PNG: Rebuilding Bible Society


Overview


There is an urgent need to build the capacity of Bible Society Papua New Guinea (BSPNG) in order to reach future generations with the word of God. This process has at its centre the task of establishing sustainable, impactful Bible based mission work.  

There are more than 880 languages in PNG with more than 300 languages yet to receive any Bible translation. Almost 89% of the approximately 8.9 million people are in the (largely remote) rural areas. Much of the population are uneducated and live in poverty. Literacy is a major challenge; many would not be able to read the Bible. There is a vast need for Bible translation, Bible distribution, literacy and church partnerships, especially in the rural areas. 

The word of God already has a place in the rural communities of PNG, so the distribution of Bibles to these remote communities is of paramount spiritual importance to the people living there.  

To meet these needs, it is essential that the Bible Society is present and sustainable. 

Statistics 

  • ~89% of people are in rural areas 
  • 880 languages in PNG 
  • 300 languages yet to receive any Bible translation 
  • In 2015, PNG’s literacy rate was 63.4% of the adult population and only increased slightly by 2018, when nine of the 22 provinces were still at an unacceptable level of literacy 

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