PNG is also one of the world’s most
evangelised countries. The handbook says 2,221 foreign missionaries work in
the country, a huge number for a population of 4.6 million. More than 10% of
the missionaries are from Australia, and you can’t spend long in church here
without being asked to give for some PNG project. I myself am part of the
support group for a mission couple, from my former church, who lead a
literacy programme in a remote PNG community, under the auspices of Wycliffe
Bible Translators.
Now comes
news that the country is on the brink of an African-style AIDS
explosion. An Australian government report warns that within 20 year as many
as 40% of the adult population could die,
crippling the country.
The report by the Australian Government's aid agency AusAid says as many as
15,000 people out of the 4.6m population are HIV positive.
AIDS-related diseases are the major cause of death at the general hospital
in the capital Port Moresby and the number of infections is rising by up to
30% every year, says the report.
…Without sufficiently qualified workers the government might not be able to
function - not to mention the huge pressure the looming epidemic could have
on health services.
…HIV in Papua New Guinea is largely a heterosexual problem. There is a high
incidence of unprotected sex and one in every six prostitutes is HIV
positive.
What on earth are church leaders teaching
their 97.3% flock (or is the problem all the fault of the other 2.7%)? What
messages are the missionaries bringing? Should I be directing my tithes
elsewhere? Or should I just sit back content in the knowledge that so many
are going to heaven?
May
16th, 2002
