MAF Technologies is helping to train pastors to effectively share the Gospel in remote communities.
A Story by MAF Technologies, Kowara Bell
Pastor Robert Hane and wife Rhoda, under the Faith National Bible Church ministry, have spent the past four years training new leaders with a goal to plant churches in the isolated communities of Bulolo and Menyamya district of Papua New Guinea’s Morobe Province.
This vision has led them to collaborate closely with MAF Technologies, using the resources and leadership training provided to prepare pastors for the challenges the church faces in remote areas with no road access.
Pastor Robert believes this ministry impacted many lives as far as the Gulf Province borders, with a recent advanced leadership training preparing 71 leaders from Yavaipo to have an impact in their communities.
Many of the attendees travelled significant distances, some as far as Menyama district. Yavaipo is located near Watut Station, approximately 60-70 km north of Bulolo town, over a rugged and challenging route.
“The Lord has opened the door for MAF Technologies to observe our work and collaborate with the ministry to reach individuals who live far inland in the two districts of Bulolo and Menyamya,” Robert said.
“Using MAF's resources, such as print Bibles and audio Bible units during the training have greatly helped the attendees who can read as well as those who cannot comprehend God's word to be able to lead their congregation.”
Caine Ruruk, Community and Partnership Officer at MAF Technologies, said the leadership training is designed to empower and support church leaders and ministry groups serving in remote areas.
“The advanced leadership training is the way forward in equipping and training of ministry leaders who have the heart to serve but not the educational qualification to enter Bible School,” Caine said.
The programme incorporates resources, including the Megavoice audio Bible with Christian content recordings, the print Tok Pisin Bible, and basic and advance leadership training handbook, to successfully train leaders.
“We thank the Lord for the connection with FNBC and FFC so that audio Bibles, print Bibles and capacity building for church leadership can be achieved,” Caine added.
Danny Sanea, a local pastor and attendee of the training, says the church should play a crucial role in building a healthy community but he has seen a decline in both churches and ministry work.
“Unfortunately, this has declined overtime, as leaders have not effectively fulfilled their roles,” he said.
“I have learnt a lot of things during this training and as leaders, we must closely indulge in God’s word to lead the flocks as their shepherd guided by the shepherd leadership function, one of the three leadership functions introduced in this training.”
Pastor Roselyn Mairi, of Faith Fellowship Church, praised MAF for providing the training that allowed her to reflect on her future ministry goals.
“I believe that this training, has paved a new beginning for me, and I appreciate the Lord almighty for providing quality training programmes to us locals in such a remote location,” she said.
Since then, the impact of this event has been fruitful, resulting in the formation of four new churches, each with a growing congregation. Most of the pastors and elders in those new churches underwent this advanced leadership training at Yavaipo.
