Along the border of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, Pastor Obed Yamasombi leads a team of I Will Go bike riders through the jungle to reach remote villages.
At the edge of two nations, where the road disappears and the jungle takes over, entire communities live unseen and unheard. Most people will never set foot there. But for Pastor Obed, that’s exactly where the journey had to begin—on two wheels.
In 2022, he had an opportunity to visit a border community between his country, Papua New Guinea, and neighboring Indonesia.
"There are no government services, especially the infrastructure like road, hospitals, clinics, and schools, and it's a challenge for the people living out there. They have been marginalized and been forgotten by their countries—both countries: Indonesia and Papua New Guinea." —Obed
This situation deeply touched Pastor Obed’s heart. He knew he couldn’t just walk away. He had to do something.
"I felt emotion and sorry for them. And that's where I mobilized the boys to reach out to the unreached villages along the border areas." —Obed
Pastor Obed gathered his friends and told them about the needs at the border. They wanted to help, but in a way that combined their passion for ministry and their love for biking. So, they decided to use their bikes as instruments for mission. With prayer and excitement, they packed up and started riding, determined to reach the unreached along this border. It was an adventure filled with purpose and blessing.
"When we ride and pass through the villages along the borders, what we do is, we arrive at the villages, we greet them, meet them, we share literatures to them, Bibles and other Christian literatures. And then we also share Jesus Christ with them. And then, if we have any lollies or something to give to the children just to make their day and, you know, brighten their days because they are cut off from the outside world." —Obed
Imagine living far from anyone—when someone arrives, showing love and genuine concern, it touches hearts and opens doors for deeper connection.
"Most of those villages that we pass through and we approach, they are not Adventist villages. So when we arrive at those villages, they cry and literally tears come down and they cry and they welcome us into their community and they feed us and they, you know, we sing for them, and we shared Jesus Christ with them. And they ask us to build our church onto their land and also open or run their school in their village." —Obed
Biking through thick jungles and savannas, untouched by most people, carrying bikes over swamps, rivers, and climbing hills is a serious challenge. Yet, Pastor Obed and his team press on, facing every obstacle with courage and faith. They know the risks but choose to go anyway, trusting God to lead the way.
"What we would like to request for the world church to pray for us is pray for us and pray for the people that we will be ministering to, and that Holy Spirit will use us to evangelize, to bring the gospel message of Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters along the border areas and beyond the borders." —Obed
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