Youth Ministry in Papua New Guinea

Book excerpt: 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.