FREE-WILL OFFERING, ARTICLE NO#: FACILITIES

 OMAURA ADVENTIST SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

"Free-Will Offering"

Article No#: 3 FACILITIES

Omaura Adventist School of Ministry as highlighted in the previous article, was established in the late 1930s and early 1940s. This special institution, unlike Pacific Adventist University and Sonoma Adventist College is an “all prophet school”. This is the only school that functions as a theology seminary in Papua New

Guinea and perhaps within the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This special institution is a forerunner of higher Adventist tertiary institutions within the country. This school in its wake has been a source of much of Papua New Guinea Union Mission of SDA Church workers since the dawn of Adventism in the country as missionary activities gained momentum.

The infrastructures within the school are very old. Most of the infrastructures currently in operation were built when the school was initially established, as such, they are very old, so old as the school itself. Thus, the infrastructures are in a very awful condition. Most of the staff houses that were once built on stilt posts have now become ground floor houses, as the stilts have deteriorated. One of the unique sights in the school are two very old mining houses. These two houses were donated by two Australian brothers who were prospecting for gold in the Kasup area in 1930s. The houses are now very old and are in dire state to be replaced. Regardless of their condition, the institution is still using them to accommodate the institution’s health workers.

Still another ominous sight to behold are old water tanks among old shacks (real shacks) that functions as married students’ houses. The old water tanks and the old shack of houses bear tales that are synonymous with the success and progress of Adventism work in this beautiful island of Papua New Guinea. These old shacks housed hundreds of missionaries who worked, walked and trod this land bringing the everlasting gospel to the most marginalized people of this land. The roofs and walls of these old shacks keep records of countless tears, prayers and sacrifices that entails the success of Adventism in the country and the global south.

The pain is real, the challenge is real, and so are sweet rewards that follow. The infrastructural state and development of this institution is an antithesis of the swift progress of the gospel and Adventism in this land. It is indeed very sad that they do not correspond. Albeit this special place has done much to Adventism in this land, but its returns are few, characterized by sweat, toil and tears.

Anecdotal evidence is very clear that this special place plays a very important role in the progress

of Adventism in Papua New Guinea. Without which, the winepress and the treadmill will be a mountainous job for the Church, let alone PAU and Sonoma to bear. Those who have tread the Mare-Wagano path, the path of countless tears, countless prayers, countless sacrifices knew the hardships associated with this old prophet school. For to lift the burden off them and the generation coming after them will be the vehicle to keep par with the ratio of Church members to Pastors in PNGUM mission wide and elsewhere.

It is our earnest desire, heartfelt plea and genuine cry for Church support, for your support. Your support will greatly assist PNGUM to give a facelift to this old prophet school and improve its teaching and learning facilities. We pray that the good Lord will richly bless you in your support of His special school that has been a source of blessing and will continue to be so until He comes. Your contribution and whatever you do today will be written in the annals of sacred history within the courts of Glory.

*Pic- Isaiah Baburan, Michael Pinaung and Mike Asitore Images, 2022 & 2023.

#FreewillOffering

#omauraadventistschoolofministry

#Lesson7ThirdQuarter

#2023

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Omaura Adventist School of Ministry

Free-Will offering collection, PNGUM wide

August 12, 3rd Quarter, Lesson 7, 2023

School Project Account:

WESTPAC BANK

Acc Name: Omaura School of Ministry

Acc #: 0001 859 306

For more information: Contact the Principal on 72388018 or the Deputy Principal on 73531276