30. The church begins to grow in 1962

The year has seen a remarkable increase in the number of our people coming forward to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This is due largely to the witness and personal evangelism of the converts themselves… sometimes we are perplexed by what may happen if the number increases very much faster. Highlands DistrictContinue reading “30. The church begins to grow in 1962”

25. New work at Nipa, 1959-60

I am now left with the sobering thought that a great responsibility rests with me, the responsibility of beginning God’s work among these people. Rev Cliff Keightley 4 December 1959, Nipa We do not understand this talk. It is new to us. We want you with us. Some of us will die, and maybe youContinue reading “25. New work at Nipa, 1959-60”

22. Slow progress, 1957-1959

1957-1959 District Report 1957. Seven years of work among one of the most isolated and primitive peoples in the world has not yet reached the stage when converts can be listed. In the persons of the missionaries, European and Pacific Island, the church is there. But it is there in order that an indigenous churchContinue reading “22. Slow progress, 1957-1959”

21. New contacts in the Lai Valley, 1957

1957 Two visitors came to the mission at Unjamap in 1954. They were curious about these strange white people. They saw many signs of change and new things on the mission site. New gardens, large foreign buildings built in ways that were different from the traditional Mendi style.  There were strange animals, voices speaking inContinue reading “21. New contacts in the Lai Valley, 1957”

20.  New Beginnings in Mendi 1956

It is peaceful around the Mission area now. In the remote areas the way of these people is to settle all disputes by fighting. When the Government steps in, it helps with problems and gradually these are solved without bloodshed.  Gordon Young 1956 “This work of true consolidation in the area has been a hardContinue reading “20.  New Beginnings in Mendi 1956”

15. Life in Mendi, 1954

People who liked to fight By 1954, it was clear that there were many challenges for both the Australian government administration and for missions working in the Southern Highlands. Tribal fighting was one of many problems. When some people asked why missions were there at all, the MOM General Secretary Cecil Gribble replied. “But behindContinue reading “15. Life in Mendi, 1954”