Youth Ministry in Papua New Guinea: Challenge Theology and Curriculum

Papua New Guinea is experiencing changes that grow in significance and accelerate in pace. Although the majority of its population are still subsistence farmers the postmodern world is fast making an impact. That means that at the same time they are strongly influenced by firmly ingrained tradition where animism is binding and a pervasive element as well as Western media with its consumerism and worldview. The most impacted are youth who are caught between the traditional and postmodern culture. In a country that is Christian by constitution pastors are looked upon with high esteem. They need to find a way to bridge the gap to make sense of the world youth are living in and find a meaningful way forward. Although this book is aimed at pastors and youth workers in PNG other sectors can benefit from the research--politicians educators health workers clergy--especially if they are coming from a different culture be that from PNG or another country. Youth Ministry in Papua New Guinea is a worthy introduction to society and ministry in Papua New Guinea. Although focused specifically on ministry to young people in a Seventh-Day Adventist context in one nation her work provides valuable insights for a much wider sphere. Anyone interested in the broader issues of social change youth ministry and the ministry challenges of the developing world could read this with great profit. Highly recommended. --David Thiele Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Pacific Adventist University Schuberts work is not only the first of its kind but it is also an invaluable resource not only to the faith community of Papua New Guinea but for anyone who serves the church across the South Pacific. Her hands-on experience combined with her academic rigor has inspired much more than a manual for doing youth ministry in this part of the world; it is a theologically grounded resource for thinking about serving and nurturing young people in the name of Christ. --Chap Clark Associate Provost and Professor of Youth Family and Culture Fuller Theological Seminary Danijela Schubert was born and raised in then Yugoslavia in the Mediterranean city of Pula. She has studied and worked in France the Philippines Pakistan Papua New Guinea and Australia.