Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has expressed his gratitude to the global Seventh-day Adventist Church community during the opening session of the 62nd General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is attending as an official guest.
In his remarks to more than 6, 000 delegates and visitors from across the globe, Prime Minister Marape highlighted Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural diversity and unwavering faith, describing the country as “a nation where 100 percent of the population knows the Seventh-day Adventist Church exists.”
The Prime Minister also spoke passionately about the national outreach programme “PNG for Christ 2024,” a major collaborative initiative between the Papua New Guinea Union Mission and the global SDA Church aimed at spreading the Christian message of hope and salvation across all regions of the country.
“From a government perspective, it has been a blessing to witness such an impactful Christian movement in our nation,” Prime Minister Marape said. “With over 836 languages spoken by 11 million people, we are united in faith. PNG for Christ 2024 was a monumental success, with over 500,000 people participating directly and more than a million expressing interest in the programme.”
He thanked the leadership of the General Conference, the South Pacific Division, and the local PNG church administration for their strong coordination and tireless efforts in organising one of the largest religious conventions in the country’s history.
“We deeply appreciate your prayers, your support, and your love,” he said. “Papua New Guinea continues to be a country where faith and government work hand-in-hand to uplift our people.”
Prime Minister Marape’s participation in the St. Louis gathering underscores his government’s commitment to religious freedom, Christian values, and the integral role of faith-based organisations in national development.
The 62nd General Conference Session, held every five years, brings together delegates from more than 200 countries and territories. Prime Minister Marape is the only sitting head of government officially invited to this year’s event, further highlighting Papua New Guinea’s spiritual significance in the global SDA movement.
“PNG Was the Highlight of This Global Conference,” says PM Marape
Speaking after his address, Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea had received unprecedented global attention during the General Conference session.
“Papua New Guinea has received global attention in terms of the success of the PNG for Christ programme,” he said. “The Seventh-day Adventist Church is present in 235 countries and territories, with a global membership of 23 million people. This programme is not only being witnessed by those attending in person—around 6,000 here in St. Louis—but is also being broadcast via satellite uplink to church members all around the world.
“I want to appreciate the global church for featuring Papua New Guinea prominently from the very opening session on Thursday and Friday. This is a one-week session, but PNG was the highlight of the entire conference.”
The Prime Minister said that this level of visibility placed PNG on the map in a profound way, both from a religious and national perspective.
“This global platform, through the SDA Church’s vast network—second only to the Catholic Church in providing Christian education and health services worldwide—allowed the world to see that PNG exists, that it is a Christian nation, and that PNG for Christ was a true success story.”
He added that he attends religious events from all denominations—Catholic, Pentecostal, Adventist, and others—because he believes faith is a powerful unifying force that nurtures national character.
“Despite our diversity, we can find common ground in the core Christian values of love, forgiveness, tolerance, kindness, and service to one another. These values can help shape our society into a more caring and unified nation.
“In my view, the 62nd Session of the General Conference gave PNG a level of prominence it has never before received. I want to sincerely thank the global SDA leadership for giving Papua New Guinea such recognition and honour.”