The Tauade language group is located approximately 45 minutes by air from Port Moresby, the capitol of Papua New Guinea, in the mountains in Central Province in the Goilala District towards the northeast. Most of the people live in some fifty two villages on ridges among deep river valleys and high-forested mountains. Christianity began in the Tauade group in 1939 by the Catholics. Other denominations arrived in the 1980s, among which were the Christian Revival Crusade, New Life, Lutheran, and Seventh Day Adventists. Although most of this people group would say they are Christian, the majority still believe in the local traditional religion.
The early Catholic priests published some vernacular Bible teachings and Scripture portions, but these publications are no longer available. There is a Bible in the language of wider communication, Tok Pisin, but bilingualism in Tok Pisin does not appear to be widespread. There is a Tok Pisin version of the Jesus video, though it has probably not been shown in the Tauade area.
Literacy among the Tauade is fairly low, with a large part of the population not attending school. From time to time organizatons receive letters from individuals requesting someone to come and translate the Bible into their language. However, there is no united community effort to expedite this project. From 1987 - 1991, a translation team lived and worked in Sopu, but this project was terminated suddenly, when the team was physically and violently attacked in their village home and the husband almost died. At this time, it is not recommending that translation work be carried out in the Tauade language area because of concerns for physical safety.
Scripture Prayers for the Tauade in Papua New Guinea.
| Profile Source: Anonymous |
