Vol. 3 No. 1 January-February 2008

International News

Developments in Papua New Guinea

By Rod Matthews, Mission Developer

Proposed mining site near the Mt. Wilhelm church.

Greetings from the children and the congregation at Mt. Wilhelm

Papua New Guinea is a developing nation in the Pacific, north of Australia. Much of the country is mountainous and travel is difficult. We have a congregation of about 120 people in the highlands at the base of the highest mountain in the country, Mt. Wilhelm, which is 14,800 feet high.

Mining rights have been granted in the area very close to the church. Mining for copper will start in 2014. The local people are subsistence farmers and rely on water from the river for their needs. The mine will dramatically affect the mountain they identify with, fill the air with dust and risk water quality.

Mining could bring with it other problems, such as alcohol and drug abuse, prostitution and HIV. Other mining operations in the country and in other developing nations have resulted in illness and loss of traditional land, and in some cases the people’s cultural identity. The traditional landowners in these situations are often poorly represented or ignored, resulting in alienation and conflict.

There are four tribes in the area, with the possibility of conflict among themselves and the mining company and its employees. In this culture, payback or revenge is common, and tribal disputes in the country have escalated in the last few years, particularly with the use of firearms, including automatic weapons funded by drugs. Law and order is a serious concern for the nation.

There are some potential positives: an improved highway, communication, a proper airfield, medical facilities, schools and job opportunities.

The Mt. Wilhelm members request your prayers for the following:

"While we would prefer that the mining does not take place here, we seek God’s guidance and intervention upon the hearts of government officials and commercial operators to see and take seriously the needs and circumstances of the local people in all decisions they make.

"The congregation seeks to grow in wisdom by becoming attuned to the undesirable influences that have the potential to put the community at serious risk, and we want to become wisely proactive in taking advantage of the new opportunities.

"We want the environment to be protected for the health and well-being of all who are in the area.

"We pray that law and order will prevail."

Mt. Wilhelm’s annual congregational festival was held in the Highlands with the theme "The Glory of Christ" because he alone is worthy of glory and honor and praise.

Pastoral coordinator, Mark Latham, and his colleague, Matthew Gudze, traveled to Mt. Wilhelm from Australia and reported the highlights, which included the blessing of nine little children and presentations by the church youth and children’s church group. Two church hymns printed on a large cloth screen were a great help so the whole congregation could sing and learn to read in unity.

A ground-turning ceremony was also conducted for a new church building.
Donations of clothing, wool, Bibles, books and medicines from churches in Australia and from the public were gratefully received. Literacy class materials were also delivered to help in the education of the congregation. Next year five women will graduate from this class.

Cooperation between Australia and Papua New Guinea is strong, with women from the Sydney congregation donating money to purchase a sewing machine, cloth and a stove so the Mt. Wilhelm church can better provide for its members. The Bathurst congregation donated money for the printing costs of a magazine. The Canberra congregation contributed to purchasing cement for the new church building in Mt. Wilhelm, and the Wollongong congregation covered the travel costs so Elizabeth Genora from Port Moresby could travel to Mt. Wilhelm to lead women’s ministry activities and encourage the women in the congregation.

An annual general meeting of the church board in Port Moresby was conducted. The PNG congregations wish to thank everyone for their prayers and gifts and give God the glory for the work he is doing in the region and in the lives of his people.