Two-week ride covered areas in southern Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
Published on: 12-14-2023
A group of Adventist cyclists recently completed a two-week ride through southern Papua New Guinea (PNG) and into Indonesia.
The Border Bicycle Ministry team was composed of seven staff from Pacific Adventist University, one from the Central Papua Conference, and two sons of two of the participants. Their ride began in Daru and took them through various villages, where they were warmly welcomed by the locals, who expressed their hospitality through traditional singing and dancing. At each village, the team took the opportunity to pause and share the message of Jesus with the villagers.
A 19-minute video documenting the journey captures significant moments, including the crossing of the Morehead River, an escort by the PNG military, meeting the border immigration chief, and a visit to the Seventh-day Adventist church in Sota, Indonesia.
The video also features a brief interview with the PNG Defence Force commander, who shared, “As servicemen, we have sworn an oath. That oath is to serve God and serve the people of this nation. I feel obligated to help [the] church because I see that [in] this area . . . [the people] need spiritual guidance and spiritual well-being. I want to change their mindset and their perspective on thinking about life.”
South West Papua Mission president Martin Sungu is also featured in the video, extending a warm welcome to the cyclists before they crossed the border. “This is an exciting moment to see the pre-evangelism started in preparation for the PNG for Christ [program],” he said.
About PNG for Christ
PNG for Christ is an evangelistic campaign set to take place in Papua New Guinea in 2024. Dubbed as “A mission experience of a lifetime,” leaders have called PNG for Christ “a unique opportunity to bring people closer to Jesus.” This ambitious initiative will span across the entire country, encompassing around 2,000 evangelistic sites.
For two weeks, from April 26 to May 12, nightly meetings will be conducted to engage and inspire individuals in their spiritual journey. While a significant number of preachers will be locals, there is a pressing need for additional volunteers from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands, regional leaders said.
Organizers said they are looking not only for pastors and evangelists but for anyone passionate about sharing the message of Christ. Training and resources will be provided to equip all participants, they said.
“Our primary goal is to bring people to the Lord — that is what PNG for Christ is all about,” said Gary Webster, director of the Institute of Public Evangelism at the South Pacific Division of the Adventist Church. “We need at least three hundred preachers from across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands. It’s going to be an extraordinary and uplifting experience, and I would encourage anyone interested to embrace this opportunity.”
Recently, Webster visited Goroka in PNG to provide training to some of the preachers who will be actively involved in the 2024 campaign.
“The Spirit is moving in PNG, and we know that countless souls will be brought to the kingdom through this event,” he said. “So don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to something truly special in bringing people closer to Jesus.”
The original version of this story was posted by Adventist Record.
Tracey Bridcutt, Adventist Record, and Adventist Review
To bind together the Adventist people as we wait for Jesus to come back, by sharing news and information about the church plus articles on doctrine, spiritual growth and mission.
