The remote village of Leileiyafa in Alotau District, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, recently hosted a major spiritual and community event: the District Quarter Youth Activity.
The event was organised by the Alotau District Seventh-day Adventist Church, operating under the Northern Milne Bay Mission. The program brought together many young people and their leaders for a weekend focused on deepening faith and engaging in meaningful service. The opening ceremony was led by the district youth coordinator Cameron Jack. In his address, Mr Jack praised the hard work of the organising teams and challenged the youth to take the spiritual energy of the weekend back to their home churches and communities.
Leileiyafa represents a relatively new work area for the Adventist Church and hosting a major district event there was seen as a powerful way to provide both spiritual and physical support to the local congregation. The program was not exclusive to church members; the Leileiyafa community was encouraged to participate in all of the activities.
The schedule was carefully planned to offer a balanced mix of activities that nurtured the attendees holistically—spiritually, mentally and physically. Central to the program were spiritual sessions, including powerful worship services, reflective sharing times and in-depth studies of the Bible, which created an atmosphere conducive to personal spiritual growth and commitment. Beyond worship, a significant portion of the program was dedicated to practical life and leadership development, including specialised leadership training workshops designed to equip young leaders with the necessary skills to organise, mentor and serve effectively within their local church settings.
Health awareness presentations were also conducted, promoting the Adventist Church’s emphasis on a healthy lifestyle and the principles of whole-person wellbeing. Practical and physical activities included marching drills, public exhibition exercises and a variety of games.
A core focus of the event was service. The youth were challenged to not just listen but to actively live out their faith by participating in local projects, providing practical assistance to the community. The primary aim was to strengthen the newly established church at Leileiyafa, making it a sustainable and vibrant centre of influence.
