My journey to Papua New Guinea really began long before I arrived here in 2024. In one sense, it began before I was even born. My grandfather and grandmother served in Papua New Guinea in the 1930s. My mother was born here, my grandfather died here and his grave is still here today. Growing up […]

My journey to Papua New Guinea really began long before I arrived here in 2024. In one sense, it began before I was even born.

My grandfather and grandmother served in Papua New Guinea in the 1930s. My mother was born here, my grandfather died here and his grave is still here today. Growing up in Germany, I dreamed of becoming a missionary from the time I was about thirteen years old. Papua New Guinea was not specifically the country I imagined serving in, but the stories I heard about Papua New Guinea helped ignite that desire. Although for many years it seemed unlikely that I would ever come here myself, the connection remained in the back of my mind.

Life took a different direction first. I became a pastor in Germany and served for more than twenty years in northern Germany. I also became a father. With four daughters growing up, mission service overseas was not something I seriously considered. But the dream never completely disappeared. As my daughters became adults and began building lives of their own, I found myself thinking once again about Papua New Guinea and about the possibility that God might still be calling me there.

Then, in October 2024, I finally arrived. What began as the dream of a thirteen-year-old boy eventually became reality many decades later. Forty years is a long time to wait for something, but it has made me especially grateful for the opportunity to be here. Serving in Papua New Guinea is quite literally a lifetime dream come true. For that reason, every day I spend here feels like a gift.

Whenever I explain that my grandparents served here, that my mother was born here and that several members of my family have been connected with Papua New Guinea over the decades, people become immediately interested. Some have even told me, “The bones of your grandfather have called you.” I don’t quite know what people mean when they say that. Perhaps I’ve not lived in Papua New Guinea long enough to fully understand it. But in any case, the story creates a bridge between me, this country and its people.

The family story may have opened doors, but it is the work God has called me to do here that keeps me in Papua New Guinea today. Today I serve at the Lutheran Highlands Seminary in Ogelbeng near Mount Hagen. I first came as a lecturer, mainly teaching Old Testament and several other subjects, and later I was asked to serve as Dean of Studies. The seminary is one of the institutions responsible for preparing pastors for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, and it is a place full of life.

Most people imagine theological students as young, single men sitting in classrooms, but that is not really the reality here. Most of our students are husbands and fathers who arrive with their families. At present we have around seventy-five students, but when you add wives, children, lecturers and staff, there are more than two hundred people living on campus. It is a community as much as it is a seminary.

One of the things I find most encouraging is the education provided for the students’ wives. They learn practical skills, study theology and develop leadership abilities that will help them support ministry in the future. Some women even learn how to lead devotions and share short sermons among the women’s groups. What makes these moments especially moving is that several of the women arrive without ever having learned to read or write. We therefore run literacy classes as part of the program, and it is remarkable to watch women who once could not read, stand up and preach for the first time. Whenever that happens there are usually plenty of tears.

Life at the seminary depends heavily on the land. Students are responsible for growing much of their own food and each family is allocated garden space where they cultivate kaukau and other crops. This year that has become particularly challenging because the Highlands have been experiencing an unusually long dry season. Normally rain comes regularly, but for months now there has been very little. The result is that many gardens have struggled, creating real pressure for seminary families. Without outside support and donations to purchase rice, we would have faced a very difficult situation.

Despite these challenges, there is so much to be thankful for, and one of the greatest blessings for me has been learning from Papua New Guinean Christians. Before arriving here, I thought I was coming primarily to teach. Instead, I have discovered that I am constantly learning.

I remember one journey by public motor vehicle from Mount Hagen to Lae. Not long after we began travelling, a woman asked the driver to pull over to the side of the road. Once the vehicle had stopped, she began praying for the journey, for God’s protection and for everyone travelling. When she finished, every person responded with a heartfelt “Amen” before we continued down the road. I sat there amazed. In Germany it is difficult to imagine a bus stopping so that passengers can pray together, but here it felt completely natural.

Experiences like that reveal something important about Papua New Guinea. Throughout the country people know the name of Jesus. If you ask someone whether they believe in Jesus, almost everyone will answer yes without hesitation. Of course, that does not mean everyone is a committed disciple, and churches here face many of the same challenges that churches face elsewhere, particularly when it comes to reaching younger generations. Yet faith remains visible in daily life in a way that continually encourages me.

Something else that has struck me is the sense of hope people carry. Germany is a wealthy country, yet many people seem discouraged and pessimistic about the future. Here I meet people who have far fewer material resources, but who are noticeably more joyful, hopeful and grateful for life. They know they are not alone in the world, and I think that confidence shapes the way they face difficulties.

The seminary itself is also entering a significant season. We are working to strengthen academic standards, preparing future pastors for ministry and exploring new ways of serving remote communities where fully trained pastors are often unable to go. One proposal currently being developed is a shorter training program for local leaders from isolated areas. These men would receive theological training and then return to serve their own communities. I believe this could become an important part of the church’s future ministry.

I am also continually reminded that buildings, structures and programs are not the most important. This year we have completed significant maintenance work on houses and seminary facilities, and we are thankful for the support that has made that possible. Yet the most important work remains spiritual formation. It would be a tragedy if we improved every building on campus but failed to help students grow closer to Christ. More than anything else, our desire is that students, their families and all of us who teach here would be shaped by God’s Word and guided by the Holy Spirit.

After all, that is why we are here: to equip future pastors, strengthen the church and point people to Jesus. Everything else exists to serve that purpose.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner church in Papua New Guinea at http://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/papua-new-guinea/