Kwato in Papua New Guinea

People Name:	Kwato
Country:	Papua New Guinea
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	2,600
World Population:	2,600
Primary Language:	Waube
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	90.00 %
Evangelicals:	22.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Started
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	New Guinea
Affinity Bloc:	Pacific Islanders
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Waube people live in Madang Province of Papua New Guinea. Most Waube speakers live in mountain villages off the coast of Astrolabe Bay. Some Waube settlements have been established along the Madang-Lae Highway. The Waube maintain gardens, consuming much of the produce themselves and selling any excess at markets. Their primary crops are sweet potato, taro, bananas, pineapple, and peanuts. Cash crops include cacao and vanilla.

Before the Second World War, the Lutheran Church established a mission station at Keku, which is on the border between the Waube and Amowe language areas. The Lutherans translated a liturgy book into the Waube language, but there are no longer any copies available. Around the time of the Second World War, the Lutheran station was closed. The denomination no longer has a presence in the area. Currently, Evangelical Brethren Church (EBC) is the most active church in the area, with churches in 8 of the 9 Waube villages. There are also three Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) churches, two South Seas Evangelical (SSEC) churches and one New Apostolic church.