This entry was written by Peter Oates, Youthworks' Ministry Advisor, who was part of the mission team.

As we approached our final days in PNG, I realised what an immense highlight the Ministry Intensive training has been for me, and the team, to deliver. We’ve been privileged to be used by God to teach, model, coach and inspire theology students in Papua New Guinea with the enthusiasm and joy we share in teaching God’s word to young people. We’ve seen trepidation turn to excitement and gratitude as the students had opportunities, often for the first time, to put into practice what we taught them in the morning, by going out to the local village schools and presenting children’s talks in the classrooms.

The students were a little timid during preparation and training, and there was a bit of hand-holding (both literally and metaphorically), though this was to be expected. Forget ‘outside-the-box’ thinking when it comes to children’s ministry, this was the first time many of the Bible College students had seen the box! One of the things that surprised me though was their biblical literacy. They were very strong at context when doing exegesis, and I hadn’t expected that. They also worked very hard – it was clear they were there to learn, and they showed they really valued the time by participating fully.

Once we arrived at the schools, the students exploded out of their shells with this incredibly warm, natural energy and passion. We had asked the students to give a children’s talk based off what they had been learning, and to surround it with appropriate programming, such as games, dramas, memory verses or songs that supported the big idea from the talk. I won’t say my own group’s first attempts were shining examples, but for their first attempt at targeted children’s ministry, there were a lot of positives and a lot of potential.

Collectively, the groups were particularly good at leading from the front, drama (they LOVE drama!), songs and music, and creating introductions where tension or issues were raised that the big idea was going to solve. They found the task of applying the passage to the children most difficult. Applications didn’t always flow from the big idea, or even the part of the Bible they were speaking from. I think there were a couple of factors at play.

There is a great desire to combat nominalism in PNG, and there is an almost automatic shift in their thinking towards moralism. They were all bursting to say “you can’t just say you’re a Christian, you need to be doing this, this and this”, and hand down a great list of moral do’s and don’ts.  We challenged them closely on that, and to their credit, the students worked quite hard at it. It was great to watch their progression through the week, especially moving from moralising the Bible towards talking about grace, and finding the application for a passage through the Cross. In their presentations, it became clear to the audience that we are free to obey because Jesus has saved us, rather than ‘you have to obey.’

All of the team have loved forming relationships with the students, wives and staff workers here. I’m sure having that mutual trust and respect established between all of us has really helped to give our teaching more authority and made it more effective.

Marshall and Troy especially enjoyed having a bit of a jam session with some of the musicians here at College, and I know the women formed close bonds with some of the wives and single female students. A particularly touching moment was when some of the local girls began giving us bilums (colourful hand-woven bags) as gifts. The significance of this was not understood until it was explained that in the villages, bilums are given for free to family and close friends – to those who are part of their clan – but outsiders and tourists are made to pay. It was a symbolic way of saying we were now part of their community.

There is no doubt that for many of the students, this week of training has opened their eyes to the importance of laying strong biblical foundations for growth in the hearts and minds of their children. The practical workshops and presentations in schools have given them new and positive experiences of teaching children from the word of God.  And many have told us they want to take what they’ve learnt and train others so that their Sunday Schools will be places of real Christian growth, not just child-minding.

This is really exciting! We all feel so blessed to have been able to come here and share with such beautiful brothers and sisters in the Lord, and it’s amazing to think how much we will miss them and treasure the relationships we have formed after such a short period. Thank you so much for your support and prayers which have sustained us to focus on reaching the children of PNG for Christ.

Visit fullfocuspng.gofundraise.com.au to read more about the team and the mission training intensive scheme.