August 26: Repentance Day in Papua New Guinea
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Papua New Guinea.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
The island of New Guinea is the world’s second-largest island. The western part of the island is part of Indonesia. The nation of Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern part of the island, along with several hundred smaller islands nearby.
The original inhabitants of Papua New Guinea are known as Melanesians. This people group settled islands north and northeast of Australia in ancient times. The people in these islands speak a huge variety of languages, including over 800 in Papua New Guinea.
While the Dutch were colonizing the islands that became Indonesia, the British and Germans began taking over islands that would become Papua New Guinea. The areas under British control passed to Australian control in 1902. Australia displaced the Germans during World War I, and Japan invaded the islands during World War II. After that war, the Territory of Papua and New Guinea was part of Australia until 1975, when the country gained full independence as Papua New Guinea.
Christianity came to the islands of Papua New Guinea in the 19th century, and outside missionaries and local converts have spread the gospel throughout the country. Of the country’s 10 million people, about 95% identify with one of several Christian denominations.
In 2011 the prime minister established August 26 as National Repentance Day. It has been observed each year since with different themes. In 2025 the country’s parliament amended the country’s constitution to include more explicit references to Christianity while still protecting freedom of religion.
Kwato Church, completed in 1937 and located on Kwato Island, is one of only two stone church buildings in the country. This photo is by imageBROKER.com / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This news story features footage from a 2024 observance of Repentance Day in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
