We are thrilled to inform you that SCA was able to train 41 trainee chaplains in Papua New Guinea recently. With sports academy staff and competition bosses keen to grow it throughout PNG sport.

Hannah Johnson (right) with one of the students in Port Moresby

“The turn out was terrific!” said Hannah Johnson who travelled to Port Moresby to provide the training. “The guys were thrilled and I was rapped to be able to train one of the girls.” “We had a great time and definitely had the right people there.”

“We trained nine students in the Level 1 and Level 2 CSC courses and another 32 people in a Level 1 course.” The trainees represented numerous different PNG denominations.

Many of the high performance staff (around 20) at the academy spent an afternoon in a presentation and feedback session learning about the role of sports chaplains. Hannah said, “The response was great and they are all on board and keen to see it happen.”

“I also met with the Rugby League administrator and head of the Digicell Cup (PNG’s main Rugby League competition) and he is real keen to have it in all the teams and provinces.”

The great news is that the head of PNG High Performance Sport who works across all their 39 sports is very keen to see chaplaincy serving across all their sports and communities across the country. They are so keen that they are prepared to help Sports Chaplaincy establish itself independently assisting them with office space, and resources like lawyers and graphic designers to assist with the setting up of a local entity. SCA is working alongside locals to see this take shape.

Some of the Level 2 Trainees with Hannah in Port Moresby

Local PNG NRL chaplain Arthur Tane said, “On behalf of the participants, the church and organisation that they represented, I would like to sincerely thank you to Sports Chaplaincy Australia for the vision and faith you have in your ministry to be extended into Papua New Guinea.” “Thank you for Hannah Johnson and to Dr. Les White.” Adding, “It’s a first of its kind in our young nation’s history.”

“All participants from all three levels of training took away new vision and challenge to learn to simplify their walk with Christ, to be Ambassadors that others may see and desire to follow – to meet them where they are.”

“I had many take-aways from the training, but, we all could not go pass the 5 roles of Sports Chaplains – Presence, Pastor…”

Get trained to be a sports chaplain – see here.