A week-long Adventist youth rally brought a message of peace to a community affected by tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province.
Themed “Unmasking the secrets of Satan and restoring Christ’s peace”, the event was held from September 13–19 and gathered more than 100 Adventist young people at the Mulitaka High School.
Prior to the rally, fighting between local clans had resulted in deaths and extensive damage to property, including schools and churches. Mulitaka High School was closed, with teachers and students evacuated from the area.
Although tensions remained in the community, members of the clans involved in the fighting attended the rally, which included morning and evening presentations, prayer, music, seminars, and youth activities.
Paul Bopalo, guest speaker, said the young people “moved with faith” to host the rally despite tensions in the area. “The program, activities, and the smiles the young people gave to the warring clans brought peace, comfort, and joy to the hearts of the affected communities. The messages settled the tensions between the clans,” he said.
In one of his sermons, Bopalo spoke about the spiritual conflict behind the violence, pointing listeners to Christ as a source of peace and safety. “When there is no safety on earth, there’s safety in Jesus. When there is no peace on earth, there’s peace in Christ,” he said.
Rally organizers said members of the clans involved in the conflict responded positively to the program and asked for the event to be extended for a second week.
The initiative concluded with three baptisms and more people responding to an appeal indicating their interest in future baptism.
In his closing speech, Minister Solo Jamine, Maip Mulitaka Maramuni District director, thanked the young people for participating despite the tensions in the area. He encouraged them to continue supporting communities affected by tribal conflict so that “Christ’s peace can reign in the district.”
The original article was published on the South Pacific Division news site.
