TO REVIEW PREPARATIONS FOR THE 14TH NATIONAL CHURCH CHOIR FESTIVAL IN 2025, THE SECRETARY OF THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY GUIDANCE AND THE DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS VISITED MANOKWARI

Manokwari (DBK)— Johni Tilaar, Secretary of the Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance, Amsal Yowei, Director of Christian Religious Affairs, and the board members of the National Church Choir Festival Development Board (LPPN) visited Manokwari, West Papua Province, to review the preparations for the 14th National Church Choir Festival (Pesparawi) in 2025. At the VIP Room of Rendani Airport, Manokwari, West Papua, on the morning of Sunday, May 12, 2024, Luksen James Mayor, Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of West Papua, the board members of the Regional Church Choir Festival Development Board (LPPD) of West Papua Province, and the organising committee of the Pesparawi welcomed the delegation. Next, the delegation visited four competition venues: the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Petrus Amban, the Multipurpose Hall of the University of Papua, the Arfak Convention Hall of the West Papua Police Department, and the PKK Building of the West Papua Regional Government. After visiting the venues, the delegation proceeded to the LPPD Office of West Papua Province to attend a meeting with the LPPD board and the regional committee of the 2025 National Church Choir Festival. “We hope the arrival of the LPPN board will inspire us to successfully complete the Pesparawi. This is a church event, and we believe God will be present. Welcome to the land of the cassowary; God bless us all,” said the Head of the Regional Office in his welcome speech. Nataniel Madacan, Chairman of the LPPD of West Papua, reported on the progress of the Pesparawi preparations. “We had an audience with the Director General of Christian Community Guidance and the LPPN board in June 2023. Subsequently, in August, we received a decree from the Minister of Religious Affairs appointing West Papua as the host of the 14th National Church Choir Festival in 2025,” he explained. Madacan reported that the National Working Meeting of the LPPN was held in Manokwari in October 2023. In January 2024, a joint meeting with the provincial government of West Papua, the regional government of Manokwari Regency, the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of West Papua, and representatives of the church congregations was held. “We distributed the committee decrees on February 11, followed by the inaugural committee meeting on February 22, attended by all relevant parties, including FKUB. It was decided that the LPPD Office of West Papua Province would serve as the secretariat for the Pesparawi. We are ready to assist the committee in the preparation and execution of the Pesparawi,” he added. “In addition to hotels, we plan to use student dormitories for accommodation.

We hope participants will leave with a smile, as the regional government is prepared to assist them,” he said. “Of the many LPPDs in Indonesia, West Papua already has a representative office,” said Amsal Yowei, Director of Christian Religious Affairs and Secretary General of LPPN. Yowei encouraged, “I believe when we do something that glorifies God, He will bless our plans.” Yowei looked forward to input to improve the preparations. “We encourage the committee and the regional government to keep moving forward. Regarding costs, he concluded, ‘With faith that water can turn into wine, we believe that God will work, ensuring the success of the Pesparawi.’” Meanwhile, Oto Parorongan, Assistant III of the West Papua Regional Government and Chairman of the First Pesparawi National Committee, stated that the mascot launch for the Pesparawi was held at the West Papua Provincial Government Ceremony Grounds. This was followed by a joint assembly with the ASN of West Papua and the Youth of West Papua event, attended by the Regent of Manokwari, the heads of the regional offices and regional offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs throughout West Papua, and their staff. He concluded, “We will have an audience with the Regent of Manokwari and the Regional Secretary of West Papua Province after the launch.” After the presentations, the event continued with discussions and questions answered by all attendees.