The Rumba and Arawa Town Seventh-day Adventist Churches on the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, conducted a God First stewardship program, focusing on engagement and service within the local prison from November 13 to 18.
The program, run in the evenings, included a Sabbath school and church service conducted inside the prison. The initiative offered prisoners an opportunity to experience spiritual teachings and fellowship with church members.
“The prisoners really enjoyed the teachings and the fellowship with the Seventh-day Adventist members,” said Bougainville Mission stewardship director Pastor David Tovirika. In response to the program, 24 prisoners signed iPromise cards and asked for Bible studies to prepare for baptism.
On Sunday morning (November 19), the two congregations joined forces in a community service project. They volunteered at the town’s police station, undertaking tasks such as grass cutting, drain cleaning, and maintaining the prisoner-holding cells.
Activities were concluded on Sunday afternoon with the church members providing a feast for the prisoners, police officers and correctional officers.
As part of their ongoing stewardship and community service efforts, the church members are conducting ongoing Bible studies and providing additional support to the prisoners.
