WUTUNG, Sandaun Province – For the first time in history, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has reached the remote border community of Nyaukono, a small village located along the Papua New Guinea–Indonesia border, bringing a message of faith, hope, and unity to an area long overlooked by government services.
The visit, led by Minister Lingskey Fimbore, a volunteer missionary serving at Wutung Seventh-day Adventist Church, marked the beginning of what locals described as a “new chapter of blessing” for their village.
Speaking after the visit, Minister Fimbore said Nyaukono had no Adventist presence before, and the arrival of the team was warmly welcomed by the entire community, including children who joined in celebration.
“Ol manmeri na pikinini ol amamas tru long visit. Ol i tok olsem displa visit em stat blong bringim blessing long ples blong ol,” Fimbore said. “Ol i tok maski gavman ino luksave long ol, tasol God i luksave long ol kain manmeri stap long ples olsem.”
Community members expressed gratitude for the outreach, saying it gave them a sense of spiritual recognition and hope. They said the visit symbolized a positive change for the future of their village.
In a show of support, the villagers have already set aside land for a future church building, a sign of their openness to establishing a permanent Adventist presence.
According to Minister Fimbore, the visit was initiated following a request from a young man from Nyaukono who was previously baptized during the PNG for Christ evangelistic campaign.
“Mi lukim tru olsem displa wokabaut i kamap long marimari blong God na hangere blong harim tok blong God i bikpela tru,” he said. “Displa wokabaut bai tu strongim moa tingting blong Border Evangelism program we i sapotim wok mission blong SPD, PNGUM na Sepik Mission long border blong Indonesia na PNG.”
The Sepik Mission’s Border Evangelism initiative aims to reach isolated communities along the PNG–Indonesia border with health, education, and spiritual programs. The visit to Nyaukono represents an expansion of that effort, supported by the South Pacific Division (SPD), Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM), and Sepik Mission.
As Nyaukono villagers prepare to host future outreach programs, Minister Fimbore said the experience reaffirmed the Church’s calling to go where the message of hope has not yet been heard.
“God i save long ol manmeri long olgeta hap, maski ol stap longwe. Displa em wok blong bringim lait blong God i go tru long olgeta hap blong graun,” he said.
