The Soul Harvest Fellowship Church and the wider Body of Christ in Papua New Guinea are in deep mourning following the passing of one of the nation's most respected spiritual leaders, Pastor Kaima Sumai.
Pastor Kaima, who served as a Founding Father, Pioneer Pastor, and the National Overseer of Soul Harvest Fellowship PNG, passed away peacefully on 27 October 2026 at 1:00 PM. He was 58 years old. His passing marks the end of an extraordinary earthly journey defined by unwavering faith, humble service, and an enduring commitment to the advancement of God's Kingdom.
Born on 1 February 1968 at Duambu in Pene village (Tabare Ward 14, Sinesine-Yongomugl District, Simbu Province), Pastor Kaima was the fourth of seven children born to the late David Sumai.
He commenced his education at Ku Primary School in 1975 before moving to Muaina High School in 1981. It was during his high school years that his divine calling became evident; he was baptised under the Foursquare Church and served diligently as a Scripture Union leader. In 1984, he graduated as Muaina High School's Dux, balancing academic excellence with a deepening faith.
Encouraged by his father, Pastor Kaima embarked on his first evangelistic outreach to Lae in 1984. His early ministry path took him to Rabaul (1985), Goroka (1986), and eventually Port Moresby in 1987, where he enrolled at the Christian Revival Crusade (CRC) Bible College in Tokarara. He graduated and was formally ordained as a pastor in 1990.
In November 1991, Pastor Kaima married his beloved wife, Jannet Kori. Together, they raised a family blessed with five children and five grandchildren. Beyond his biological family, he was a revered spiritual father, mentor, and counsellor to thousands of individuals, families, and young pastors across the nation.
In 1992, Pastor Kaima became a pioneer founder of the Soul Harvest Fellowship. Serving as National Director and later National Overseer, he dedicated more than three decades to evangelism and church planting. Under his visionary leadership, the movement grew from humble beginnings to a nationwide network of over 50 churches across Papua New Guinea and offshore. At the time of his passing, he remained the active Senior Pastor of the Five Mile Soul Harvest Church in Port Moresby.
Pastor Kaima's impact extended far beyond the pulpit. As an active member of the Ministers Fraternal, he was a vocal advocate for interdenominational unity, national prayer movements, and public integrity. He consistently championed accountability and justice during pivotal moments in PNG's political history, notably making public calls for constitutional accountability in 2010 and 2014.
One of the most defining milestones of his public witness occurred in September 2015 during Papua New Guinea’s 40th Independence Anniversary. Pastor Kaima was chosen as one of the key Christian leaders to ceremonially carry the historic 1611 King James Bible into the National Parliament precinct—a symbolic moment reflecting his core conviction that Christian faith and national governance should work hand-in-hand for the wellbeing of the country.
The Soul Harvest Fellowship extends its deepest condolences to Sister Jannet Sumai, the children, grandchildren, and the thousands of believers whose lives were transformed by Pastor Kaima’s ministry. Funeral and state funeral service arrangements will be announced by the church executive committee in due course.