PNG Prime Minister Attends South Pacific for Christ Sabbath Program

Papua New Guinea (PNG) prime minister James Marape attended the Sabbath program of South Pacific for Christ in Brisbane on May 2, joining church members from across the South Pacific Division (SPD) for the final day of the event.

Marape, accompanied by his wife, Rachael, visited the program at Watson Park Convention Centre and was welcomed on stage by SPD president Glenn Townend and General Conference (GC) president Erton Köhler.

James Marape, prime minister of Papua New Guinea, arrived at the venue of the SPD for Christ launch on Sabbath, May 2. [Photo: Charmaine Patel]

Introducing the prime minister, Townend said Marape had initially expressed a desire to attend without recognition. “He said, ‘I’m just a church member. I don’t want too much acknowledgment,’ ” Townend told the audience. “But we thought . . . for the whole South Pacific Division to know that we have leaders in government who are church members, it’s a blessing we wanted to share.”

Köhler offered a prayer for the prime minister and his family, asking for wisdom and protection in his leadership.

Marape said he chose to attend the gathering as part of his commitment to his faith and to strengthen his role in his own mission field. “I’m a church member, and this is my church family. On Sabbaths I’m not at work in any case. God has placed us in different mission fields. I’m placed in society where other church members aren’t placed, and I have my own reach where others do not reach. I need to come and recharge my battery too as a church member, so I thought it was worth spending time here,” he said. 

Pamela Townend greets Rachael Marape during the worship service on May 2. [Photo: Charmaine Patel]

Other Papua New Guinea leaders were also present, including Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, and Sports Kinoka Feo and Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat, who attended throughout the week.

Pomat said he was challenged by the opening message presented earlier in the program. “The message by the GC president to be bold for Christ was a challenge,” he said. “It challenges me . . . to go out and do His work in whatever capacity that I have.”

Reflecting on the launch of South Pacific for Christ, Marape welcomed the expansion of the PNG for Christ initiative, held in 2024, into a now division-wide emphasis. “It’s good to see my division embracing the work for Christ,” he said. “All of us deploying our talent wherever we are placed . . . for the gospel and for Jesus.”

South Pacific Division president Glenn Townend invited James Marape, prime minister of Papua New Guinea, to the stage. [Photo: Charmaine Patel]

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist Record.