A weeklong evangelistic meeting in New Hanover District, Papua New Guinea, resulted in the baptism of 19 people, with 17 more responding to an appeal for future baptism.
Held from June 22 to 28 at Vosiaral village in New Britain New Ireland Mission (NBNIM), the event drew hundreds of attendees for open-air meetings under the theme “End Time Message for Jesus.” The evening messages were presented by district director Pastor John Freely, while morning devotions were led by theology practicum student Jafix Pavinke from Sonoma Adventist College.
New Hanover District has long faced challenges, including tribal violence, limited infrastructure and strong religious influence from other Christian churches. “We believe that only the Word of God can unite our people and bring lasting hope,” said Pastor Freely.
In his messages, Pastor Freely encouraged attendees to stay grounded in Scripture and make a personal commitment to Jesus. “The Bible is the foundation of our Christian faith. Teachings not rooted in the Bible are not from God,” he said. “The signs of the times are being fulfilled before our eyes. We must commit to Christ before it’s too late.”
The program also included training in the Alive in Jesus children’s curriculum, led by provincial children’s ministries coordinator Elaine Okove and local leader Lendra Shadrach. Around 80 participants, both men and women, took part. “We used to think Children’s Ministries was just for mothers,” said one participant during group discussion. “But this training helped us see that it’s for all of us. We must teach our children both at church and at home.”
The evangelistic series concluded with baptisms conducted by theology practicum student Ave Koe. “Jesus is calling His people out of Babylon to join His remnant Church,” he said during the final appeal. “You must make your choice to stand for Jesus.”
Many of those baptised were former members of other denominations or local independent churches. Pastor Freely attributed the results to the groundwork done by local church members using Discipleship Empowerment Training (DET) materials. “They used what they had learned in Bible studies and small groups to nurture these new believers,” he said.
Among the new members was Selina Joanis, who had faced resistance for her faith. “My parents and I accepted the truth and struggled to uphold all biblical teachings. My husband is from another denomination and I was attacked for my beliefs. But now I’ve chosen to follow Jesus through baptism,” she said.
Reflecting on the district’s challenges, Pastor Freely said that reaching remote areas often requires paddling for hours by canoe due to poor road access and mobile network coverage. “We have only two full-time gospel workers for multiple scattered churches. We need more workers and volunteers,” he said.
He also noted that many residents are illiterate and have not received formal education, and that health services are limited across the islands. “But despite the difficulties, we have Jesus to share,” he added.
Pastor Freely has asked the wider Church to support New Hanover District through prayers and practical assistance.
