This is probably my favourite video of MAF in PNG. As it does really well showing the people and land that MAF serve in Papua New Guinea. Hence it gives a glimpse of PNG. It is close to five years old and was put together by one of our Pilot/Engineer’s Brad Ballin.
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19 May 2010 / Blog
In Mt Hagen there are about fifty eight different churches in the area of a population of 30,000 people (some say 40,000 including all the settlements). For some reason I have never done a post on my church in Mt Hagen, normally it’s others I visit. My home church in Hagen is Mt Hagen United Church. The PNG United denomination merged together around 1968 from three different groups. The London Mission Society, Presbyterian and Methodist mission.
1. Mt Hagen United Church
When arriving in PNG, one of many challenges was to find a church to be a member of and serve. Since coming to know Christ I had been part of one church family. That being a Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, I knew it would be hard to find another church. But I also knew that I wouldn’t be going to one for my own spiritual benefit. As there are no C&MA churches in PNG, I thought of starting my own (just joking). I visited a few churches around the area over roughly two months and during that time God lead me to Mt Hagen United. Interesting enough it was the first church I visited in PNG during my short term trip in 2005.
2. The congregation
The church is located close to the main market. It is a little different to most village churches, as we have a permanent building, we have electricity, we have a PA system and electrical instruments. We even have seating with a backrest (many churches sit on the floor or have no backrest). It is roughly a ten minute walk from my compound. The service is scheduled to start at 9 am, due to PNG time I arrive at 930 am when the service roughly starts. There aren’t too many in the congregation by then, but over the next hour or so people will turn up. The service is an English service, but is normally a mix of Tok Pisin and English. Most of the worship is in Tok Pisin (there is no overhead or projector), the rest of the service depends who is leading that part of the service. One thing I love is that there are fellowship groups based on provinces people are from around PNG. We have many people from all round the country that make up our congregation. Part of the service is an opportunity for the fellowship group’s to do an item, normally a song in their local language (tok ples) and from their culture.
3. The worship team
The service will normally go on average between three to three and a half hours, sometimes longer. After the service some hang around, but majority leave after the service. As in PNG having fellowship together is considered during the service, not really after the service. There are no refreshments or meals, unless on special occasions. For me it is hard sometimes to interact after the service, as the conversations don’t last very long or others aren’t really approachable to talk to besides a greeting. I am considered a member of the church and greeted warmly, but find myself at times not fitting socially. Whether that’s because people see me higher as them being a missionary, although we are all equal or something else. But in saying that despite different cultural challenges I have had to face, I know that is where God wants me to be and reconfirmed that on my last Sunday there, which was encouraging. It is my PNG church family, alongside my MAF PNG family. I am still finding my place where to serve in the church.
4. The men normally sit on the left hand side. I try to sit up the back of the church or to the side to stop blocking someone’s view or being a distraction for the little kids
One of many challenges has been the expectation on me to preach (there are a few stories). I have been attending the Youth Group on Friday nights when I can, but not since last year now. Whether the MAF ministry team is on, or I am studying, or working back it can make it difficult to make Youth Group. The dynamics is different to that of back in Sydney, but still much the same. It has been good to be part of that group and to get to know some of the leaders. But it is always a challenge as after the meeting there isn’t much opportunity to get to talk to people. But the hardest time having to share at Youth, was the Friday I learnt of Hadleigh’s accident being a fatal one. I didn’t want to do anything that night, but I ended up going to youth. I was pretty much forced to get up and share something. I really had nothing prepared and didn’t want to share anything to be honest. But God put two verses on my heart and in relation to what had happened to Hadleigh preached a little. It was hard to keep going back after that, but as a missionary your there to serve the people and that’s expected too, especially preaching. And you need to be prepared, something I need to improve on.
5. Central Province fellowship group’s item
There are many stories, functionality of the church and events to share. I will try and put more updates as it happens. It has been great to see God move and work in this church since attending in 2008. I am missing PNG quite a lot. I don’t think I have been homesick since being a little kid. I might go awol to get back to PNG. So I am really looking forward to returning to PNG, especially Mt Hagen in God’s timing.
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Here is the other video I have been using for presentations at various churches. It is an epic three minute trailer with quotes from famous Christian missionaries, teachers and individuals. This was made by one of our Pilot/Engineers Brad Ballin.
