The WHM ACS Congress took place in Habare, Tari, Hela Province from the 06th – 16th April, 2022. The congress was a deferred congress from previous quinquennium, due to COVID , it did not take place then.
The Congress preparation took place well, but near to the date of the congress, there was trouble in Tari between the tribal leaders and the police where some killing and burning of police houses took place. We were not sure if the congress would go ahead or not – but through much prayer and with also those on the ground, assuring that things would be ok – the congress went on ahead.
The tribal leaders and those who were involved in fight, also advised the church leaders at Tari, that program should continue and that they need the program to continue.
Over 10,000 people had registered to attend the congress from the 5 Highlands provinces (Hela, WHP, SHP, Enga and Jiwaka). Unfortunately the two fly in districts were not able to travel. The Guest speakers included the PNGUM Discipleship Team Pr Miller Kuso, SSPM Director and Pr Misikaram Guguna, Adventist Youth Ministries. There were also daily sessions on Discipleship making took place during the morning and Evening worship by Pr Miller Kuso.
Highlight of the event included visits to the tribal leaders who are know as the ‘warlords’ of Tari and were involved in the recent clash with the police. Over 500 church membership mostly from the Enga group walked 2hours up into the far inlands of Tari to visit the warlords and give food items as part of their ‘hauskrai’. The area were they live, there are no govt services, proper roads and hardly anyone ventures in that area, as it is a ‘no-go’ zone for people but they were welcoming to the Adventist community.
An incomplete church building was identified in the area and contributions from participants at the congress were collected to go towards completing the church building. K7,000 was collected plus an additional K7,000 contributed through kind donations.
Community service work around Tari town and visitations to hospital wards took place including a huge parade in town which brought the little town of Tari to a standstill. Visits also from Pr Danny Philip, SPD PNG Discipleship Team Leader and Prime Minister and Governor for SHP attending the opening ceremony of the program.
The next ACS congress venue was also decided at the end of the congress – to be held at Jiwaka.
