Three thousand people have gathered in the territorial HQ of The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea to celebrate the 50th anniversary congress.

Gathering in Boroko, The Salvation Army's General Shaw Clifton and Helen Clifton led proceedings, supported by Territorial Commander Colonel Andrew Kalai and members of the THQ staff. The Salvation Army reported that a total of 19,142 attended 12 public events over the extended weekend celebrations.

Up to 200 Salvationists joined a welcome party at the airport at 5.30am to greet the General, and an extravagant welcome included national dancers and official greetings from the Papua New Guinea government via Dame Carol Kidu, Minister for Community Development.

Traditional themes of the Papua New Guinea culture were featured throughout the gathering, and a particular highlight was the various presentations of 'prophet songs', a traditional means used by the first missionaries to tell Bible stories in the local language when people could not read.

Various activities included a men's prayer rally, as well as a "stirring testimony" by Benny Wasu, whose past included drunkenness and criminal activity, even the burning down of a nightclub.

The Salvation Army reported that when Wasu's wife and daughters began attending the Church they urged him to join them but he continually declined. "Then one day," he said, "I was in my car and lost control. It was hanging off the edge of a cliff by one wheel. I called out to God to save me and then slowly began crawling out of the car. I went and found Colonel Kalai, telling him I needed a change in my life. The following week I went to a youth congress and there found the Lord as my saviour."

Benny Wasu has since gone on to build numerous churches.

A women's rally was also led by Commissioner Helen Clifton, and a cultural meeting was held during the gathering.

General Clifton challenged the congregation by saying: "I have been thinking of what one Salvation Army symbol transcends all culture. It is not the uniform, the crest or even the flag. It is the mercy seat. By simply turning some chars around at the front we transform any building into a Salvation Army hall. The mercy seat is the very definition of Salvation Army mission."

The General also gave a powerful talk on personal holiness. "God commands us to be holy," he said. "But how is that possible? Our God does not trifle with us, tease or toy with us by giving us commands that cannot be fulfilled. It is possible by a baptism of the Holy Spirit of Christ-like love into the heart of the seeking believer."

During the visit, the General also dedicated to God the first Salvation Army high school building in Papua New Guinea as well as an expanded Focused, Open and Distance Education Centre (FODE) at the territorial headquarters compound in Boroko.

The expanded facilities include an IT lab with 30 computers, fully equipped labs for science and home economics, a double performing and visual arts classroom and a workshop area to teach hand skills and carpentry. In addition there are a total of 20 new classrooms in both the school and the centre.

[Source: Salvation Army, Major Allen Satterlee]