Baptist Beginnings in PNG
After World War II, some pastors who had served as Australian Army Chaplains challenged Australian Baptists to begin mission work in the then New Guinea. In helpful discussions with the Patrol Officer in Mt Hagen and Lutheran Church leaders at Ogelbang, the decision was made for the Baptist New Guinea Mission (later Australian Baptist Foreign Mission, and still later the Australian Baptist Missionary Society) would enter the Kyaka Enga area in the Baiyer Valley, North of Mt Hagen. No other Christian Mission had begun work in the Kyaka area, although it was believed that about 10 000 people lived in the area.
Harry Orr and Albert Kroenert travelled to Madang by ship then by a small Dragon Rapide aeroplane to Mt Hagen. Harry Orr’s visit was introductory and he soon returned to Australia.
At this time, people of the Maken and Maranyi clans in the Baiyer decided to “find some whiteskins” (or “red people” as they are still referred to by the Enga) to come to live in the Baiyer. Patrols had already passed that way. Locals thought that the presence of whites might stem inter-clan fighting.
Pii Nalu (a Maranyi man) together with 24 carriers trekked the 60 kilometres to Baiyer with Kroenert and Orr in May-June 1949. They carried the gear to Laka. Local headmen Trepi Maku and Laewa (Maken clansmen) and Kepowa (Traleya) joined the group at Dragalinga in the Baiyer Valley where they had been working on a government airstrip. The airstrip opened just six days later!
After a trek to the government patrol post at Wabag, Kroenert (Masta Kai or Marakai, as he was known) decided on 24 June 1949 that Baptist work would begin in the Baiyer Valley.
The local people greeted the first missionaries very warmly. Stan Horswell (Mata Os) volunteered to travel from Sydney to be with Albert Kroenert for one year. Before long others arrived: Betty Crouch (the first nursing sister for the Baptists), Daphne Kroenert (wife of Albert), Jean Lawes (nursing sister), Don Doull (Mata Dau, carpenter), Sheila Wesley-Smith (high school teacher, later married to Norm Draper), and John Green (Baptist pastor).
Many others followed. Medical, agricultural, and educational emphases accompanied gospel proclamation. Kumbareta was the first station. Kompiam, Lumusa, Telefomin, Tekin, Lapolama followed.
Early missionaries used Tok Pisin as a language early on and in the Enga areas learned the vernacular – some better than others! Local helpers learned Tok Pisin too. Bible classes bore fruit.
Baptists believe that the act of Baptism does not make a person a follower of Jesus. The Holy Spirit can work in a person whether baptised or not. Baptism is symbolic of dying to sin (by going under the water) and rising to new life with Christ – doing what he commanded. When a person is baptised they are saying they are following Jesus. A change has already occurred in their life.
Those who wanted to be baptised needed to show that their lives had been changed and that they were living out Jesus’ commands. First baptisms (45) took place in mid 1956 at Kumbareta, 8 July 1956 Lumusa (41), 1 March 1959 and at Kompiam and Telefomin a little later.
Kukiwa (Mulipisa) of Lumusa for many years preached the Good News of Jesus far and wide. Makawa (Mano) set up literacy schools. Mapusiya Kolo spent years working on the Kyaka Enga Bible translation. Silas Neksep for many years was a leader at Telefomin. Many others could be named.
The Baptist Union of PNG formed in 1977 with Kevin Kyasimbuwa as first president. This was the formal bringing together of all Baptist works.
Competent National leadership emerged and the Australian Baptist Missionary Society (now Global Interaction) withdrew full-time missionaries in 2001. A partnership continues between BUPNG and GIA. 24 June 2009 will be the 60th anniversary of the formal beginnings of Baptists in PNG.
Today the General Director, John Kaewa, estimates PNG Baptists to number 60 000 with 450 local churches.