Last week David, the ministry director of the Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea (BUPNG), shared an extraordinary story with me.

You may be aware of the emerging reports of increased tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea, involving high powered weapons, as well as the trafficking of women—such as the story recently covered by the ABC. These are deeply concerning developments and form part of the difficult backdrop faced by the people of PNG and the ministries of the BUPNG.

Against this dark context, David (pictured below) shared how God is still powerfully at work.

In the Enga region, ongoing and severe fighting has greatly disrupted the work of the BUPNG. Schools, clinics, hospitals, and churches have all been affected, bringing immense suffering and loss of life, particularly among vulnerable people. Despite this, and as an act of faith, the BUPNG planned to hold their tri annual pastors conference in June this year in one of the areas most impacted by the conflict.

In preparation for the conference, and in response to the prolonged fighting, David decided to take a team of BUPNG pastors who are experienced in spiritual warfare to pray through the area. This involved prayer walking—unarmed—through places where fighting had recently taken place.

As David recounted the story, he shared that the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by bullets as they entered one of the areas of prayer focus. They were understandably tempted to turn back. However, trusting that God was with them, they persevered and continued in prayer.

During their prayer walk, they encountered two men who were ringleaders in the local fighting. One of these men was the person who had fired the shots at David’s car. As David spoke with him, he told the man that he forgave him for shooting at him. David and the team then shared the Gospel with both men.

Both were deeply convicted by what they heard. They expressed remorse and repentance and committed their lives to Jesus.

Sensing the need for a fresh start and a deeper grounding in their new faith—away from their former networks of violence—David encouraged them to spend time in a new community, studying God’s Word together. He suggested they enrol at the Baptist Theological College in Kwinkya. Remarkably, both men are now enrolled in Bible college and have begun their studies and their new lives in Christ.

David reflected that, like Saul, these formerly violent men may now become ambassadors of the Gospel of peace.

Please pray for these two men as they begin their new life in Christ and seek to reconcile broken relationships. Please also pray for the broader situation in PNG—that God would continue His work of new creation, restoring individuals, villages, and communities to Himself.