Jayapura, Jubi – Meki Nawipa and Deputy Governor Deinas Geley handed over Rp2 billion in assistance from the Central Papua Provincial Government for church construction projects in Puncak Regency on Monday (25/5/2026).

The funding was allocated for the construction of church buildings for the Efata Kago 2 and Jordan Kago 1 congregations of the Indonesian Gospel Tabernacle Church (GKII).

The assistance reflects the Central Papua provincial government’s commitment to supporting the religious life of local communities.

In his remarks, Governor Nawipa said the church construction assistance was both an expression of gratitude to God and a demonstration of the regional government’s commitment to supporting religious services and strengthening worship facilities for the people.

“The assistance for the construction of the Efata and Jordan church buildings is an expression of gratitude to God and a form of the Central Papua Provincial Government’s commitment to supporting religious services and strengthening facilities for religious activities in Puncak Regency,” Nawipa said.

He added that similar assistance had also been distributed across eight other regencies in Central Papua, including to various religious organizations, as part of the government’s commitment to supporting the social and spiritual lives of the people of Central Papua.

The governor also expressed appreciation to the people of Puncak Regency for their support and prayers during the regional election process.

“My Deputy Governor and I would like to thank the church congregations in Puncak Regency who gave us support, prayers, and blessings. Thank you for welcoming us warmly and giving us the opportunity to present our vision and mission to the community,” he said.

Nawipa expressed hope that the funding would help accelerate the completion of the church construction projects so that local residents could soon worship comfortably in the new buildings.

Meanwhile, Central Papua Social Affairs Head Roni Misikmbo expressed appreciation and gratitude to the governor and deputy governor for their concern and attention toward the needs of Christian congregations in Puncak Regency.

“The government is present as God’s representative to ease the burdens of the people, including the congregations of Efata and Jordan, which have faced obstacles in church construction due to limited funding,” Misikmbo said.

According to him, the assistance represents concrete attention from the regional government toward the social and religious development of communities in Central Papua.

He added that church construction had previously faced delays due to budget shortages. With the new assistance, he hopes the construction work can continue and be completed on schedule.

“We hope the church construction can be completed soon so that the people of God can worship properly and comfortably in the new church buildings,” he said.

The church construction assistance was symbolically received by Beonias Wonda on behalf of GKII Jemaat Efata and Denilson P. Wonda on behalf of GKII Jemaat Jordan.

The handover ceremony took place in an atmosphere of togetherness, kinship, and gratitude from local residents, who welcomed the Central Papua provincial government’s support for the development of religious facilities in the mountainous region of Central Papua.

Also attending the event were the regents of Puncak, Deiyai, Paniai, and Puncak Jaya, members of the Papuan People’s Assembly representing the Puncak electoral district, the Chairperson of the Puncak Regional Legislative Council, the deputy regents of Puncak and Intan Jaya, as well as officials from the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of Central Papua Province and Puncak Regency. (*)