The Seventh‑day Adventist Church in Ragiampun, Markham District, has successfully hosted a week‑long reconciliation program aimed at restoring peace, healing, and unity after more than a decade of conflict within the community.
The program brought together families, clans, churches, schools, and community leaders to address long‑standing disputes that had previously resulted in violence, fighting, and loss of life. Community leaders described the initiative as a critical step toward rebuilding trust and securing a better future for the next generation.
Prior to the start of the official program, reconciliation first took place at the family and clan level. This groundwork allowed the wider community to collectively agree on hosting a week‑long fellowship focused on forgiveness, restoration, and spiritual renewal.
The reconciliation program featured nightly worship services and fellowship sessions led by Pastor Enoch Kitum, Stewardship Director of the Morobe Mission, alongside Minister Nelson Yanding, Inter‑Country Liaison Field Coordinator. The President of the Morobe Mission was also present, attending the meetings each night through to Sabbath.
A major milestone of the program occurred on Thursday, 26 March, when formal reconciliation ceremonies were held. During this event, community members reconciled with God, the Church, fellow community members, clan to clan, and schools within the community, marking a significant turning point in the reconciliation process.
Ragiampun holds historical significance for the Seventh‑day Adventist Church in the Markham District, as it is one of the first locations where early Adventist pioneers settled and spread the gospel throughout Markham and other parts of Morobe Province.
The Sabbath program was further honoured by the visit of the Union Mission President, who offered special prayers for the community, reinforcing messages of unity, forgiveness, and restoration. As part of the reconciliation journey, a communion service was held, symbolizing spiritual renewal and commitment to peace. The Sabbath service also marked the close of the church’s 13th Sabbath quarter.
In addition to spiritual restoration, the program also emphasized sustainable development. Through an initiative led by the Stewardship Department, land was set aside for the establishment of a cocoa farm. The project will begin with a nursery phase, with seedlings supplied by the Madang Cocoa Board. Eighteen cocoa varieties will be tested, and once successful, the seedlings will be distributed to support other local churches and communities.
Community leaders say the reconciliation program represents a new chapter for Ragiampun—one grounded in peace, healing, restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. The community now looks forward with renewed hope to a more united and prosperous future.
Groundbreaking Ceremony on Sunday
