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 New
Guinea (also called Irian), one of the world's largest islands, has a
difficult terrain that discourages travel between districts, Consequently,
it is home to many isolated tribes, with many different cultures and at
least 500 languages. Christian missionaries began work there in the 1860's,
but proceeded slowly.
When World War II threatened Papua and New Guinea, it was obvious that
missionaries of European origin were in danger. There was talk of leaving.
Bishop Philip Strong wrote to his clergy: "We must endeavour to carry on our
work. God expects this of us. The church at home, which sent us out, will
surely expect it of us. The universal church expects it of us. The people
whom we serve expect it of us. We could never hold up our faces again if,
for our own safety, we all forsook Him and fled, when the shadows of the
Passion began to gather around Him in His spiritual and mystical body, the
Church in Papua."
They stayed. Almost immediately there were arrests. Eight clergymen and two
laymen were executed "as an example" on September 2, 1942. In the next few
years, many Papuan Christians of all Churches risked their own lives to care
for the wounded.
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