategic Preparation for the Opening of the Pendidikan Nazarene Untuk Pelayanan (PNUP) Learning Center in the Papua District, held on 12-15 March 2026, marked an important step forward in strengthening theological education in the district. The gathering brought together district leaders, administrators, teachers, and prospective participants, all united by a shared vision to equip and prepare future leaders for ministry. The meeting reflected a collective commitment to expanding opportunities for learning, leadership development, and discipleship in Papua.
This meeting established a unified direction, namely preparing a structured, sustainable, and contextual theological education system for ministers and church leaders in the Papua district. Priorities that had remained at the conceptual and planning stages began to take concrete, measurable form. One important achievement of this activity was the discussion and agreement on the Terms of Reference, which provided a clear direction for future program implementation. Furthermore, the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PNUP Field Sealands and the Papua district affirmed their shared commitment to building a strong and sustainable educational ministry. This agreement was not merely administrative in nature, but reflected the commitment of both parties to preparing a generation of qualified ministers.
Operationally, the Learning Center’s readiness is beginning to be seen through the formation of a management structure, the appointment of teaching staff, and the development of an academic calendar and teaching schedule. All of these elements demonstrate that the preparation process has moved from the planning stage to concrete and systematic implementation. This activity not only focuses on systems but also places significant emphasis on human resource readiness. Orientation for teachers and prospective participants is crucial in ensuring that each individual understands their roles and responsibilities. Teachers are equipped with a deeper understanding of the principles of the Course of Study (COS) implementation, while participants begin to understand the learning objectives, the educational process, and their involvement in supervised ministry as an integral part of ministry formation.
Rev. Roni Gunawan, Field Education Coordinator, stated, “I hope that all the commitments established in this activity can be maintained and consistently followed up on. May this program be an effective means of equipping God’s servants, both lay people and those called to become pastors, so that they can serve with greater readiness, maturity, and faithfulness in accordance with God’s calling.”
With the Learning Center officially scheduled to open in May 2026, high hopes are pinned on this program. The PNUP Papua Learning Center is expected to be an effective tool for equipping God’s servants, both laypeople and those called to become pastors. Through this process, the church is expected to be further enriched with leaders who are ready, mature, and faithful in carrying out God’s calling, and able to encourage accelerated church growth throughout the Field Sealands. More than just technical preparation, this step is seen as an initial foundation for ministry growth in the Papua district. This initiative is also part of decentralizing the course of study across various areas in the Sealands Field which is expected to expand access to quality theological education.
