Tēnā koutou katoa,

I’ve just returned from two weeks in Papua New Guinea, and it was a trip I won’t forget. PNG is one of the largest countries in the Pacific, but also one of the poorest. It faces many challenges, from fragile infrastructure to natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, droughts and frosts that threaten food security. Yet it’s also a country full of energy, faith, and resilience.

This year marks 50 years of independence for PNG, and in two years the Anglican Church there will celebrate its own Jubilee. I travelled with Bishop Andrew of Waiapu, and we met with partners from the UK as part of the same delegation.

For Anglican Missions, it had been a number of years since we’d supported work on the ground. It felt important to sit down again with local leaders, listen to their realities, and re-strengthen relationships. The visit was successful in opening up the need and reminding us how crucial it is to work together strategically with other partners.

Three things struck me most:

• Local faithfulness: In parishes and clinics, clergy, health workers and community leaders keep showing up, often with very little to work with.

• Shared risks and realities: Travel and daily life in PNG can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous, yet people continue to serve with courage.

• Partnership in action: From New Zealand to the UK, from local leaders to global friends, it’s clear the church is strongest when we work together.

In this newsletter, I’d like to share some glimpses of what we saw: the inspiring people we met, the challenges they face, and how Anglican Missions is working alongside others to make a difference.

Don't forget to sign up for our yearly Partners in Prayer journal at the end of this email, which contains some excellent and relevant prayer points for the work of the church in Papua New Guinea.

One of the most memorable stops on our journey was Siane’s Movi parish.

Their tiny clinic is the only source of healthcare for more than 6,000 people across 27 communities. The clinic’s water tanks are broken, power is unreliable, and there is no ambulance. On paper, it shouldn’t be possible for it to function. Yet it does! This is because of the faithfulness and skill of five community health workers who keep showing up for their neighbours.

For example, Parishioner David has been using his own money to fund a new classroom for local children. That kind of commitment, coming not from wealth but from a deep sense of responsibility and love for community, says everything about the strength of the church at the grassroots.

This is why Anglican Missions is committed to parish-level support. Faith, health, and education are deeply intertwined in PNG communities. When we stand alongside leaders like David and the Movi clinic team, we are not “bringing solutions” but joining a story already unfolding.

Our visit also revealed a sharp contrast between two institutions: Newton Theological College and St Margaret’s Health Clinic.

At Newton, we found a well-kept campus overlooking the hills. Students were eager to learn, and a new accommodation block is rising with donor support. The college has received consistent investment, and it shows. Future priests and leaders are being formed in a hopeful environment, and their energy was inspiring.

Then we travelled to St Margaret’s Clinic at Oro Bay. Here, the scene could not have been more different. Dedicated staff were treating mothers, children and accident victims in buildings with broken water systems and an undersized generator. 

Both institutions matter. We need trained clergy, and we need healthy communities for them to serve. But the imbalance between the two is striking. For Anglican Missions and our partners, the challenge is clear: we must help ensure that investment in leadership training is matched by investment in frontline health and community care. Only then will the church’s mission be whole.

What stood out again and again in PNG was the openness to partnership.

Parish leaders, health workers, students, and bishops alike spoke about their desire for closer links, better collaboration, and stronger accountability to help the church thrive.

Anglicare PNG is a good example of what this could look like. Its staff are respected and committed, serving thousands in Port Moresby and Mt Hagen. While some services have been paused due to funding gaps, there’s a clear pathway forward: with modest support and renewed governance, Anglicare could quickly restart vital health programmes and restore confidence with donors and communities alike.

For Anglican Missions, this is the moment to lean in. As PNG celebrates 50 years of independence and the church approaches its own Jubilee, we have a chance to walk alongside our partners in ways that are practical, transparent, and future-focused. That means directing support where it reaches people most directly, while encouraging good governance so those gains can last.

Together, we can ensure that the faithfulness we see at the grassroots is matched by strong systems that allow the whole church to flourish.