Solomon Islands District Newsletter (Volume 4, Issue 11)

Solomon Islands District

NEWSLETTER November 2021 Volume 4, Issue 11

Inside this issue:

10th Anniversary Celebration

General Albert Osborn, former international leader of The Salvation Army, wrote a hymn acknowledging, “What a work the Lord has done, by His saving grace,” which rings true today as The Salvation Army has just celebrated ten grace-filled years of mission and ministry in the Solomon Islands.

The 10th Anniversary weekend kicked off on Friday, 19th November with Honiara Corps cultural dancers and timbrelists leading a procession of the District Officers, Area Officers and Church Leaders into the Opening Program. The evening commenced with video greetings from Colonels Garth and Patti Niemand, Territorial Leaders of the Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands Territory. Their kind words of encouragement set the tone for the weekend, as the Solomon Islands District

reflected back on the past 10 years with gratitude and looked forward to the next 10 years with great anticipation, echoing the refrain of General Osborn’s hymn, “Greater things! Greater things! Give us faith, O Lord, we pray, faith for greater things.”

The weekend proceeded with two workshops on Saturday morning introducing the World Vision ‘A Good Life for All Boys & Girls’ Sunday School resource and launching the Territorial Strategic Plan. After lunch an Open Air and March of Witness with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Brass Band was followed by a brass band concert that included the Honiara Corps Brass Band.

The evening featured the youth of the District who led a powerful evening of worship and items from each of the church youth groups, including

the enrollment of 16 new Junior Soldiers.

Sunday morning commenced with a combined worship service with the CRC church, who hosted the event, followed by a celebration feast that was cooked overnight on a traditional motu. After lunch the worship service included the enrolment of six Soldiers, recognition of two new Churches, and the warranting of six non-commissioned Officers.

The finale for the weekend was a spectacular Mission & Cultural Celebration that was opened by a video greeting from General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, along with other video greetings from several previous Territorial and District leaders.

A full report inclusive of a detailed program, international greetings, local reflections and photos of the 10th Anniversary will be published in a bumper commemorative Special Report!

Combined Band Practice with RSIPF

2

New District Meeting Place

2

New Nominees Application

2

World Vision Channels of Hope

3

25 Years of Service

3

Personal Reflection

4

Special points of interest:  Anniversary Preparations  Anniversary Celebrations  Change of Location  Responding to God’s call  Training & Development  Messengers of the Truth

Combined Band Practice with RSIPF In preparation for the 10th Anniversary weekend, the Honiara Corps Brass Band joined with the RSIPF Brass Band for a combined band practice. The two bands rehearsed a brass arrangement of a traditional Pijin chorus known as ‘Jesus, nem blong iu hem tru’ (Jesus, your name

is true). This simple arrangement was written by Major Robert Evans and David Hedges as an attempt to contextualize brass music within Melanesian culture.

The RSIPF Brass Band also practiced a Salvation Army March from the Triumph Series called ‘Great Things” (by Chris Mallett) to capture the theme of the weekend “Greater Things.” This music was kindly provided by the Preston Corps Band in Melbourne for the occasion.

During the combined rehearsal, the RSIPF musicians were very encouraging of The Salvation Army musicians, offering helpful musical support throughout the

practice. This continued partnership through music between The Salvation Army and RSIPF is a powerful witness to Solomon Islanders of the value of community policing that extends beyond law enforcement to developing healthy and respectful relationships.

New District Meeting Place Over the past four years the District Team have been utilizing the Lime Lounge Café in the centre of town as a base for team meetings, networking and simple presence evangelism.

The number of relationships that have been formed in this public location have been numerous, reaping enormous benefits for the Solomon Islands District who has maintained a regular and visible uniformed presence in town. This also includes the strong relationships made with the Lime Lounge staff who have always been very welcoming and responsive to The Salvation Army’s

meetings in their café. Therefore, it was with great sadness to discover the closure of this meeting place. The District Team extend their gratitude and prayers to the staff members as they navigate their future endeavours. To

maintain a visible presence in the centre of town, Majors Robert and Vanessa tried out a new café that opened only three weeks ago called the ‘B Natural Café’. It is a very pleasant location that most importantly serves good coffee! In the absence of a District Headquarters in the city centre, it is hoped this new location will provide easy access to meetings for local people who don’t have transport and similar public visibility to facilitate ongoing networking and awareness of the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands.

New Nominees Application After the 10th Anniversary celebrations, leaders from the Gateway Corps in North Malaita were eager to introduce a young couple to the District Officers who have expressed interest in full-time ministry with The Salvation Army. Jimley and Joana Fafaluta were enrolled as Soldiers at Gateway Corps on the 13th July 2021

by Envoy Wency Ramo’oroa. Jimley is the nephew of the late Envoy Charles Akwasitaloa, whose wife Envoy Judith continues to lead the congregation. This young couple have a six year old daughter named July and they are active participants in the mission and ministry

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of Gateway Corps. Jimley is a Worship Leader and helps out with the Youth Group. Joana is involved with Children’s Ministries and is an active member of the Home League. This week, they have commenced the formal application process for Officership by completing the C1 initial application forms. Majors Robert and Vanessa will work closely with Jimley and Joana over the coming months to guide them on their pathway towards entering the Officer Training College in PNG. Praise God for the responsiveness of local Salvationists to the call of God on their lives!

Solomon Islands District

World Vision Channels of Hope (Report by Major Vanessa Evans) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-21). This Scripture is one that was spoken over the three days of World Vision Channels of Hope Training for Gender. This training, which I had been wanting to have conducted with our church leaders, finally was realized this week. The training was attended by myself and 12 of the District village leaders from 9 churches, as well as the two Area Officer couples and Auxiliary-Captains. Over the 3 days the group looked at and discussed what makes a man a man or what makes a woman a woman in our cultural context? What were some potentially harmful traditional practices in regard to gender? What makes a girl vulnerable to violence? What makes a man vulnerable to act violently? What stops women or

men from seeking help in situations of violence? I found some of the answers to these questions quite confronting as there are different cultural practices that are completely different from Australian culture. Channels of Hope is a biblically based program that looks at Genesis 1:26 -2:25 regarding being made in the Image of God, both male and female, as well as the transforming relationship that comes through Jesus Christ and the example that Jesus is in regard to servant leadership.

The discussions and interactions between the church leaders was exciting to see and to hear their stories and insights to Scripture

regarding gender. At the end of the training one of the church leaders went up to Nancy Waegao (Project Coordinator for Gender) and said “this training is transformational and we need this in Malaita, we need to get this into our churches and into our families so that the percentage of gender based violence cases can be reduced.” This is just what I was hoping would come out of the training, that the church leaders would see that the churches have a responsibility to educate and teach Scripture in a true and right context regarding violence towards women and girls. Statistically, 64% of women aged 14-49 have experienced some sort of physical or sexual abuse, 37% have been sexually abused before the age of 15 and 82% of victims never seek help. My prayer is that through this training and partnership with World Vision, The Salvation Army within the Solomon Islands will be able to help to reduce these statistics.

25 Years of Service 25 years ago, on the 30th November 1996, Majors Robert and Vanessa stood on the platform at the Melbourne Town Hall with 21 other Cadets from the Messengers of the Truth session and were Commissioned and Ordained as Salvation Army Officers, with the rank of Lieutenant. Their appointments have included Palmerston Corps Officers in the Northern Territory for 4 years, Horsham Corps Officers in western Victoria for 4 years, Noarlunga Corps Officers in the southern suburbs of Adelaide for 8 years, Cranbourne Corps Officers in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 5

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years, and currently Solomon Islands District Officers since December 2017.

Majors Robert and Vanessa testify that God’s hand has clearly been in every appointment and give thanks to God for

His wisdom, guidance and provision throughout the past 25 years. There has been much joy and many challenges along the journey, with every experience shaping and moulding them into the Officers they are today. Majors Robert and Vanessa are immeasurably grateful to The Salvation Army for the extraordinary ministry and leadership opportunities entrusted to them. They are also deeply appreciative of the unconditional love and support their family have provided and acknowledge the sacrifices they have made with 21 years of their Officership being far away from home.

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Support Needs:  Building funds for new Officer Quarters: You can support by donating funds to contribute to the construction of Officer Quarters at our village churches in the provinces.  Purchase of furnishings for Officer Quarters: You can support by donating funds to purchase furniture and appliances for Quarters at each of our village churches.

The Salvation Army Solomon Islands District Officers - Majors Robert & Vanessa Evans PO Box 323 Honiara, Solomon Islands

 Purchase of additional equipment for SAES: You can support by donating funds to purchase a deep freezer to store food for Emergency Services and Disaster Relief.

Please contact Major Robert Evans at robert.evans@png.salvationarmy.org for more information if you are able to help with any of these needs.

Phone: (677) 30344 Fax: (677) 30344 Mobile: (677) 749 4524 Email: solomon.islands@png.salvationarmy.org

Prayer Points:

Website: www.png.salvationarmy.org

 Restoration of law and order in Honiara  A peaceful solution to the current civil unrest  A safe passage back to Malaita Province for Salvationists who are stranded in Honiara after the 10th Anniversary  Sponsorship for construction of Officer Quarters  Land for Honiara Corps

Personal Reflection…

Below is a brief reflection written by member of Gateway Corps in Kwai Village, North Malaita, who attended the World Vision Channels of Hope for Gender training with other Salvation Army church leaders after the 10th Anniversary weekend: I thankfully express my gratitude in regard to the network between The Salvation Army and World Vision. My view concerning this subject of ‘Channels of Hope for Gender’ suddenly surprising my experience. I learned a lot in this subject in detail but I just like to conclude with this view as an agent of change. I learned that there are interactions within our faith communities and local initiatives that focus on gender. In this subject I also

learned lots of relevant principles that leaders need to consider to break all the silence by speaking the truth, because it is our responsibility and calling for justice to uphold all the values of human dignity.

Jimley Fafaluta