eventh-day Adventists in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea have taken to the church's Year of Evangelism initiative with gusto.

The Eastern Highlands has the largest membership--at 64,915--of any of the conferences or missions of the church in the South Pacific. So Adventists there have set themselves an ambitious goal to present 1,000 evangelistic programs this year. They have already presented 696, even after setting aside the first three months of the year for prayer.

Church members have presented a variety of programs with a focus on the following:

Food. If a Papua New Guinean wants to announce an important matter, they invite their neighbors to a mumu, at which they cook food in an earth oven over hot stones. Church members have held 10 mumus so far this year, inviting their neighbors to "vote for Jesus for now and eternity."

Church members of a particular clan have taken items of food to members of a rival clan who used to be neighbors. As a thank-you, the rival clan presented the Adventist clan with a new hurricane lamp with the message "The light you have kindled is here to stay. Come and shine the light brighter in our area."

Midwifery. Some 200 non-Adventists are regularly attending worship services because of the ministry of a group of Adventist women. The women--mostly the spouses of mission employees--attended a workshop earlier this year to learn how to help expectant mothers who live in villages without a clinic or a hospital. The women have now delivered 50 babies.

Potholes. Budding entrepreneurs are charging motorists to drive over potholes the entrepreneurs themselves have filled on public roads. Several Adventists have joined the scheme. But they ask only that motorists pray with them before continuing their journey.

Prayer. A group of non-Adventist women have invited a group of Adventist women to speak at an interdenominational evangelistic program after both groups attended an International Day of Prayer celebration. The non-Adventists say they believe the Adventist Church has the truth and are asking the Adventists not to hide the truth from them.

Public evangelism. Adventist professionals are sponsoring 109 missionaries who are bringing the church's message into previously unentered areas. More than 340 people have been baptized because of this ministry.

A 7-year-old Adventist is preaching to people on the streets and at the markets. A group of children who sing accompany the boy.

And several high schools are giving students time off from class to present evangelistic programs.