“The Gulf Province is the last frontier of Papua New Guinea. We need to clean house both spiritually and physically.” - Governor Havila, Gulf Province, PNG Papua New Guinea is a land of over 800 different languages, high lush green hills and deep thick steamy jungle. The Gulf Province located in the south central portion of PNG is considered both remote and strategic. The availability of consumer goods is scarce but the prevalence of natural gas and oil has made this province one of the most strategic in PNG in recent years. Although high in natural resources, there has been absolutely no financial income or return into this province in the last 17 years! Since PNG gained its independence, this province has experienced little in terms of development and growth. The people of Kerema and the Gulf Province are a peace loving, but are asking to be taught the ways of character, faithfulness, stewardship, and integrity in a nation that is polluted with corruption. The current leaders of this province are eager to provide relief to the people and the land. The governor called this seminar a “voice of relief to the people… [in which] the Gulf Province would breathe freely again…” The seminar they requested was on how transformation comes through God and His Word. The bible and the biblical worldview is the only worldview and religion that can provide solid answers and principles to any problem or circumstance. The world was created by God and God is a God of Truth. There is truth in every area of life – science, economics, government, family, education, media, etc. Life is created to operate according to truth and when a nation embraces truth, then the fruit of happiness and freedom is the result. When a nation abandons truth, then destruction, bondage and misery are its fruit. After a very honorable and festive welcome, we spent 11 days teaching on such foundational topics as the Nature & Character of God, Sin & Repentance, Forgiveness and The Cross. We continued the seminar with teaching on the Biblical Worldview, How Transformation Comes, and teaching on family, government, economics, leadership and women’s injustice issues. We were privileged to have Sam Kisolo with us. Sam is from YWAM Uganda and has played a huge role in seeing Uganda become the first nation to show a decrease in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He has been before the United Nations and spoke with great authority in the area of HIV/AIDS and Community Health. Each day of the seminar included a morning teaching and practical application response session, followed by an evening session. The morning sessions were mainly pastors, leaders, and other people from the city. The evening sessions were more or less a crusade that saw about 400 people each night. The pastors and leaders were challenged and thrilled with the teaching. In fact, they were already making plans to take these teachings to the villages in their provinces. Unity within the church was evident and strategic planning could result in a corporate effort to see Kerema and the Gulf Province transformed. Before leaving, I was able to assist Sam Kisolo as he documented his recommendations for the province – Teaching on HIV/AIDS, Teaching and addressing Women in Leadership and Injustice Issues, and combating idleness in the young men and women in the city. This seminar was a positive step in the right direction – as led by God – and will continue to be a work in progress. Already and Biblical Core Course team from YWAM Townsville, Australia is already up there conducting inductive bible seminars. Also, YWAM Perth will be considering further outreaches to this province. Thank you for your prayers! To God be all the glory. Testimony One night we showed the film End of the Spear to nearly 1400 people on the rugby field in the center of Kerema. At the end of the movie, one of our team members shared the Gospel and we saw about 150 people respond to the invitation of salvation. As we were counseling and praying for them in small groups, the heavens opened and a much needed down pour of rain followed. Not one of the 150 people left! They all stayed. We were able to connect with at least 90 of them in the following days in order to see them get connected with the local churches. One night Sam Kisolo spoke about biblical worldview. One of the many challenges in that teaching was how we view creation. Do we care for it as if the King were returning at any moment. Their practical response from this teaching was to mobilize the church to begin cleaning the town. They would start with the rugby field on their afternoon off before the community movie night. That afternoon, the pastors and leaders were out on the large field with rakes, wheel barrows and garbage bags cleaning the field. By the end of it, it was fit for the King!
