BY NCN NEWS STAFF

YESTERDAY MORNING in Papua New Guinea, a search and rescue team was scheduled to look for four Nazarenes and at least three other people who had missing at sea for more than 40 hours in the Aitape area.

But late on Sunday night prayers were answered and the group was found safe.

The group left Aitape in a 23-foot fibreglass boat around noon on Saturday on the first part of a journey to the Nazarene Youth International "Third Wave" conference in Thailand.

Sailing through rough seas, they were supposed to arrive at their destination about five and a half hours later. They never arrived. 

A day later with still no sign of the group, prayers went out all over the world that they would be found safe. The search and rescue team was scheduled to look for them at first light Monday morning. 

"The PNG group that has been missing for more than 40 hours have been found alive!" said Verne Ward, Asia-Pacific regional director for the Church of the Nazarene.

The boat apparently lost power, but the crew was able to get it to land in a remote area. The group was hiking out and was finally able to get word out that they are safe. 

"There is much crying and praising going on in PNG right at this moment!" Ward said.

Source: Nazarene Communications Network