In a recent volunteer placement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), I returned to Lutheran Highlands Seminary, Ogelbeng, near Mt Hagen, which is an environment familiar to me, yet always teaching me something new. Nestled in a wide valley high in the mountains of the Western Highlands Province, life at Ogelbeng […]

In a recent volunteer placement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), I returned to Lutheran Highlands Seminary, Ogelbeng, near Mt Hagen, which is an environment familiar to me, yet always teaching me something new. Nestled in a wide valley high in the mountains of the Western Highlands Province, life at Ogelbeng is marked by resilience and resourcefulness. The people are warm, deeply spiritual, and self-sufficient, with strong kinship ties and a communal way of life. Many remembered me from previous service there, and their joyful greetings created an immediate sense of belonging. Though I came as a “senior expert,”  the title given to retired volunteers, I left once again as a learner. Challenged, inspired, and spiritually renewed.

My primary role was theological lecturing. I taught courses on Romans, Revelation, and Churches and Sects to third- and fifth-year students. Each class had 20 students.

Mornings often began with rainy day walks to my colleague Pastor Penga Nimbo’s house for breakfast, a hot shower, and shared devotions. Mid-morning there were chapel services, on Saturday evenings district groups gathered for worship, and the whole campus joined in Sunday services. I was privileged to preach during several services off campus, including Easter celebrations in Marapugl SHP and at Bomrui WHP, the home congregation of the Hagen District President.

Evenings were usually quieter, often spent cooking meals and reflecting on the day. Sometimes I shared these meals with Penga or his family, turning ordinary moments into occasions of fellowship and encouragement.

Though my title suggested seniority, my time at Lutheran Highlands Seminary, Ogelbeng, was deeply reciprocal. Teaching in this cross-cultural setting continually stretches me. I found myself adjusting my teaching methods, especially in the Revelation class. Rather than writing theoretical papers, I tasked students to prepare sermons on lectionary readings from Revelation (texts rarely preached in PNG). Students who once feared the book’s complex and often misused imagery prepared grace-centred messages focused on the central image of Revelation – the Lamb who was slain. One student told me, “I can sense God is working in you in your classes.”

In Romans, I invited students to regularly reflect with the question, “What does this mean for me?” We learned to see what St Paul meant in the local context of the Roman Christian congregation addressed, and we thought about this in the context of the students’ cultural experiences of compensation and reconciliation, adoption, and giving offerings. These theological conversations became moments where both teacher and students encountered God’s Word afresh. It was not about having the answers but about seeking Christ together in the Scriptures and in the context of the community.

In the class on Churches and sects I saw that there were denominational tensions that challenged students on how to respond. I encouraged students to shift from confrontation to gospel-centred witness, rooted in Christ’s peace and grace. One lecturer shared with the class how interdenominational pastor gatherings in his district helped break down suspicion and built respectful relationships. These kinds of stories gave students a vision for a ministry that is both theologically grounded and avoided aggressive confrontations.

The singing, dancing, floral decorations, and locally composed hymns in various languages as part of worship reflect a vibrant, living faith. Each week, students and staff led services filled with creativity and sincerity. Small-group mid-week evening devotions, often held around a fire in a traditional haus kuk (a detached, traditionally built house with fireplace for cooking and gathering together), created a deep sense of connection.

Celebrating Easter Sunday at Marapugl, Immanuel District in the Southern Highlands Province, was another joy, especially with children and youth leading dramas and songs, complementing the hymns composed locally in the vernacular. Returning to Banz, Jiwaka Province, on Good Friday (where I helped plant New Life Lutheran Church in 1990) was deeply fulfilling. Even simple walks around the campus and to the nearby villages stirred memories of past service and reminded me how lasting ministry relationships can be.

This placement wasn’t without its challenges. Constant rain, patchy power, limited resources, and aging infrastructure wore me down more than in previous years. I also had to rely more on colleagues for transportation and daily needs. At times, I also felt the limitations of age. Being away from home during significant family anniversaries was emotionally taxing.  Yet these very challenges reminded me of the importance of pacing, humility, and teamwork.  I learned to collaborate, listen, and empower others. To “lead” by walking alongside.

I continue to be moved by the hospitality, resilience, and faith of the Papua New Guinean people. Their gratitude is often unspoken but powerfully shown through actions and generosity. The cultural complexity within the Lutheran Highlands Seminary, which is home to staff and students from diverse regions, demands patience and openness. It also highlights the beauty of shared faith across cultural lines.

My time at Lutheran Highlands Seminary may be finished for this year, but my connection continues. I’m currently revising and rewriting course materials, translating into Tok Pisin and editing theological resources, and digitising materials I’ve collected over the decades. I want to help the seminary build capacity for the future, rather than create dependence on visiting lecturers. I’m planning future volunteer service with all this in mind. During my stay, I distributed a Revelation Bible study I had written for a youth Easter camp in 2013. Thanks to support from churches in the Barossa, we printed 100 copies and shared them among students and staff. I plan to revise it further, translate it into Tok Pisin, and create more study resources like it which are grounded in Lutheran theology, yet practical and contextual for PNG churches.

Lutheran Highlands Seminary, Papua New Guinea, and the Lutheran Church there continues to shape me. I’m thankful for the joyful worship, the hard questions, and the grace that came to me through it all. I’ve returned to Australia with a deeper awareness of the Spirit’s work, not only in the classroom or pulpit but in everyday acts of service, generosity, and mutual care. This placement reminded me that mission is not about grand gestures. It’s about faithful presence, shared burdens, and proclaiming Christ’s grace, love and peace in all things. I look forward to sharing some of this with congregations, supporters, and friends, helping others in Australia see the faith, resilience, and hunger for God’s Word among our Lutheran sisters and brothers in Papua New Guinea.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone LCA International Mission on (08) 8267 7317 or email lcaim@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/

Read more stories about volunteering at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/join-gods-mission/volunteers/