On June 11, 2005, the Wantok Radio Light Network in Papua New Guinea was dedicated to the Lord's service.  Our Director of Ministries, Garry Sutley, was there in this incredible event that drew thousands of jubilant supporters

Garry traveled with our dear friend and co-laborer Joe Emert who filed these reports....

Dear Friends,

It is Thursday morning in Papua New Guinea and We have been on the road in the Highlands, crossing three Provinces (States) to install three FM Stations.

I am glad to report that all three FM stations are on the air! We are also experiencing excellent reception of the shortwave station, which is based in Port Moresby. Everywhere we have gone we have had excellent reception of the Shortwave. This is a critical component of the PNG Christian Broadcasting Network here in this rugged and mountainous country. While the people in the larger towns and cities can enjoy the quality of FM, the outlying areas and extremely remote villages can benefit from the Shortwave.

It’s a sobering thought to realize that our shortwave station is now broadcasting from an antenna site which was recently the scene of a bloody tribal war between three tribes. We understand that this site was occupied by a violent and trouble-making tribe. The two adjoining tribes decided that enough was enough and drove them off the land. Many died on that blood field and the land became a vacant piece of land on which children played. Now, thank God, we proclaim a different kind of blood-story from that land…the story of the shed-blood of Jesus Christ and His gift of eternal Life!

Curt Bender, HCJB Engineer, became friends with “Leo” a village leader and combatant in the battle at The Field of Blood. He told Curt the story as they worked together installing the shortwave station. Please pray for Leo and the surrounding villages that they will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We also need prayer-protection over the transmitter site, situated in this violent and high-crime area of Port Moresby.


Ialibu FM (pronounced “Yallyboo”)

The first FM repeater was completed last Saturday, June 4 in a small town called “Ialibu” and covers a large portion of the Southern Highlands. This site was selected as the first installation to honor the many people in the Southern Highlands who have prayed for and supported this long-desired station. Mondopa Mini, Chairman of the PNG Christian Broadcasting Network prayed the prayer of dedication at 11:30 AM and switch on the transmitter! We recorded his comments as he spoke in three languages to the people of the region. Or, was that four languages? I learned all over again that, indeed, tears are a language!

Almost immediately our radio team hundreds of miles away, at the flagship station in Port Moresby, began to get calls from the Ialibu area! It was absolutely phenomenal how swiftly the news began to spread. It was a wonderful feeling to know that this radio ministry, heard across the nation, is being so well received. Many put their dials on 105.9 FM and simply wait until they hear their local FM repeater come on the air!

We quickly cleaned up the work site, locked the doors to the transmitter building, packed up the trucks, and started the seven hour drive to “Goroka”, the site of our next FM installation.

As we drove, Mondopa shared his concerns for our safety, telling us that on his trip to the Mount Hagen airport to meet us he came upon a band of “rascals” (road bandits) in the process of a violent gang-holdup of a busload of people. They had blocked the road, stopping the bus, and were robbing the travelers at gunpoint. Sadly, a number of women were raped. One teenage girl recognized Mondopa’s car and quickly got in. The rascals allowed Mondopa to go past the road block, knowing that he is a church leader in this area. The young lady told Mondopa that they had dragged her into the bush but that she had escaped just prior to seeing Mondopa.

While this can be a violent place when one is in the wrong place at the right time, overall it is a wonderful place of peace. The people are quiet and gentle, very sensitive and kind. Sin is a violent destroyer and we pray the effects of Wantok Radio Light across this nation will bring healing and revival.

Thanks for your continued prayers. Next report I’ll share a few details regarding the next two FM repeater installations. Blessings to you from Papua New Guinea!


Joe Emert