Inanwatan, is in the northwest part (called Vogelkop, i.e., Bird's Head) of the island of New Guinea (a Dutch colony). Here the Dutch Mennonite Mission Association opened a mission on 1 October 1950, taking over this area from the Dutch Reformed Church. The Papuas living in this section were partly Christianized in 1915-1925. In 1958 there were about 60 congregations and mission stations. R. E. H. Marcus, who preached here after October 1950, was the missionary-pastor, assisted by a large number of native preachers and teachers. From October 1950 to May 1956  P. Messie also served as pastor. In the spring of 1954 Teminabuan became the center of the mission work.     

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 18. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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