Many pastors, evangelists, and church workers in rural Papua New Guinea lead their Bible studies and prayer meetings after dark, by kerosene lamp, torchlight, candlelight, or no light at all. Most of them also farm and look after their families, and many are unpaid. Their ministry carries on whether anyone notices or not.
LIGHT PNG’s Solar Light Project invites individuals, families, churches, businesses, and Christian organisations to sponsor solar lanterns for these workers. A lantern gives a pastor light to read, prepare, and gather people in the evening, which is when much of rural ministry happens.
Sponsor a solar light and help light the way for the Gospel.
Why Your Sponsorship Matters
Many rural communities in Papua New Guinea highland are beyond the reach of reliable electricity. Local pastors and evangelists serve there with limited money and basic equipment. Some walk long distances to reach isolated villages, and others lead small congregations that can only be reached by mountain tracks, footpaths, or river crossings.
Their work goes well beyond Sunday worship. They visit families, teach Scripture, lead prayer, counsel people in difficulty, encourage young believers, and respond when someone needs help. When the sun goes down, each of these gets harder.
What Darkness Takes Away From Ministry
- Preparation. Reading Scripture and preparing a sermon or evening Bible study is hard without a dependable light.
- Evening gatherings. Prayer meetings, fellowship, and pastoral visits are all affected by poor light.
- Communication. Where there is mobile coverage, keeping a phone charged can still be a struggle.
- Cost and safety. Candles, kerosene, and disposable batteries are a recurring expense, and open flames and fuel carry safety risks.
- Emergencies. A portable light is valuable when someone needs help after dark.
A solar lantern cannot solve every difficulty a rural pastor faces. It does remove one practical barrier, and it is one you can help remove. For a closer look at an ordinary evening for a Highlands pastor, read what evening really looks like for a Highlands pastor in PNG.
What One Solar Light Does
Light for God’s Word
A lantern gives light for Bible reading, sermon preparation, personal devotion, and small-group Scripture study. For a pastor in an off-grid community, evening study becomes easier and can last longer.
Light for Ministry
Many rural churches have very limited facilities. A portable solar lantern can light an evening prayer gathering or a church meeting, and it can go with a pastor when he visits a family or answers a call after dark.
Light for Communication
Some solar lanterns include a phone charging port. Where a lantern has one, a pastor can charge his phone to contact church leaders, coordinate ministry, and reach others when network coverage allows. Lanterns chosen for this project need to be built for rural conditions, as we explain in solar lanterns that survive rural life.
Choose How You Want to Sponsor
LIGHT PNG welcomes sponsorship from individuals, families, churches, businesses, and organisations. Our initial target is an estimated US$50 per lantern. The final cost may vary with the lantern model, purchasing arrangements, transport, and distribution.
Sponsor one solar light: US$50
This helps equip one rural pastor or Christian worker serving in a community without reliable electricity. One lantern supports Bible reading, ministry preparation, and everyday lighting needs. Sponsor one solar light for US$50.
Sponsor five solar lights: US$250
Five lanterns can reach pastors or evangelists in different communities. This level suits families, small groups, and Bible study fellowships. Sponsor five solar lights for US$250.
Sponsor ten solar lights: US$500
Churches, mission groups, businesses, and generous individuals can support ten workers at this level, helping LIGHT PNG reach more ministry workers through its distribution programme. Sponsor ten solar lights for US$500.
A different amount
Sponsorships of other sizes are welcome. You can give toward one lantern or toward a larger distribution.
All sponsorship amounts go to LIGHT PNG’s Solar Light Project. Sponsorship supports the programme and does not assign your gift to a particular named recipient. Final purchasing and distribution arrangements depend on project needs and available resources.
How Your Sponsorship Works
- You sponsor. You choose an amount and complete your contribution through our online payment page or other payment options available.
- We identify needs. LIGHT PNG works with local church leaders and ministry networks to find rural pastors, evangelists, and Christian workers who could use solar lighting. Priority goes to those in communities with limited or no reliable electricity.
- We purchase and distribute. Funds go toward suitable lanterns and their distribution to eligible workers. Where needed, recipients get basic guidance on operating, charging, and caring for the lantern. You can read more about this on our training and support page and our solar lantern distribution page.
- We report. LIGHT PNG aims to document distributions and share progress through reports, photographs, and stories where appropriate, with respect for the dignity and privacy of recipients.
Who Will Benefit
The project focuses on Christian workers who keep serving in difficult circumstances.
- Rural pastors lead congregations in remote villages where church resources are limited. A lantern supports their preparation, teaching, and pastoral care.
- Evangelists and church planters travel between communities, visiting families and sharing the Gospel. A portable light helps them on the road and in the evening.
- Other church workers, such as Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, also serve their communities. Where project resources allow, solar lighting can support them too.
We are beginning with local church networks in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea. Our initial planning includes 62 rural churches in North Waghi in Jiwaka Province and Kerowagi in Simbu Province, and we hope to reach more communities as resources and partnerships grow. We plan to work one district and one ministry area at a time, with prayer, careful planning, and trusted local relationships.
Our Commitment to Sponsors
Every sponsorship is someone’s generosity, and we handle it with care.
- Use of funds. Money given to the Solar Light Project goes to project needs, including lantern purchases and necessary programme costs.
- Local partnership. We work with recognised church leaders and ministry networks to identify real needs and coordinate distributions.
- Training. Where appropriate, recipients receive guidance on using and maintaining their lanterns, so each one stays useful for as long as possible.
- Records. We aim to keep appropriate records of purchases, distributions, and recipients.
- Updates. As the programme develops, we will share updates on activities, challenges, and results.
Supporting People Who Already Serve
Behind every lantern is a person: a pastor preparing a sermon, an evangelist walking to a distant village, a church leader visiting a struggling family, a Bible teacher working with children. LIGHT PNG exists to come alongside these people, who are already doing the work, and to give them a practical tool.
Jesus said, in Matthew 5:16 (KJV):
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
A lantern is a practical resource. It helps the people who proclaim the Gospel keep working after dark. When you sponsor one, you support someone whose calling is to share Jesus Christ, the true Light of the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to sponsor one lantern?
Our initial estimated target is US$50 per lantern. Actual costs may vary with the equipment chosen and local logistics.
Where will the lanterns go?
Initially to rural ministry communities in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea, including areas within Simbu Province. Later distributions depend on identified needs, available resources, and cooperation with local church networks.
Will I know who receives my lantern?
Individual sponsorships are not matched to named recipients. LIGHT PNG aims to share general project updates and distribution information, and may share recipient details or photographs only when appropriate and with regard for privacy.
Can my church or organisation sponsor a group of pastors?
Yes. Churches, mission committees, fellowships, and businesses are welcome to support larger initiatives. Please contact LIGHT PNG to talk through your contribution.
Is my payment secure?
LIGHT PNG uses Stripe as its online payment provider. You enter payment details through Stripe’s hosted payment system, not directly on the LIGHT PNG website.
Is my sponsorship tax-deductible?
That depends on applicable law and the legal and tax status of the receiving organisation. Please do not assume a deduction is available. Contact LIGHT PNG for documentation and consult a qualified tax adviser if needed. More answers are on our FAQ page.
What if I cannot sponsor a lantern right now?
You can still help. Pray for rural pastors and evangelists in Papua New Guinea, share the Solar Light Project with others, or introduce LIGHT PNG to a church or organisation that supports rural ministry. Other ways to take part are listed on our Get Involve page.
Will You Help Light the Way?
Somewhere in rural Papua New Guinea, a pastor is preparing to serve his community. His church may have no electricity, and the walk to neighbouring villages may be long. His commitment to God’s calling continues all the same.
Your sponsorship may look small next to the needs across the country. To a worker serving with limited resources, one lantern means he can read his Bible, prepare his messages, and carry on his ministry after dark.
- Sponsor one light for US$50.
- Sponsor five lights for US$250.
- Sponsor ten lights for US$500.
You can also give a different amount where the payment page supports it. Sponsor a solar light today and help a pastor keep serving after dark.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the Solar Light Project. Whether you sponsor a lantern, pray for this ministry, or tell someone else about it, we are grateful. May God bless you as you consider how to take part.
LIGHT PNG: Light the Way for the Gospel
“For we are labourers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV)