Child Discipleship is Reviving This Church

Papua New Guinea

Change is not for the sake of change but for the sake of God’s will. We affirm that God has been active in our lives and in our congregations … We also believe that God is present in our lives and in our congregations today … Yet, none of us or our congregations so fully represent the fullness of God’s will in our past and in our present that we can say, “We are now everything God ever intended for us to be.”   — Lovett H. Weems, Jr. 

Change is hard — as individuals, as families — maybe even harder in the structured context of a church. Even when it’s clear something needs to change, our instincts may say to hold out hope that the world will bend around us rather than the other way around.

For a small church in Papua New Guinea, that season came a few years ago. The congregation had dwindled to about 20 people and if the church was to survive, a proverbial Hail Mary needed to be thrown. The addition of a children’s program was broached, but turned down by leadership. No changes would be made.

But in time, leadership shifted, and an interim came on board, ushering in the beginning of Awana child discipleship at their church. When a new permanent pastor was found, he was excited to see what was happening in the program, now in full swing.

A young woman named Silen had become the Awana leader in March 2024. In those early weeks and months, attendance was about 30 to 40 kids. But as children invited friends and word spread, the club flourished. “This year [2025],” Silen says, “we have over 70 children. Some walk from three to four kilometers (roughly two to three miles) on foot. When I spent time with each child … I saw big changes in their lives. Awana helped them pray and gain confidence in speech in front of their peers, but mostly, it is strengthening their faith in Jesus Christ.”

And the adults are benefiting, too. Kids’ growth has inspired their non-Christian parents to come to church and, in many cases, accept the salvation of Jesus.

“Our church is reviving. New parents are bringing their kids. Parents are supporting their kids’ participation in Awana — buying uniforms, sponsoring them for retreats and camps, providing game equipment and more. I see this ministry fueling the growth of the church.”

There’s no limit to what God can do through His church and His children. We’re honored to be on this mission.