We are a team working together as Christ is the head to accomplish the work that He has laid before us. We are more than Bible translators; we are God’s servants, His hands and feet in Papua New Guinea.
Meet the Team
| Bethaney Butler grew up in Likan village among the Waran-speaking people where her parents William and Robin served. She returned as an adult in 2009. She serves in logistics and has also focused much time on facilitating development of Elementary 1 curriculum for use in mother-tongue schools. | |
| William and Robin Butler have served as a translation team for the Waran people since 1980. They hope to complete the Waran New Testament during their current term. William also serves as the branch’s Administrator of Finance. Robin oversees our work permit and visa processes. | |
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Bob and Jacque Harper returned to PNG in March, 2011, after an absence of several years. Bob oversees our Technical Services and Jacque assists in Logistics. Though not part of their “official” assigned roles, they also provide great missionary care to our entire team. |
| Steve and Rhonda Hayward have served among the Tay people since 1984. The Tay New Testament is now 80% done, and they plan for it to be published by mid-2014. | |
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Mike and Eunice Herchenroeder served in PNG from 1984 to 1992 and returned in 2007. Mike serves as Director of Language Affairs, Acting Director, and advisor to the Akukem translation team. Eunice serves as Director of Support Services in addition to her role as Missionary Care Facilitator for the branch. |
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Tyler Hewitt served as a Short Term Assistant during 2011 in the area of Information Technology. He is now the Administrator of Information Technology. He is adjusting to the tropical climate after coming here from Alaska – and putting his full trust and faith in God that this is the place God has called him to be. Tyler is eager to learn and serve alongside PBT colleagues and national staff. |
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Emily Hinebauch served as a Short Term Assistant in 2007 and has now returned to serve long term. While her primary responsibility is in the areas of Scripture use, she lends a helping hand in numerous other areas, too. |
| Kathy Klopman arrived in PNG in January, 2012, to join our administrative support team in Madang. | |
| Diane Miller served in PNG from 1985 to 2000, then returned in 2009. She serves as a consultant who has focused much time on facilitating development of Elementary 1 curriculum for use in mother-tongue schools. She also assists in our publications department and oversees the branch library. | |
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Brian and Hannah Paris arrived in PNG in January 2011. They are serving in the area of survey, initially under the auspices of our sister organization SIL. |
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Lindy Pate arrived in PNG to stay in January 2011 after coaching numerous summer internship teams over the past several years. As a Bible translator, she will initially serve the Apal people alongside Martha Wade. |
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Jill Riepe arrived in PNG in January 2009. She serves among the Ap Ma people assisting in the translation of the Bible and is training to serve as a translation consultant. |
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Laura Roberts first came to PNG in 2005 as a Short Term Assistant but has now returned to serve long term. She serves at Ukarumpa International School, where she has established an ESL program that is a tremendous help to national children as well as children of missionaries from non-English speaking countries. |
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Chris and Lori Urton have served as a translation team among the Sob people since 2001. They have published the book of Jonah; drafting of Luke is well underway. |
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Martha Wade has served as a Bible translator among the Apal people since 1985. She is also a translation consultant. |
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Lori Witham has served in PNG since 1993. She serves as Administrator of Publications. She’s the person we talk to when it’s time to plan the publication of literacy materials and translated Scripture! |
Other teams are part of our branch though they live elsewhere:
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Norm and Jill Weatherhead served as a translation team among the Nend people of Papua New Guinea from 1997 to 2002. They make periodic trips to PNG from their home in Canada. While here, Norm serves as a translation consultant and Jill assists our team with language data entry, literacy efforts and office projects. |
National Team Members:
We could not accomplish all that we do without the capable assistance we receive from the Papua New Guinean men and women who are part of our team here at the office.
| Lois Bayyom-Nai has served as a bookkeeper in the PBT Finance Office since 1990. | |
| Ruth Bilik came to PBT in 2009, first as our receptionist now as a publications assistant working with Lori Witham and Diane Miller. | |
| Elizabeth Meraudje has served as receptionist since 2010. | |
| Andrew and Agusta Lekari have served with PBT since 2003. Andrew assists with many Technical Services tasks and Agusta serves in housekeeping. | |
| Agusta Ban has worked for PBT since 2000. She also serves in housekeeping. | |
| Josephine Gumuka joined our logistics team in 2009. In addition to housekeeping, she is responsible for distributing food and supplies to our national co-workers and to hospital patients who are here under the auspices of a PBT missionary. She also is a great cook. | |
| Gosel Gemo has worked for PBT since 2005. He serves in the area of Technical Services, focused especially on yard work for PBT properties. |
We have one more person to introduce:
Erastus Otairobo. Erastus is from the Solomon Islands. He is a consultant who assists in checking translated Scripture. In addition to his work with PBT, he is working part time to complete the translation of the New Testament into Baegu, his mother tongue, under an arrangement with The Seed Company.