More than 80 children from the small Adventist church in Kemabolo village, outside Port Moresby, received “Big Rescue Bibles” when Central Papua Conference (CPC) Children’s Ministries Director Ruthy Batu visited in early August this year.
Of the 103 members at Kemabolo Adventist Church, more than 60 are children. Illiteracy continues to be a major challenge in discipling children and older folks in CPC and Papua New Guinea. But a thrilled Mrs Batu watched as children, assisted by church leaders and other adults, immersed themselves in their newly treasured Bibles using the discovery study method provided by the Discipleship Ministries Team from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.
Furthering the discipleship work, the Kemabolo church also initiated a Bible study every Sunday evening at 5 PM, which attracts church members of all ages—including children. The church also operates Kemabolo Adventist Elementary School which has two volunteer teachers, who say their passion for children, and to see them learn more about Jesus and His love for them, has driven them to continue teaching, despite no pay.
“The children ministries department has distributed more than 5000 Bibles throughout 10 of the districts in the CPC,” said Mrs Batu. “Despite the efforts of all involved, there is still an overwhelming need to meaningfully resource churches with Bibles and other Christian literature, enabling families to facilitate discipleship and Bible study for children at home, even in the most remote parts of the CPC.”
