It’s a quiet Thursday afternoon in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, for David and Anette Jarsetz. Then the phone rings. A local group is holding a weekend retreat for teenagers, and their speaker wouldn’t be available on Saturday; could they lead two workshops on  the subject of dating and marriage? David and Anette said they would be pleased to share, especially since they had covered these topics recently in other churches.

“In contrast to the rural areas of the country, Western influence in the capital is very noticeable,” writes David. “While most marriages are still arranged by parents or their families, young people in the city nowadays choose their partners themselves.” The Jarsetzes note that this is quite a cultural shift, one that leads to tension between young people and their elders. Parents and churches are often perplexed by the new influences and trends.

“How wonderful it is that God’s standards in the Bible are valid at all times,” Anette commented. “We spoke very directly into their situation and were pleased that they listened attentively. Why when David spoke to the young men, you could have heard a pin drop.”