Region(s): South Pacific
Field(s): Papua New Guinea
Website: click here to visit
Bio: Products of the pioneer missionary efforts of Glen Bogue in Australia, Richard and Margaret Carver left Australia in April 1973 as pioneer missionaries appointed by the Australian church to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Beginning in a remote village in the mountains among primitive peoples, they established numerous churches throughout the Highlands. By 1985 the church had grown to over 7,000 constituents, and the Carvers became UPCI missionaries. In 1988 the Carvers moved to New Zealand. They went to Fiji in 1991 where he became the superintendent and Bible college president and began a large Bible college building program. In 2001 the Carvers located in Australia, pioneered a church there and, in 2003, took the oversight of the Cairns, Queensland, church. Carver again became the field superintendent of PNG in 2004. His other responsibilities include being the area coordinator for Australia, PNG, and Solomon Islands and supplying literature for the Pacific Region.
Papua New Guinea
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Area Coordinator: Richard S. Carver
Superintendent/President:
Population: 6,000,000
Area: 178,703 sq. mi.
Capital: Port Moresby
Languages: English (official), Melanesian languages, Papuan languages
Religions: Protestant, 44%; Roman Catholic, 22%; local religions, 34%
New Guinea Island, the world’s second largest island, is located in the South Pacific, directly above Australia. The Independent State of Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island with 85% of its population being subsistence farmers. Because of the rugged and mountainous terrain which separates tribes and makes travel difficult, Papua New Guinea has over 750 distinct tribal languages (one-third of the languages of the world). However, the official language is English and the linga-franca is “PNG Pidgin.” The country is also one of the world’s least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior of PNG. Somewhat larger than California, PNG is one of the few regions close to the equator that experience snowfall, which occurs in the highest mountains of the mainland. In 1973 the UPC of Australia appointed the Richard Carvers as pioneer missionaries to Papua New Guinea. In 1985, at the request of the Australian church, the UPCI assumed oversight of the flourishing church, registered as the United Pentecostal Assemblies of Papua New Guinea. According to the 2006 Annual Field Report, the UPA/PNG has 50,000 constituents, 237 ministers, 258 churches and preaching points. God has blessed the work and in 2005, thanks to Pastor Daniel Maxwell of Gerald, Missouri, and his awesome team of builders, PNG now has a training center in Goroka, operating as the full time national Bible school.
Additional Infomation for those interested:
In February we were able to get a new vehicle thanks to the Youth Division. Did you know that over the years we have carried children to church not knowing that they now would be leaders in the church. There are Pastors and their wives, Sunday School Teachers, Preachers, etc that when not able to get to church when they were children rode with us. Maybe this term we will have a future Evangelist? Bible School Teacher? Who knows? 
