Note: Because of the sensitivity of the location where I was I’ve chosen to not post any pictures with this particular blog. I will post a latter blog with pictures of places, people and ministry that is completely non-sensitive but I can’t post pictures in this one which probably means it won’t be read by as many. . . but I’d rather risk that than to loose an opportunity to share the Gospel in the name of getting readership.
Two Countries, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, split the Island of New Guinea. Before colonial days and even well into colonial days, head-hunting cannibalistic tribes ruled around 550 separate language based cultures on the Island of New Guinea. With the advent of the discovery that the world was round, Europeans peoples raced around the world trying to claim the most territory. Along with them came their own style of leadership. Ultimately, the Netherlands held the west half and the British and later the Australians held the East half of the island of New Guinea.
But when modern countries decided that self rule was better than foreign rule the question was raised, who should rule New Guinea? Australia first took the helm for Eastern New Guinea when the British left. The West half went to Indonesia. How do you have a fair system of representative government in a modern society when there are 256 native tribes just in the Indonesian side alone? Politics and faith have different boundaries. Men chose sometimes arbitrary lines but God chooses “Every Kindred, tongue and People.” With God there are no borders! In the Seventh-day Adventist church we have “area’s of stewardship” that God has given us to manage for Him. We call those local church districts or local missions or Unions of churches or World Divisions. I happen to be an associate steward for a specific area of the East half of Indonesia. But what do we do when those for whom we have stewardship over of go to a new area of stewardship because a government may deem them dangerous to the political stability of their mother land. Enter 7,000 plus Political Escapees, Refugees or whatever label you want to call them. 7,000 people mainly from certain mountainous tribes in Indonesia have run across the border into Indonesia to escape sometimes political persecution. Their new home happens to be independent state of Papua New Guinea.
They often don’t understand the language. Regardless of what side of the political opinion we may have they are people who need Christ. 7,000 people from Indonesia have settled in one particular area along he border but additional people are scattered all along the border. 7,000 people who have babies and children. 7,000 people who have to make a living from their new land. 7,000 people whom can scarcely communicate in their adopted culture. 7,000 people who sometimes are hunted for activities they’ve done and therefore are not trusting of many other than those they know very closely.
This compelling challenge has lead local Seventh-day Adventists on both sides of the border to ask what can we do? How do we reach out in the method of Christ to meet needs in the hopes of winning peoples confidence so they will trust us when we share the Gospel?
On the Weekend of Feb 1 I went with a team of PNG people to see the situation. I asked lots of questions. What are the needs? Here is a summary of what I heard our members say. 1) We need to learn each others languages so we need language schools. 2) We need religious materials in one another’s languages such as Bibles, Sabbath School lessons and picture rolls. 3) We need help with doing medical ministry. 4) We need help in teaching jobs and having jobs that can support our these people without supplying them with funds that will be funneled to forceful opposition. 5) We need schools for the refugee children.
Because of the chain of stewardship within the Adventist Church I’m going to be talking with various leaders to gather their opinions to see how we might cooperate to reach goals together for the sake of the Kingdom. We have to work wisely and not get sucked into a political vortex that could jeopardize our work on either side of the Island. Please, pray for this work. Pray for Adventist and political leaders who are on both sides. Pray for wisdom.
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