Benard Nohsarin, a dedicated pastor from Oksapmin, shares the challenge of taking his church’s spiritual and physical services across a dynamic landscape.
Story by Mandy Glass
Pastor Benard came to Telefomin for the Min Baptist Union Executive Meeting but couldn’t get there in time. "I was late, and they briefed me on the meeting and went with me through the minutes last night," he shared.
His account reflects the challenges of transportation in remote areas, emphasizing the requirement to walk considerable distances. Oksapmin is about 70km away from Telefomin, but there isn’t a road connecting the two through the Victor Emmanuel Range. Facing dense forests and steep mountains, his only option was to fly with MAF.
There’s no transportation for the church workers to go out doing their work. We are very thankful for MAF providing the aircraft to serve us.
The Min Baptist Union ministry works through physical and spiritual services. Pastor Benard explained this dual focus. "We have two focus areas within the Min Baptist Union where we operate, which are physical services like education services, health services, and nutrition services," he said. This highlights the comprehensive approach adopted by the Baptist Union to address the holistic needs of the community.
Pastor Benard also notes the prevalence of the Baptist Church in the Min area. "It looks like the Baptist Church dominates in the Min area. We have Baptist dominated areas, which equals about 70 to 85% of the population," he added. This large presence highlights the significant influence of the Baptist Church in shaping the religious landscape of the region.
Pastor Benard points out the challenges faced by church workers in covering the vast area. "There’s no transportation for the church workers to go out doing their work," said Pastor Benard.
Pastor Benard Nohsarin's story provides a glimpse into the challenges faced by the church in Papua New Guinea, particularly in remote regions like Telefomin. The Baptist Church plays a vital role in shaping the spiritual landscape, but it is the partnership with MAF that helps the church to overcome isolation.
Pastor Benard is grateful to MAF for providing essential air services to link remote communities. "We are very thankful for MAF providing the aircraft to serve us,” he said.
He explained that transportation by MAF has been aiding the delivery services to remote areas since the arrival of Baptist missionaries in the mid-20th century until current day.
Enjoy watching his interview below.