A week-long Adventist youth rally brought a message of peace to a community affected by tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province.
Themed “Unmasking the secrets of Satan and restoring Christ’s peace”, the event was held from September 13 to 19 and gathered more than 100 Adventist young people at the Mulitaka High School.
Prior to the rally, fighting between local clans had resulted in deaths and extensive damage to property, including schools and churches. Mulitaka High School was closed, with teachers and students evacuated from the area.
Although tensions remained in the community, members of the clans involved in the fighting attended the rally, which included morning and evening presentations, prayer, music, seminars and youth activities.
Guest speaker Pastor Paul Bopalo said the young people “moved with faith” to host the rally despite tensions in the area. “The program, activities and the smiles the young people gave to the warring clans brought peace, comfort and joy to the hearts of the affected communities. The messages settled the tensions between the clans,” said Pastor Bopalo.
In one of his sermons, he spoke about the spiritual conflict behind the violence, pointing listeners to Christ as a source of peace and safety. “When there is no safety on earth, there’s safety in Jesus. When there is no peace on earth, there’s peace in Christ,” he said.
Rally organisers said members of the clans involved in the conflict responded positively to the program and asked for the event to be extended for a second week.
The initiative concluded with three baptisms and more people responding to an appeal indicating their interest in future baptism.
In his closing speech, Maip Mulitaka Maramuni District director Minister Solo Jamine thanked the young people for participating despite the tensions in the area. He encouraged them to continue supporting communities affected by tribal conflict so that “Christ’s peace can reign in the district”.
