Source: Ethnos360, September 16, 2019
In the Iski people group of Papua New Guinea, “marriage is an ill-defined term,” said missionary Aurélie Tousch. “People go out together, move in together [and] break up, a bit like in the West. There is no wedding day but a ‘trial period’ that often ends in separation even after the birth of a child.”
After the gospel was presented and Iski believers began growing, the missionaries taught biblical principles of marriage. Though counter-cultural, the Iski believers accepted the teachings and have been waiting since 2017 for an opportunity to demonstrate their obedience.
One of these Iski believers is Bitris, a young, single lady. Bitris’ friends encouraged her to marry, but she chose to wait because there were few single, believing Iski men.
Meanwhile, in a different language group far across Papua New Guinea, Moombi, a young Mibu elder, began looking for a wife. For years, he waited to marry because he “felt rather strongly that God wanted him to focus on ministry and leave these things in his hands,” said missionary Chris Walker. Then in December 2018, his brothers “informed him that it was time for him to get married,” and Moombi followed his family’s wishes and began growing his beard in a Mibu cultural practice to “advertise” that he was looking for a wife…
» Read full story. Many first-generation believers face with similar issues finding spouses. See also The Iski Church Has Been Born! (2017).