Papua New Guinea’s Triumph Over Colonial Shadows and Islamic Expansion: A Christian Foundation
Papua New Guinea’s Triumph Over Colonial Shadows and Islamic Expansion: A Christian Foundation
As the Reverend Bishop of a Canadian National Church, a registered non-profit organization under federal and provincial law in British Columbia, I offer this revised deep dive into the remarkable resilience of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) First Nations and native peoples. Despite the scars of colonialism—often mischaracterized by global movements such as Antifa, Liberals, Marxists, Socialists, and Progressives as “genocide” or “cultural genocide”—PNG has forged a path of Christian strength. This article explores how PNG’s embrace of Christianity, even amidst historical challenges, has laid a robust foundation to resist the encroaching influence of Islam, a faith whose basic tenets, as we will argue, aim for a worldwide Caliphate at any cost. This analysis is informed by historical context, current geopolitical dynamics, and my own reflections on the region, now expanded with insights into indigenous tribes, churches, revivals, miracles, and societal improvements.
Papua New Guinea Proclaims Jesus Christ as Sovereign: A Bold Affirmation of Faith in the Pacific
PNG’s indigenous peoples, known as Papuans, are Melanesians comprising over 800 distinct tribes and languages, making it one of the most culturally diverse nations on earth. Key groups include highland peoples like the Huli, Enga, and Chimbu in the central mountains, riverine tribes along the Sepik such as the Iatmul, and coastal communities like the Tolai in New Britain. Around 312 tribes inhabit the Papua region alone, with many uncontacted groups preserving ancient customs of warfare, art, and spirituality. These tribes, totaling about 8.7 million people, have blended traditional beliefs—such as animism and ancestor worship—with Christianity, creating a vibrant syncretic faith that honors their heritage while embracing the Gospel.
PNG’s journey began under Australian colonial rule, which commenced in 1902 and ended with independence in 1975. Critics, particularly from progressive circles, decry this period as one of exploitation and cultural erasure. Yet, the narrative is more complex. As noted in The Guardian, Australia’s colonial administration was imperfect, with limited investment in infrastructure like Port Moresby compared to British efforts in Fiji. However, it also introduced education and healthcare through missionary efforts, particularly after World War II, which shaped PNG’s founding leaders, including constitutional architect John Momis, a priest. The 2011 census reveals that over 96% of PNG’s population identifies as Christian, a testament to the enduring legacy of these missions, as detailed by the United States Institute of Peace.
Christianity in PNG is diverse, with major denominations including Roman Catholic (26%), Evangelical Lutheran (18.4%), Seventh-day Adventist (12.9%), Pentecostal (10.4%), United Church (10.3%), and Evangelical Alliance (5.9%). Other groups like the Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Salvation Army make up about 9%. These churches extend beyond worship, providing essential services in remote areas where state institutions falter.
Despite accusations of “genocide,” PNG’s First Nations have not been eradicated but have integrated Christianity with their indigenous beliefs, as seen during Pope Francis’s 2024 visit to Goroka, where traditional spirituality coexists with faith (AP News).
This resilience stands in stark contrast to regions where Islam has gained ground, such as Indonesia, where I have written: “This is an invaluable move for them and their isles, they were ripe for the picking by the usual suspects.” Indonesia, while technically a secular state, granted Aceh province special autonomy to implement Sharia law, enforcing public canings for offenses like adultery (International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies).
The Indonesian Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, exerts ideological influence, with potential fraud and money laundering in mosque donations raising concerns (IJIRSS, Aug 11, 2025). Many Indonesian Muslims openly advocate for Islamic rule to “engulf the whole nation,” signaling a broader agenda.
Islam’s expansion in Southeast Asia, facilitated by the maritime Silk Roads since the 7th century, has historically leveraged trade and settlement, as outlined by UNESCO. In Indonesia, this has evolved into a strategic push, with the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence hinting at a goal to establish a global Islamic theocracy. This mirrors a pattern across the region, where nations like Malaysia and Brunei see growing Islamic governance, often at the expense of minority faiths. PNG, however, has fortified itself against this tide through its Christian identity, enshrined in its 1975 Constitution’s preamble, which pledges to pass on “Christian principles” (USIP).
A wave of church revivals has swept PNG, particularly among indigenous tribes. In 2025, missionaries reported over 300,000 baptisms and 10,000 new church plants in a single year, with rallies drawing 12,000 attendees and thousands of salvations. Highland regions, once strongholds of evil practices, have seen spiritual awakenings with gifts like speaking in tongues and healings. Testimonies from Revival Centres of PNG detail miracles such as recoveries from illnesses, blindness, and paralysis, attributing them to faith in God per Galatians 3:5.
These revivals and miracles have improved quality of life nationwide. Churches provide education, healthcare, and social services, reducing tribal violence, corruption, and poverty. International church missions have, for instance, shaped PNG’s development through schools and hospitals, enhancing spiritual guidance and community welfare. Overall, Christianity has fostered moral accountability, better governance, and societal progress in this diverse nation.
The recent Australia-PNG defense treaty, signed on October 6, 2025, further bolsters this stance (AP News). This pact, dubbed the Pukpuk Treaty, integrates defense forces and offers 10,000 PNG citizens roles in the Australian Defence Force, countering China’s influence and, by extension, Islamic expansion backed by regional powers (Al Jazeera).
I argue that PNG’s Christian majority and strategic alliances provide a bulwark against Islam’s exploitative tactics—penetrating public offices, leveraging human rights law, and establishing theocratic footholds, as seen in Aceh.
Consider Indonesia’s plight: “Indonesia had at one point this opportunity and look at it now. There is always hope that they will break free, perhaps PNG will take in Christian asylum seekers from Indonesia’s de facto Sharia law state.” While Aceh’s Sharia implementation is localized, the broader push by groups like PKS suggests a creeping theocratic ambition. PNG’s decision to align with Christian Australia, rather than succumbing to Islamic or Chinese influence, is a deliberate choice to preserve its faith and culture. This move, far from colonial subjugation, empowers PNG to resist the global Caliphate agenda that Islam’s tenets historically pursue, often through societal infiltration and democratic manipulation.
We commend PNG’s leaders, including Prime Minister James Marape, for this visionary stance. As Christians, we must support PNG’s example, praying for its continued strength against persecution and offering sanctuary to those fleeing Islamic oppression, as I have suggested for Indonesian Christians. This is not merely a geopolitical strategy but a spiritual stand for the Gospel’s light in a darkening region.
Written By: Lord, and Right Rev. John McIlwraith, A Bishop of the First Pentecostal Evangelical Church of Canada (FPECC.CA), and Research Assistant, Ainsworth Korg, PhD in Theological Studies, on October 15, 2025, at 04:30 PM PDT.
Sources:
– The Guardian
– United States Institute of Peace
– AP News – Pope’s Visit to PNG
– AP News – Australia-PNG Defense Treaty
– Al Jazeera – PNG Defense Treaty
– International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies
– UNESCO – Spread of Islam in Southeast Asia
– Wikipedia – Indigenous People of New Guinea
– Survival International – Papuan Tribes
– Google Arts & Culture – Tribes of Papua New Guinea
– Wikipedia – Religion in Papua New Guinea
– USIP – Papua New Guinea
– Instagram – Miracles and Revival in PNG
– Revival Centres of PNG – Miracles
– YouTube – 300,000 Baptisms in PNG
– Renewal Journal – Miracles in PNG Highlands
– Facebook – Catholic Church Contributions to PNG
300,000 baptisms. 10,000 church plants. One powerful move of God.
During a backstage interview at our 2025 Exponential Global Conference, Aubrey Sampson sat down with Pastors Malachi and Winnie to hear how eight years of prayer and fasting in Papua New Guinea sparked a nationwide revival.
Be encouraged by what God can do when we stay faithful
Watch the full interview now.
