More Than Just a Campaign

​From April 26 to May 12, 2024, Papua New Guinea witnessed a historic spiritual awakening during the PNG4Christ (Papua New Guinea for Christ) evangelistic campaign. When the world heard about the hundreds of thousands of baptisms from the PNG4Christ evangelistic campaign, many saw the visible harvest—the massive crowds, the powerful sermons, and the vibrant public meetings. While those moments were truly blessed, they were the culmination of eight years (2016-2024) of quiet, faithful work happening in the mountains and valleys of Papua New Guinea. The engine behind the success of PNG4Christ wasn’t just the large-scale event itself; it was the humble, consistent power of fervent fasting and praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to give birth to workable soul-winning methodologies. The campaign focused on the “Revelation of Hope” sermon series, which resulted in an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power, leading to a monumental harvest of souls for God’s kingdom.

Strategic Preparation and Execution

The success of PNG4Christ was built upon a foundation of long-term vision and meticulous preparation. Beginning in 2016, a core strategy of continuous prayer and fasting was implemented, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power to move hearts. The initial plan for a 2020 PNG4Christ campaign was providentially deferred by the COVID-19 pandemic. This setback proved to be a blessing in disguise, as it forced the church to restrategize, shifting from large-scale gatherings to a decentralized, small-group model. This pivotal point resulted in exponential growth of small groups, exceeding 10,000 across the nation, many of which eventually became new church plants.

The campaign’s infrastructure was vast and well coordinated from the remotest villages to towns and cities within PNG. More than 2,300 evangelistic sites were established, reaching into the farthest corners of the nation. To support this massive effort, 300 international preachers were deployed, working alongside and relieving local pastors and evangelists, who made up most of the speakers. These preachers simultaneously presented the “Revelation of Hope” series, ensuring that a unified message of hope and salvation was heard nationwide.

Beyond the main campaign, significant precampaign activities and baptisms took place in all nine local missions and the Central Papua Conference. This preparatory work extended to all educational institutions, ensuring a broad and wide outreach. A crucial part of the preparation was a ministerial symposium held in July 2023, which brought together 3,000 pastors, volunteers, and lecturers from institutions such as Sonoma Adventist College, Pacific Adventist University (PAU), and Omaua School of Ministry. This symposium was designed to empower and equip them with the tools and spiritual fervor needed for the PNG4Christ harvest. Multiple soul-winning methodologies were derived from the grassroots level to well-established practices common to the global church. These approaches, some of which are unique to Papua New Guineans, were: bucket ministry (church members fill up a bucket with purchased goods and donate them to people in need), VIP ministry (now known as Adventist Possibility Ministries), drug rehabilitation ministry, feeding and clothing the needy, small groups, life skills training, and street preaching.

As we celebrate this victory, we also recognize the pressing need for global partnership to sustain the multitude of new believers across our nation.

We also ran a mega health clinic offering free dental, optical, and surgical care. This initiative addressed the physical needs of more than 10,000 people in the community, demonstrating God’s love in a tangible way. The clinic was a resounding success, with more than 2,000 patients receiving the gift of sight through eye surgeries and the distribution of eyeglasses. This compassionate outreach not only restored health but also opened hearts to the message of hope being shared.

The Harvest and Its Challenges

The climax of the PNG4Christ campaign was a breathtaking harvest of souls. The period from April 26 to May 12, 2024, served as the reaping campaign, building upon the groundwork laid by the precampaign efforts and the multiplication of small groups. The cumulative total of baptisms, including precampaign, main campaign, and postcampaign baptisms, reached a staggering 300,000 souls. This figure represents a monumental answer to years of prayer and a powerful testament to the Holy Spirit’s work!

Such a blessing, however, has brought with it immense and multifaceted challenges. The rapid growth has outpaced the existing infrastructure and systems. The church in Papua New Guinea is now faced with the urgent need to provide for the spiritual and physical needs of hundreds of thousands of new believers. The challenges are unfathomable and require a comprehensive approach to find solutions in several key areas:

Spiritual Nurturing: There is a critical need for resources to disciple, train, and spiritually nourish these new converts.

Socioeconomic Empowerment: Practical and economic needs of a growing community of believers need to be addressed.

Leadership and Pastoral Care: The current pastoral and leadership resources are stretched thin and require significant expansion and support to care for new members adequately.

Infrastructure: The need for new church buildings, training centres, and logistical support systems to accommodate accessibility to key services and growth is paramount.

An Appeal for Global Partnership

The incredible success of PNG4Christ is a story of divine intervention and answered prayer. It is a powerful reminder that God is at work in a mighty way. As we celebrate this victory, we also recognize the pressing need for global partnership to sustain the multitude of new believers across our nation.

We appeal to the community of believers around the world—churches, organizations, and individuals—to join us in this ongoing mission. We are not just celebrating a finished campaign; we are embarking on the next phase of discipleship and growth, with another climax coming in 2029. We humbly ask for your assistance in these critical areas:

Spiritual Resources: Providing Bibles, Sabbath School Bible study guides, and other discipleship materials.

Financial Support: Contributing to the development of new church infrastructure and training programs.

Pastoral and Leadership Training: Sending experienced leaders to assist in training the next generation of local pastors and elders.

Prayer: Continuing to pray for the spiritual protection, growth, and perseverance of these new believers and for wisdom for the leaders in Papua New Guinea.

PNG4Christ was a massive step, but it is just the beginning. With your support we can ensure that the seeds planted during this historic campaign grow into a vibrant, mature, and self-sustaining church, continuing to shine the light of God’s goodness throughout Papua New Guinea and beyond.