High in the mountains South West of Goroka in Papua New Guinea lies the
isolated village of Ko Ko. A little distance beyond it at Omena, stands a
small bush material church. For some years the mission did not had the funds
to employ a trained pastor to lead the congregations at Omena and neighboring
Wamenagu. The church members have struggled in their isolation against
spiritualism and discouragement without a trained shepherd to lead them.
Sadly many had apostatized and gone back to the old ways. Concerned about
this situation Pr. Jessley Faragasso President of the Eastern Highlands Simbu
Mission of the Seventh –day Adventist Church, approached us and asked if we
could sponsor a lay missionary to go to this area to be used of God to bring
about revival and reformation in the life of the church.
Steven Bernard is the energetic and dedicated young missionary Pr. Jessely
selected for the job.
Soon he and his young family were earnestly working to revitalize the church
and bring back those who had stopped coming along. Roofing iron was needed to
complete their church building. The cost of this was sponsored by mission
supporters in Australia. It really gave the people a lift just to know that
some one cared about their needs and was willing to help them.
Steven began visiting around in the area and noticed that we did not have a
church over at Ko ko. As he spent time with the people there, he found several
people who were interested in getting to know Jesus but there was also
opposition. The old ways die hard and for many the coming of the gospel was
an unwelcome intrusion into their lives.
Steven decided to go ahead anyway and run a crusade at Ko Ko. So he mobilized
the church for action. Supported by Jon one of the elders of the Omena
church, Steven began preaching the gospel at night and visiting in peoples
homes and praying with them during the day. Anywhere the gospel is fearlessly
preached there are normally staunch supporters of it and strong opponents
too. Ko Ko was no exception.
The sun shone brightly as Steven and Jon set out one morning for Ko Ko. As
they walked the muddy mountain road they talked about the joys and the
challenges they were encountering in their work for Christ, encouraging one
another as they went.
Presently they rounded a bend in the road. Suddenly they heard a man yelling.
Out of the bushes to their left ran a man wielding a large bush knife. Now
bush knives in PNG can be a meter or more long and they can used as very
deadly weapons. Steven and Jon stopped as the crazed man approached. Steven
watched in horror as he saw Leo raise the bush knife above his head. The
knife shimmered momentarily in the morning sun as it swung with dreadful force
towards the motionless Jon. He breathed an earnest prayer for God’s
intervention.
Steven watched as the knife sunk into Jon’s left arm just above the elbow. The
knife cut through Jon’s arm like it was made of tissue paper. Leo yelled as he
forced the knife onwards into Jon’s body just above the waist. In disbelief
Steven saw the knife protruding out both the front and back of Jon’s body as
the back of the blade disappeared into the flesh. With frenzied power Leo
forced the knife right through Jon’s body and out the other side cutting his
body in two.
Not satisfied with that, Leo raised the knife a second time and swung with all
his might cutting Jon’s body right through a second time. Jon stood there
motionless before him. Leo paused quizzically. Then he raised the knife again
and with every last bit of energy he had, he swung the knife through Jon a
third time. As he swung the knife down a forth time, he paused part way
through incision and withdrew the knife. He stood there for a moment unable
to believe his eyes. So did the onlookers. Here Jon meekly stood yet. With
not a drop of blood to be seen. The left arm which had been severed 4 times
was still attached to the body. There was no apparent injury anywhere on
Jon’s body. Leo realized that God had protected His servants from harm and
hastily withdrew back up the hill to his house. The other villagers present
stood in awe as they took in the scene and tried to understand what had just
happened before their very eyes.
The people talked excitedly about what they had just seen. These people are no 
strangers to demonic power. But here was a power that was able to withstand the power of the evil one and protect God’s servants from it. This was different. Everyone of those onlookers attended the crusade that night.
Two Sabbaths ago, I had the privilege of attending the baptism of 6 of those people. Jon and Steven took me to the place where they were attacked and introduced me to Leo, who they pray for and visit regularly. The local people have given ground for a new church to be built near where the attack took place. Several have indicated that when this church is built close enough for them to walk to, they will come and be a part of it.
The picture to the right shows Leo on the left standing next to Jon in the suit. The man on the right is the District Director, Pastor Robin Kasi. I don't know who the boy is.
Please pray for and support faithful laymen as they risk life and limb at times to take the Light of God’s Word into areas hostile to the gospel. Please pray also for isolated congregations as they struggle to follow the Lord often without trained ministers to lead them.
Back to Story Archives
If you are moved by God's Spirit to help MSN serve the remote villages of PNG please visit our Contact Page for more information.
|
