Solomon Islands District Newsletter (Volume 2, Issue 5)

Solomon Islands District

NEWSLETTER May 2019 Volume 2, Issue 5

Commissioner’s Commendation The Salvation Army Solomon Islands leadership was both surprised and honoured to be awarded the ‘Commissioner’s Group Commendation for Outstanding Service’ from the RSIPF Commissioner of Police Matthew Varley for service provided during the recent National General Election. A certificate and plaque were presented to the District Team during the RSIPF Interfaith Service this month, where Major Robert Evans shared a message on “Divine Gratitude.”

support Royal Solomon Islands Police Force on the Solomon Islands 2019 National General Election. The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) met all its objectives in supporting of RSIPF, in a dedicated manner, demonstrating a level of

sustained excellence, commensurate with the values of RSIPF and worthy of recognition.”

Such an award was a great encouragement for the SAES team, recognising the success of their first deployment.

This certificate was “Awarded with deep appreciation to The Salvation Army commitment to

Inside this issue: A Salvo, Priest, Doctor & Rotarian walk into a Café...

2

Meeting with Catholic Archbishop

2

Induction Service for Members of Parliament

2

Jesus Film at Burns Creek

3

EQUIP Course Completion

3

Congress Fundraising

3

A Personal Note

4

RSIPF Pastoral Counseling Further to the catering provided by the SAES team, The Salvation Army was requested to provide pastoral counseling for RSIPF Officers who had been on the frontlines of the

riots that broke out in Honiara after the election of the Prime Minister. A team from Honiara Corps was selected by the District Officers to engage in this important ministry role to

support RSIPF personnel. The three sessions conducted were deeply appreciated by those who participated with many expressing the desire for on-going pastoral support.

This ministry role has opened the doorway for informal pastoral support at each of the Police Stations around Honiara through an open invitation for The Salvation Army to provide a regular supportive presence.

This new ministry opportunity will now become a part of the Community Care Ministries, expanding the mission impact of The Salvation Army.

Special points of interest:  SAES Commended  RSIPF Supported  Local Ecumenism  Gospel Shared  Training Completed  Funds Raised

A Salvo, Priest, Doctor & Rotarian walk into a Café...

While visiting the Gateway Corps leader at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Major Robert was approached by a Coptic Priest who was also visiting the hospital at the same time. He was in the Solomon Islands on a scoping visit and noticed The Salvation Army shield in the car park. Father Mark Attalla has a great respect for The Salvation Army as he has worked alongside them in Melbourne and was eager to introduce himself.

This accidental encounter led to a coffee meeting at Lime Lounge Café with the Father and his travel companion Dr. Nash Saad, who was particularly interested in the state of medical care in the Solomon

After introducing herself, it was revealed that she too has a medical background and her Rotary Club were organizing medical supplies for the Solomon Islands.

The next half hour of conversation was an amazing synergy of shared vision and alignment of opportunities between these three groups of people who were complete strangers only a couple of hours earlier.

Islands. While discussing the mission opportunities and challenges in the Solomons a Rotarian from South Australia noticed this conspicuous gathering of a Salvation Army Officer and Coptic Priest.

Once again, being visibly present in public spaces is forging networks and opening mission opportunities though divinely appointed encounters.

The internationalism of The Salvation Army is truly a blessing!

Meeting with Catholic Archbishop During a film night at the Deputy British High Commissioner’s residence in March, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church informally invited The Salvation Army to connect for an ecumenical service sometime in the future. This opportunity was seized by Majors Robert and Vanessa with a proposal presented to the Archbishop for The Salvation Army and Catholic Church to come together in a combined service on Pentecost Sunday.

The Archbishop enthusiastically agreed to this proposal and met with Major Robert to discuss arrangements. One of the

features of this ecumenical service will be the inclusion of The Salvation Army Brass Band Learners, with the support of the USA Mission Team visiting in June.

The Archbishop was recently appointed as the new chairperson for SICA (Solomon Islands Christian Association) and shares the desire to see the churches work better together in the Solomon Islands.

The combined service being planned for Pentecost will lay a powerful foundation for this kingdom objective and encourage future ecumenical events among the churches.

Induction Service for Members of Parliament After the visit with the Archbishop, The Salvation Army was invited to join with other churches in Honiara for a “Liturgical Service for the Induction of the Members

Page 2

of the 11th Parliament” at the Holy Cross Cathedral. The Catholic Archbishop, Uniting Church Superintendent and The Salvation Army District Officer partnered together to lead this significant service to pray over the newly elected members of parliament. The official party was led in by a cultural panpipe group, followed by the church attendants and then the church leaders. The beautiful sound of Solomon Islands voices filled the Cathedral from the Holy Cross choir who led the congregation in the opening

hymn ‘To God Be the Glory’. The Old and New Testament readings were read by the Uniting Church and Salvation Army leaders with the Archbishop bringing a fitting message for the occasion. This was then followed by a candle lighting ceremony where each of the Members of Parliament were invited to the altar to light a candle, led out by the Prime Minister. The church leaders were then invited by the Archbishop to share a blessing over the MP’s before a final benediction and blessing was given.

Solomon Islands District

Jesus Film at Burns Creek One of the parachurch organisations ministering in the Solomon Islands is a group called SITAG (Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group). SITAG are responsible for overseeing the translation of the Bible into indigenous languages.

Over the past 18 months Majors Robert and Vanessa have had the privilege of connecting with a number of expat volunteers who work with SITAG. More recently, they have formed a friendship with a Canadian couple, Naaman and Lorae Brignall, who currently work in the Makira Province. Among their many translating responsibilities is showing the

“Jesus” film in communities around Honiara and villages in the Provinces in local languages. When Naaman put out a request for interested communities on the outskirts of Honiara, he was put in touch with Honiara Corps Leader Wency who lives at Burns Creek. This location was a ‘hot spot’ during the post-election

riots and it was thought bringing the community together for this film would be a great mission opportunity. This proved to be true. Despite a slow start, as a ‘trailer’ film about Mary Magdalene was played, people started to gather as they heard the dialogue of the film in Pijin language. By the time the second film commenced there was quite a crowd gathered, with many others watching on from the side of the road and their surrounding homes. It was amazing hearing the audible reactions to scenes of Jesus’ life in Pijin.

Presenting the gospel in people’s heart language is a very powerful ministry!

EQUIP Course Completion At the beginning of March, 17 people from Honiara Corps commenced the ‘EQUIP: Pathway to Salvation Army Officership’ leadership training course.

This unit laid a foundation of leadership knowledge for the participants, which they were able to connect to their respective ministry or work contexts.

between what they were learning and what they were doing. The “why” behind the “what” became evident as they saw these principles in action. These learning observations were made equally from both Salvation Army and RSIPF leadership.

Throughout the course it was exciting to see the practical application of the principles being learned, especially during the SAES operation for the National General Election. Participants were able to make powerful connections

Following the completion of the course each participant was presented with a certificate to acknowledge the significant investment of time they had made into their leadership development.

Further EQUIP courses will be made available this year providing teaching in Salvation Army Foundations and Leading with Cultural Intelligence. EQUIP will also be introduced in Malaita to provide Salvationists in this province with the same opportunity and to equip leaders of new and emerging Salvation Army congregations.

Congress Fundraising In preparation for the upcoming “One Army Congress” in the Solomon Islands, Wency and Joshua were delegated the task of organizing a fundraising event to raise funds toward transport costs to assist members of the Honiara Corps to attend the congress.

After last year’s successful Convention in North Malaita, which brought together Salvationists from the then three congregations, it was decided another gathering of Salvationists was an important part of keeping the new

Volume 2, Issue 5

congregations connected to the wider Salvation Army. This year, the newest and now fourth congregation at Ramah in West Kwara’ae will host the event.

Wency and Joshua organised a team of 19 volunteers to conduct a BBQ outside the Honiara City Council buildings as their fundraising activity. Meat for this BBQ was generously donated by local business King of Meatz, which contributed to the success of the fundraiser, raising $3,750 SBD on the day. This will help offset the cost of travelling across to Malaita to

enable as many members of the Honiara Corps to attend as possible. The success of this BBQ opens the way for future Corps fundraising activities.

Page 3

Support Needs:  The cost of printing is very expensive in the Solomon Islands: You can support by printing and posting copies of our Soldiership Training Manuals from the original PDF file.  Additional equipment is required for our SAES Trailer: You can support by donating funds to enable us to purchase this equipment from local suppliers.

The Salvation Army Solomon Islands District Officers - Majors Robert & Vanessa Evans PO Box 323 Honiara, Solomon Islands Phone: (677) 30344 Fax: (677) 30344

 New signage needed or our DME Plant & Vilij Kaleko Project: You can support by donating funds for us to have signage and banners printed locally in Honiara.

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.

Mobile: (677) 749 4524 Email: solomon.islands@png.salvationarmy.org Website: www.png.salvationarmy.org

Prayer Points:  Visit by USA Mission Team to Solomon Islands  ‘One Army Congress’ at Ramah Fellowship in Malaita  Final stages for DME Plant to become operational  Ongoing ministry partnership with RSIPF  Acquisition of land for Honiara Corps

A Personal Note...

The recent election of our Prime Minister came as an upsetting result to the public which eventually led to riots, looting of shops and disorderly behaviour by the public. Thanks to our RSIPF officers who took the risk of their own lives and families and stood on behalf of the nation to control the situation and to ensure law and order was done. Can anyone can imagine what the RSIPF’s feelings and emotions are?

The Salvation Army was given an opportunity to be involved in three days pastoral counseling for the officers. I was honoured and privileged to be part of the team led by the leadership of Majors Robert and Vanessa Evans.

Spending time to listen to the Officers as they expressed their feelings, views, frustrations and stress that each one was

facing during the difficult times was challenging and I can sense the need for deeper spiritual guidance and counseling base to be fully established within the police ministry. This is one area which is lacking in all sectors.

At the end of the sessions we encouraged them with Jeremiah 33:3 - “Call upon me, and I will show you great and marvelous things, that thou has not known before.”

Jeremiah himself went through a period of total darkness in life and when there was no hope the Word of God came to him.

Likewise, in all our situations, we should call unto God and He will direct our path.

A few officers personally approached and thanked us. They were encouraged and were relieved with the spiritual guidance given their situation. Their hope is to see an office set-up for a full-time counseling

base. Heart to God, hand to man is our motto. Let’s be living out our motto in our everyday lives.

Tony Kinikoroa