Music - End Time Swallows Ministry

Ministry in Songs

Music ministry is at the heart of End Time Swallows’ evangelistic mission. Through Christ-centered songs, we proclaim the gospel, uplift communities, and call people to worship God in spirit and in truth.

End Time Swallows was privileged to minister through music at the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Session on two occasions—2022 and 2025—both held in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. These opportunities affirmed the role of music as a powerful tool for global evangelism and cultural witness.

Central to our music ministry is a deliberate commitment to originality. End Time Swallows strives to preserve the traditional tone, tune, and style of singing rooted in our cultural heritage, intentionally minimizing Western influence. By praising God in our own dialect and musical expression, we offer worship that is authentic, reverent, and distinctive.

This unique style of singing began in 1996 under the influence and leadership of Steven Kual, laying the foundation for a music ministry that continues to glorify God through originality, identity, and message.

Watch ETS Journey of Raising funds to attend and to sing at the General Conference 61st Session in St Louis Missouri, USA.

Watch ETS Live Performance at the 61st General Conference Session – “Perilum” Meaning, Christ second coming is inevitable “It will Happen” sang in the original tone and dialect, one of Papua New Guinea’s way and style of singing.

Watch ETS Live Performance at the 62nd General Conference Session – “Raise the Standard High”, A call to be seperate from the world, to come out of Babylon, to awake out of slumber, to be vigilant as the watchman.

The Making of Enga Spirituals

"If You Can Talk, You Can Sing" : The Journey of ETS Singing Ministry by Steven Kual

The Birth of the Ministry

The End Time Swallows Ministry was born out of struggle, faith and a deep love for singing. During the early stages of the End Time Swallows Ministry singing was one of the most difficult parts for us. We had no idea and no knowledge of four-part harmony yet we loved to sing. We tried our best even when our harmonies often went flat and sounded far from perfect.

Many times, we would practice the same song over and over again, never quite reaching the point where we felt it was ready to be sung or performed in churches and programs. We could practice the same song the entire day even throughout the night and still it felt like nothing was happening. We didn’t know what part was wrong, where the problem was or which voice was causing the difficulty, it was all a mystery to us. Still we kept going. Practice would continue until all the water containers ran dry, our heads would spin and we would be exhausted, thirsty and hungry having used up all our energy. Yet somehow, we would leave practice happy and smiling already excited to come back for the next practice as if we had truly enjoyed the struggle of the last session. And then when a song finally came together when the harmonies settled and everything sounded right we would celebrate with joy. Every finished song felt like a victory reminding us why we never gave up.

Discovering the Purpose of Singing

In those early days we also came to realize that human beings were purposely created by God to praise Him through singing. We began to understand why God created the vocal cords, the diaphragm, mouth and the lips. Through this understanding we reached a simple but powerful conclusion that if you can talk, you can sing. This belief “If you can talk, you can sing” has inspired many young men who once thought they had no gift for singing or believed they could never sing at all. Through this encouragement they found confidence, discovered their voices and became singers within the ministry.

Embracing Our Traditional Style

We continue to hope and pray that the Lord will lead us forward in our singing ministry as long as we remain faithful and committed to His calling. And truly after a long season of struggling with singing in the Western style the Lord opened a new door for us. He helped us to see that we could sing and praise Him in our own traditional style of singing here in PNG. We came to understand that when the early western missionaries arrived, they presented the Gospel of the Kingdom through their own ways of singing, dressing, greeting and living. This realization opened our eyes to the truth that PNG has over 800 languages with more than 800 different styles of singing gifts God gave to our ancestors to praise Him. Sadly, these gifts were used to honour rivers, mountains, lakes and forests Gods and used in other traditional activities. As we grew in understanding we discovered that our traditional styles of singing carry unique melodies, rhythms and harmonies. We began with the Engan traditional style of singing and from this journey the Engan Spirituals were born in 1996 at the University of Papua New Guinea.

The Birth of the Engan Spirituals

When the first Engan Spiritual (Karikis) was sung at the University of Papua New Guinea the entire campus erupted to its feet. Students were clapping, shouting and cheering so loudly that we could hardly hear ourselves sing. The atmosphere was electric. In that unforgettable moment we knew we had touched something unique and special. That day was a sign to us that God was doing something new. As the years went by many more spirituals were born each one carrying the same spirit, power and identity that first moved the campus to its feet. What began as struggle became strength. What began as confusion became calling. And through it all, God was teaching us that every voice He created has a purpose to praise Him.

The First Album – Jesus Ip (2016)

Over the years, we carried a deep desire to record our songs and if possible produce our first album. The songs were our own original compositions and arrangements born out of prayer, struggle and cultural identity. That dream finally became a reality in 2016 when we recorded and released our first album under the theme Jesus Ip (Jesus Come). After its release many Papua New Guineans obtained copies of the album. Our songs began to play on radio stations, at meetings, in church programs and on various media platforms. Invitations started coming from different places within our local mission asking us to sing at meetings and special programs. It was a humbling and joyful experience to see how far God had brought us.

The 61st General Conference Session (2022)

In 2020, we were selected to sing at the 61st General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States by the General Conference Music Committee. We were selected to represent the South Pacific Division because our songs reflect the identity and spirit of the Pacific Islands. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference was postponed until 2022.

When we finally attended the General Conference Session in 2022 we sang one of our own Engan Spiritual Ïparo (When Jesus Comes) The song speaks of Christ returning with power and glory. As we sang the audience remained fully engaged from beginning to end. The style was different, rhythmic and uniquely Pacific. It gave the world a true taste of Pacific music and declared that we have received the Gospel and have contextualized it within our own culture and identity.

We had no idea that one day we will be selected to sing at the General Conference in USA. We always believed we were simply writing songs to sing in our local churches and within our communitys. Never did we imagine that one day we would be invited to the United States of America. What began as humble offerings of praise has now carried us to an international stage. Through the grace, guidance and leading of our Lord Jesus Christ, those songs opened the door for us to minister before a global audience.

The Second Album – Raise the Standard High (2023)

In 2023, we released our second album under the theme “Raise the Standard High.” Like our first project this album featured our own original compositions and arrangements. When it was released, many Papua New Guineans obtained copies and once again invitations came from different places asking us to sing at meetings and special programs. We were grateful to see how the Lord continued to expand our singing ministry further.

The 62nd General Conference Session (2025)

In 2025, we were once again selected by the General Conference Music Committee to sing and represent the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at the 62nd General Conference Session in the United States. The songs chosen for us to perform was Raise the Standard High. The song calls for people to come out of the world and raise the standard of Christ higher in our lives. A call to stand for what is right and say no to what is wrong.

The Journey of Faith

This trip to the General Conference was especially meaningful because it was truly a journey of faith. We did not have sufficient finances for travel but we chose to take the first step in faith as we believe it was a call from God. In His own way the Lord intervened and we were able to attend the conference. We call it “The Journey of Faith”. We witnessed the Lord parting the Red Sea for us making a way where there seemed to be no way. We experienced Him as our Provider, Protector, Defender and Deliverer. It was a lifetime experience that we will never forget.

The atmosphere at the General Conference was unique and extraordinary. People from all corners of the world gathered together to fellowship and to appoint new leaders for the worldwide SDA Church. Seeing and meeting believers from different nations worshiping and singing together gave us a glimpse of what heaven will be like when all the children of God gather to praise and worship Him. As we sang we felt as though we were already in heaven lifting our voices to the Lord. It was a sacred and memorable moment that we will always treasure.

Looking Ahead – 30th Anniversary and Third Album (2026)

Now in 2026, we are working on our third album which we will soon record as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the End Time Swallows Ministry. We look forward with gratitude and faith, trusting that the same God who led us from the beginning will continue to guide us into the future.

As we look back on our journey from uncertain harmonies to international stages we see the faithful hand of Our Lord Jesus leading every step.

What began with struggle became strength.
What began with confusion became calling.
What began as simple voices became a movement of praise.

And through it all, one truth remains,

If you can talk, you can sing.

And every voice God created has a purpose to praise Him.

Praise the Lord

Listen to Engan Spirituals & the background stories

Perilum (It will happen)

ETS original copyright © 1998
Original words and tune by Steven Kual
Music by ETS

Learn the Backgroud of "Perilum"

Background—Pirilum
The song matches the way it presents the message the one that is, was and will be, the everlasting one, the one that gave up His life for the restoration of the Universe will break the clouds open and come unto earth. He will come, and there is no-one that can prevent Him from shaking the heavens, earth and the sea and appearing in the skies to end the history of earth. ’The foundation of the earth will shake, the mountains will break down, the skies will light with indescribable glory, the lightning will flash, the trumpet shall sound, the shout of the arch angel shall go around, the rocks will crack and mountains will disappear, when the Great Son of God comes again to earth’.

The song captures the imaginations of how the Second Coming will be based on the words of Thessalonians, Revelation and Matthew. Steven based the style of the singing on how the ladies of Enga would start their choruses and do a long pull to wards the finish or start. Steven has placed those long pulling voices within the choruses as well as towards the end. The song has been rearranged a couple of times and is sung in a variety of ways depending on how the particular singing team likes it. The song was composed at UPNG in 1998.

Scripture Reference
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Rev 6:12 And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Mat 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens.

Jesus Ip (Jesus Come)

The Backgroud of Jesus Ip

Background— Jesus ip (Jesus Come)
This is another song Steven tried to blend an Engan song with mix of English interpretations in the song. Though this is not a spiritual, it does have a traditional taste. The song was composed in an attempt to draw some African style into it as well. The song portrays in an human way the desire to see this present evil world come to an end. The world does not present in any form a pleasant place to live. It also ties in the experiences of Engans leaving behind their own home villages in Enga to live in towns and cities only to find them very difficult to adapt to. The reason for them leaving their villages is because of tribal wars, or just because they thought they would find the life better in towns and cities. With whatever small belongings they have, they wander from place to place not finding a permanent place.

Therefore, in exhaustion of the pain and tiredness of trying to find peace and even safety, they express, come Lord Jesus come, we are tired of living in this world’. Scripturally speaking, Jesus made it clear that the world is a condemned place and that He is coming soon to destroy it. The prince of this world has been judged and condemned (John 12:31; Eph 2:2; John 16:11; Luke 10:18; Rev 18:1-4; ) and together with the evil spirits are going to be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. The world has now become the habitation of all the evil spirits, who are working in an extremely exquisite and intelligent way to bring all humans into destruction with them. When people seem to say ’peace and safety’, then suddenly, destruction will come upon the world, Jesus is going to bang the heavens open and appear, consuming all the evil. Only the chosen will be saved. Even so Come, Lord Jesus Come!

Apan Ohwhe (My Father, My Father)

Background—Apan O (My Father)

While waiting for Sharon to come out her
dormitory in 1996, Rungi remembered a common tune that Steven normally hums and sings around ‘Namba kumilyo, namba kumilyo’. A cry that is normally uttered by children to draw out compassion from their parents whetheir parents in anger chastise them. Then they remembered the cry of David and His repentance and how he went so low to draw out the grace of God. His prayer was so powerful that God even forgave him before he started the prayer.

The song starts off by crying ’Apan, Apan, (My Father, My Father, there is a pain in my heart, father, father, there is chaos in my mind, I am dying, I am dying. Then the second part of the song comes in ’Father, Father, Restore my heart, Clear up my mind and heal me’. The song ends with the plea to the father to quickly redeem me, do not delay in healing me. The idea is that if the Father does not show anything, I am dying. The other idea also is that we humans are borne natural children of wrath (already in the anger of the Lord). The plea is that God must not leave us like that, knowing that He took the initiative of creating us in the first place, Therefore, He must quickly turn around to see me and save me. In fact, in this song book, two songs have been combined into a one with a slight twist in melody to make it seem one.

The second song is another one that was composed based on a legend where the male child was left behind by the parents. The man wanted a female child so they cast the male child away into a big river from a bridge. However, the child was caught by a flying eagle which took up the child as its own and raised the child up into a big man. When the child was old enough, the eagle dressed him so beautifully and sent him off to this big community singsing (an important ceremony in Enga, called mali, where all clans come in their full array of traditional attire to display their skills in dancing, singing and attires). When the young man came dressed, his attire looked chiefly and so attractive, and so was his built. He towered above the rest and danced all alone and all the clans gathered around him and so where the young women and as he danced he sang ‘Father and Mother threw me away in neglect, what I am now, I am the child of the great Eagle’.

We are just like the fatherless child, given away since the beginning by our first parents, but the Great Eagle of Zion, caught us in the middle of our fall from and snatched us out of the hand of the Evil one and took us under His great Wings. He reared us up to be the children of the Great Eagle. What we are now, we are no longer the children of death, sin or Satan, but of the Great Saviour, and God, Jesus Christ and His Father. By combining the two songs, ETS want to emphasise the Saving Power of the Father, no matter how corrupt we are, He can save and bring back to live from the depths of death!!!

Yu Manda Kalvari (Mountain Place Called Calvary)

A little Background—Yu Mandak Kalvari (Mountain place called Calvary)

The original song was composed by Steven Kual in 1998 with original tune. The four parts music was created by ETS.

The tune originates from Engan cultural songs again. The central theme that seemed to impress the boys so much back
in the university days was the death on the cross by God who wanted to elevate fallen worthless beings into a state so high, even angels would serve them. The place that stands out across Jerusalem and across the endless times and into eternity is Mount Calvary (Mandak Kalvari). That is where the Great Son of God opened up the path from the pits of death into the glorious light of eternity where the Father sits. The original song was short. The boys thought that there needed to be a mix of language so that the audience can know for themselves what the song is about. Without writing a separate explanation, Steven mixed the English interpretation within the original song as part of the singing trying to blend the song with a different taste than pure Engan spiritual tune.

The final song now is a mix Engan spiritual with a styled blended common tune.

Music Albums

Listen to and Experience our music on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and YouTube Music.