Tuempinka Seventh-day Adventist Church (PNG), together with its two branch churches, witnessed the baptism of 76 people on Sabbath, July 25.
The first mass baptism witnessed by the congregation was conducted by district director Pastor Paul Lipu and resident pastor Dicks Neheza.
The baptisms were a direct response to small group ministries by the church that began in 2018, where church members conducted short devotions, answered Bible questions and prayed with families in the village.
In addition, the church created a “welcome home” program to target former church members where youth and adults both renewed their faith thanks to small group ministries.
Although these small groups were disrupted as a result of COVID-19, it allowed the church to create “zone fellowships” away from the church building and close to members’ homes.
“This exercise also proved successful because new interested members were added when the church moved closer to their homes. God really moved in this situation to achieve His purpose,” said church elder Donald Sitipa.
The church are planning to continue their “rezoned” church structure and have plans to conduct another mass baptism in the future.
