“For the past 130 years, the church in PNG has been a receiving nation,” said Kini Kila, national director of OM PNG. “It is only in the last decade that we have been sending [Christian workers] from this nation.”
The team takes meetings monthly to talk about world missions in churches and holds quarterly prayer meetings in conjunction with church events. They also speak at Bible colleges and youth camps, organize missions conferences and seminars, host a short-term team annually and offer a one-month missions training programme to new recruits. They also host a weekend for sending churches, partners and donors.
“One of the greatest challenges the [local] church is facing is how to deal with other religious groups that are coming into PNG,” continued Kini. “We have other faiths that are also targeting PNG, and as a result many believers are leaving the church. On top of that, the church is faced with the challenge of social and health issues, and the response in terms of practical help is very slow and limited.
“The main concern now is that the church does not have a strong voice in some of the national issues that are affecting our nation. It remains silent and is not vocal to protect Christian beliefs and practices. godly leadership, stewardship and sound biblical teaching are [also] often lacking.”
Currently, 11 Papua New Guineans serve in Zambia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and on the OM ship.
“We are encouraged to see local believers challenged for world missions through our mission trips, and to see non-believers come to faith in Christ as we share about the needs around the world and the role of the local church in world missions,” concluded Kini. “As a result of prayer and financial giving, we also see lives touched and changed and churches blessed.”
With only three full-time workers in the home office, the OM PNG team is busy. Pray that more people would join the OM PNG team, and for an increase in personal support and fundraising. Praise God for the 11 PNG workers on the field, and for their impact.
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