Guns for Bibles - From Captain's Blog

Thanks to Captain Rob Reardon - his link is on the left "Captain's Blog". Here is a re-post of his article. God is good!
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Salvation Army Helps Tribes in Papua New Guinea Exchange their Guns for Bibles
Wed at 9:17am

TWENTY-SIX years of tribal fighting in a remote region of Papua New Guinea have been brought to a close thanks to a Salvation Army programme that involved warriors swapping their guns for Bibles.

The fighting, which began after an accusation of sorcery, took place between two groups of Zugu, Taro and Tawansaru villages and the Amusa, Tarotu, Fusa and Takaitu villages of Okapa District. Because of the area's remoteness, government authorities, community leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were unable to bring peace. The only people who could enter the villages were pastors from various churches.

Male children were raised to fight. Mothers were frustrated and saddened by giving birth to baby boys and raising them, only to find that later in life they would take up arms and fight like their fathers. Some even took the drastic step of killing male babies in the hope that this would stop the endless fighting.

In recent years the warring tribes heard about The Salvation Army Community Advancement and Reform Enhancement (CARE PNG) programme operating out of its Misapi outpost. The officer (minister) from Misapi, Captain Michael Hemuno, and CARE field officer Danny Glendumu visited the warring area and raised awareness of the possibility of peace.

In November 2008 The Salvation Army arranged a week-long peace training programme, facilitated by students from Divine Word University. Some 40 men and women leaders from both tribes attended. They all stayed in the same house for seven days and nights, eating, talking and sharing together. It was a challenging test for the beginning of a new era. Active warriors and the most influential Okapian sorcerers were among the group.

The leaders ended the training with a Highlands mumu, symbolising an end to fighting and beginning of peace. This was the start of the peace process involving each tribe deciding whether or not to have peace.

Almost a year later a peace ceremony was held, signifying a final end to the conflict.

Salvation Army leaders travelled to the ceremony by helicopter – the only realistic way to get to such a remote setting. Luggage was very limited so 300 Bibles were delivered by villagers from Misapi via a three-day foot journey.

Guests of honour were Lieut-Colonels Hans (Chief Secretary) and Marja van Vliet. They were accompanied by Major James Cocker (Secretary for Personnel), who had previously walked to the village on another visit, and Major David Temine, the divisional commander in charge of Salvation Army work in this portion of the Highlands.

More than 1,000 people made their way to the ceremony, some travelling for days.

Lieut-Colonel Hans van Vliet told everyone that this was a fresh start for the region, but that laying down weapons and items used in sorcery was not enough. 'You know what tribal warfare is all about. Many relatives have died,' he said. 'Leaders, you are making the promise not only in front of us but also in front of God. You must change within your mind, heart and soul.'

He said the new chapter in their lives should be one of love and care for their neighbors. Then two live pigs were presented, one to each of the warring groups as a token of appreciation for their peace efforts.

During the exchange process, one man accompanied his young son, who was carrying a gun. The man explained with tears in his eyes that he did not want his son to have to use such weapons and live the kind of life he had experienced, but he wanted him to be able to live in peace with other tribes. Both father and son left with a Bible.

Tribal leaders from both factions called on the national and provincial governments to allocate their share of development funds to the three main churches in the area – New Tribes and Lutheran churches and The Salvation Army – with the idea that these could build health centres and schools for the local people.

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Thanks Rob, thanks for sharing. God is amazing!

Ephesians 2:13-17 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Take the message of peace with God through Jesus Christ - to someone at war with Him today!

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