Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a complex country with 850 tribes, all with their own languages and cultures. Many mission workers and churches have reached out to this country over the years. Now there must be 30-40 different denominations, with new ones still popping up, many with teaching that has strayed from the Bible.
It’s confusing. So much has arrived in the last 80 years – education, healthcare, development, money, phones, internet … as well as the Good News of Jesus.
UFM in PNG
UFM first arrived in 1931 in Madiri, later settling in Balimo and reaching out to the Gogodala tribe. Many believed and wanted to pass on the wonderful news they received of Jesus. From Madiri they went up the Fly River in 1953 to Degota, Rumginae, Haewaenai, Atkamba. They also reached out to Tari, Erave and other places in the Highlands. Thousands believed. The Evangelical Church of Papua New Guinea (ECPNG) was formed on 10 July 1966.
Today in PNG
But as so often happens with second and third generations, the commitment to Jesus has faltered, and many are distracted by money, land issues, and social media. Education has brought pride and broken down respect for community elders. Respect has also plummeted with increasing drunkenness and drug use.
In this power culture, many are still tied up in their fears – especially fear of sanguma (sorcery). In the Highlands, the culture of tribal fighting persists. God’s Word can feel like a thin layer on top of deeply held cultural values, rather than something that transforms them from within. When someone gets sick, people still ask, “Who’s to blame?” and often seek revenge.
God’s Word can feel like a thin layer on top of deeply held cultural values
Trust in a sovereign God and His truth has not fully taken root. The church is not deeply grounded in Scripture, and many are swayed by the different teachings being propagated in the marketplace. Ambition for power is common, and when challenged, some break away to form their own group. It’s like the church at Corinth – divided and distracted.
God is at work in PNG
And yet, just as God was patient and faithful with the Corinthians, so He is refining His people in PNG. Despite all these challenges, there is still much to give thanks for. God has not stopped working in Papua New Guinea. Praise Him that, even now, there remains a missional desire among many indigenous PNG believers. This desire is not just local – it’s outward-looking.
Manasa and Rhoda’s story (pictured)
One encouraging example is Manasa and Rhoda, mission partners preparing to serve among Australian Aboriginal communities. God willing, they will go later this year through the Pioneers Pacific Partnership, which exists to equip and send missionaries from across the Pacific.
Manasa and Rhoda’s story is a reminder that God is refining His church in PNG, just as He did with the church in Corinth. He is drawing people back to Himself, calling them to deeper obedience and greater love for Jesus.
We need prayer
The church in PNG is at a crossroads. Please pray for true repentance and submission to God’s authority, and for a renewed hunger for His Word. Pray for the raising up of more indigenous believers who will serve sacrificially, rooted in Scripture and devoted to Christ. Only then will transformation come – deep, lasting change that reaches beyond the surface and into the heart of PNG’s many cultures.
Rosie Crowter has served in Papua New Guinea for over 35 years. Over that time, she has witnessed enormous change – in the culture, the church, and the country itself – and remains passionate about seeing God’s Word take deep root in the lives of believers across PNG.
Main photo: A PNG smile, unsplash.com. Above: PNG mission partners, Manasa and Rhoda