Port Moresby’s Jackson International Airport has been flooded with Seventh-day Adventists today (April 24) as international speakers arrive for the Papua New Guinea for Christ program. While some ministers and lay people had already flown in, many more will arrive between now and Friday, when many of the programs begin.
With a planned 2000 evangelistic programs across the country in the next few weeks, the excitement and anticipation among international attendees is building.
While local ministers and lay people will provide most of the speakers and support staff, all four unions of the South Pacific Division (SPD) are providing speakers.
The Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) is supplying around a quarter of the international speakers and, according to TPUM president, Pastor Maveni Kaufononga, those who have been given the opportunity are very excited.
The PNG for Christ program will help equip and prepare ministers from TPUM for their strategic goals moving forward.
“Our strategy has been ‘I Will Go’,” said Pastor Kaufononga, who will be preaching in the Western Highlands at Sopas, where the old Adventist hospital was based. “This year we are going to workplaces but next year it is going to the ends of the world. So this is really a good preparation for us at TPUM, in our hope that we will be able to send some missionaries next year.
The TPUM is hoping to send missionaries as part of the SPD partnership with the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), which includes countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines. “I’m very happy that this program [PNG for Christ] has come along,” said Pastor Kaufononga. “Many of our pastors have come this way in preparation for next year so that they might be able to go further than the Pacific and further outside of our Division next year. We are working with the SPD and SSD to find some openings, not only in the ministry space but also in the teaching field and other areas.”
According to Pastor Kaufononga, almost every mission in TPUM has sent a representative to PNG for Christ. “Every mission has their own way of supporting their local pastors to attend but they have all been encouraged to send team members to this amazing event.”
President of the General Conference, Pastor Ted Wilson, arrives in PNG tomorrow (April 25) and will conduct a program in Jiwaka, Western Highlands.
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