As reported Language use parameters within church services

3.1.7 Other denominations

There was reported to be a small PNG Revival church in Ilimo, although the survey team was unable to meet with people from that church. There may also be a PNG Revival church in Hamara. There may be Assemblies of God AOG churches in Hojaki and Gorari. 21 Papaki CMI reported that AOG worked in the area. Waju CMI reported PNG Revival had had an unsuccessful church plant. Sengi CMI reported that Charismatic Lutherans, AOG, Four-Square, Christ’s Ambassadors and Christian Life Centre had visited the area for ministry. There are Jehovah’s Witnesses members at Savaea Biage, Handauta between Ajeka and Sairope, near Kumusi bridge and Hurembo somewhere in ward 19. The team saw a large, permanent metal Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall at Kokoda Station, but did not manage to find out if there are others in the Kaina area. Sairope and Eiwo station reported that they had tried to convert people between 1976 and 1980.

3.1.8 Interdenominational mission: “Every Home for Christ”

In Kebara there is a team of ten people working with Every Home for Christ, an inter-denominational mission that started in 1946 in Canada and came to PNG in 1996. At the moment, they are the only team in Oro province. The team leader originally from Bougainville is the Province Coordinator, and the rest of the team are local men and women. They visit home to home so that everyone may hear the gospel. Kebara village was planning to host a national gathering of Every Home for Christ in November 2006.

3.2 Language use parameters within church services

3.2.1 As reported

With the exception of Waju SDA church and churches whose congregation included Kokoda Station: Saga Anglican Church and Kokoda SDA church, all churches reportedly used the vernacular for spontaneous prayer, the sermon and announcements. Some reported that English and Tok Pisin might also be used, but the dominant language in these domains was said to be the vernacular. Waju SDA church used mainly Tok Pisin because one family in their congregation does not know the vernacular since they are from the Highlands the father is a government officer based at Ilimo. It seems that the extensive use of Tok Pisin in Waju SDA church is mainly for their benefit. Many churches reported that if people who did not understand the vernacular were present then Tok Pisin or English would be used for the sermon and announcements. Similarly with singing, they might use more songs from languages understood by the visitors 22 if the group was mixed. Whether or not the vernacular was used for singing in church varied by denomination. Anglican and CMI churches all reported using predominantly the vernacular, although the Anglican churches also sing hymns in the services, which are usually in English; there are no Hunjara songbooks. Eiwo parish church also reported that they use the Orokaiva hymn book in addition to the English. Renewal churches reported use of various other neighbouring languages, which is not uncommon in PNG. Only in Waju Renewal Church did people report that a neighbouring language, Orokaiva, predominates for singing, presumably because the Renewal denomination originated in an Orokaiva village. SDA and New Apostolic churches used predominantly English with some Tok Pisin and Motu. Some reported that they occasionally sang in the vernacular, others reported only the use of national languages. For Scripture reading in church, English was the dominant language, except in Waju SDA who used only Tok Pisin, and New Apostolic churches who used both English and Tok Pisin. Three churches Sengi New Apostolic, Sirorata Anglican Chapel and Eiwo Anglican Church reported that they occasionally use Orokaiva; the priest at Eiwo said they use it about once a month. 21 One Hunjara translator informed the survey team of the Revival and AOG churches. 22 This could include Tok Pisin, English or other vernaculars such as Orokaiva. The Anglican Church liturgy is in English. Eiwo parish has purchased some copies of the liturgy in Orokaiva to translate into Hunjara. They would like to have two English and two Hunjara services per month. In some churches, some parts of the sung liturgy have been translated by the musicians into the vernacular. Sirorata reported that Hunjara is used for the liturgy; people translate as they go from English.

3.2.2 As observed