Long-term gospel partnership
Pastor Greg Schiller has returned to Australia after more than a 30-year partnership in the gospel with our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG).
Greg began his ministry in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1984 as a vicar on Siassi Island and at Memorial Lutheran Church, Madang.
After completing his theological training at Luther Seminary (now Australian Lutheran College) in Adelaide in 1985, he returned to PNG the following year and served as the missionary of the Jiwaka district until 1990. In 1991 Greg joined the Lutheran Highlands Seminary, Ogelbeng. Over the next 10 years he served as lecturer, librarian, treasurer, dean of studies, vice-principal and acting principal.
In 2002 Greg returned to Australia as parish pastor at Nuriootpa in South Australia’s Barossa Valley.
At the end of 2005 he returned to PNG and served as lecturer and dean of studies at Martin Luther Seminary (MLS) in Lae until 2010. From 2011 until mid-2013 Greg worked as a resource developer in the evangelism department and lectured part-time at MLS.
Before returning to Australia in April this year, Greg again served at Lutheran Highlands Seminary, as lecturer.
Tributes to Greg when he returned to Australia also highlight the long and dedicated partnership between the ELCPNG and the LCA.
‘Rev Greg Schiller the seminary salutes you for a job well done, a life well lived and time well spent in the service of God’s kingdom, like many of your comrades who lived and served in this wonderful nation of ours. Now the time has come for you to depart from the shores of PNG but you will be remembered by many whom the Lord had touched through your ministry and time in PNG.’
– UGLPENG’s Wantok Nuis
This story was also published in the August 2016 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.
If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone Nevin on (08) 8267 7300 or email nevin.nitschke@lca.org.au. For more information, go to http://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/
Read more stories about volunteering at http://www.lcamission.org.au/category/join-gods-mission/volunteers/