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Papua New GuineaIt was while attending Bible School that Richard Carver first felt the call to missions. Viewing a slide of a New Guinea native, the Lord revealed to him just how lost this people were. Papua New Guinea is a remote island nation with a population of 4 million people. Cannibalism was practised there as recently as 1972, just one year before the Carvers arrived there. To this day tribal fighting with bow, arrow and spear is a common event. It was to such a place that the Carvers, with their six week old daughter, Rachel, departed for on the 5th of April 1973. They were appointed as pioneer missionaries from the Australian church. This was the first missionary endeavour for the Australian United Pentecostal Church.
The next four and a half years were spent in a remote Highland village among primitive people, where Brother Carver built a bush material house in the native village, learnt the language and gathered a small number of converts. Isolated from the nearest town by a dangerous and frightening road, the Carvers experienced life in PNG at its most interesting. Rats and fleas on one hand, tribal fighting on the other, it was rough to say the least. After three years of labour, the first person received the Holy Spirit. Slowly more people began to attend, and they built a permanent building which still stands today. However, his heart's desire was to locate the church in a town and a door was opened in 1976 when they were able to move to the Highland town of Goroka . Here a church was established and a Bible College begun. By 1980 numerous churches were established throughout the Highlands, and 200 people attended the first National Conference in 1982. By 1985 the church had grown rapidly to over 7000. Revival was quickly spreading! At the request of the Australian church the UPCI of North America assumed responsibility for the work in PNG and the Carvers became UPCI missionaries under this banner. Leaving Papua New Guinea due to unforseen circumstances in 1987, the Carvers then moved to New Zealand to continue on their missionary work. However, the church in PNG continued to grow, to a stated constituency of 55,000. The Carvers returned to Papua New Guinea in 2001 for a reunion conference, organised by then missionaries Brian & Esther Henry. Many faces from the early 1970s were still there... a visual testimony that our labours are not in vain in the Lord!
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Latest News  - 12 May 2008
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Prayer Requests 7 Sept 2008 - Andrea's surgery is a success. Richard & Andrea will be returning to PNG shortly 26 August 2008 - Andrea is going for Thyroid Surgery to have her thyroid removed on the 28th August in the morning. 10 August 2008 - Richard (Senior) has developed Shingles. He is a severe red rash around his face and neck, and pains throughout his back and arms. Please pray for his quick recovery. 8 August 2008 - Andrea is not responding to anti-thyroid medication. She is seeing a surgeon on Monday August 11th to discuss having her thyroid removed. 10 May 2008 - Andrea has been diagnosed with Graves Disease. It looks as if she may have to return to Australia for treatment. Please pray for her healing and Richard & Andrea's finances. Ongoing Request - Pray for Peter & Robyn Gration during their Deputation Travels AnnouncementsSep 2008 - Richard & Andrea returning to PNG in the latter half of the month Aug 28th 2008 - Andrea undergoes surgery to remove her Thyroid Gland. Operation is a success Jul-Aug 2008 - Richard & Andrea are in Australia for medical attention for Andrea. They should return to PNG in early September. |
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