Solomon Islands District Newsletter (Volume 2, Issue 3)

Solomon Islands District

NEWSLETTER March 2019 Volume 2, Issue 3

SAES Training for NGE Inside this issue:

On the 3rd April Solomon Islanders go to the polls for their National General Election (NGE). This significant event will bring thousands of people into Honiara and see thousands of people travel back to their provinces to vote. Such a massive movement of people in a politically vulnerable nation has evoked a major security operation by the RSIPF, with the support of ADF personnel and other security advisers.

Security preparations for the NGE will mean over 1000 local police and 300 international support personnel will be mobilized across all polling stations.

Major Robert approached the RSIPF leadership during these preparations to offer the support of The Salvation Army Emergency Services team to help provide catering for this significant community event.

After a number of meetings The Salvation Army has been

November last year. Majors Robert and Vanessa conducted this training session about Emergency Catering covering the following topics: SAES Trailer Set-up and Equipment Management, Hygiene & Food Handling, Menu Planning & Preparation, and Community To prepare for this undertaking the Emergency Services team Engagement. gathered together for training The NGE is the first opportunity at the beginning of the month for the SAES team and trailer to to learn how to use the be seen in public to showcase Emergency Services Trailer this valuable community service received from Australia in by The Salvation Army. accepted as an operational partner for the NGE. This means The Salvation Army will provide catering for lunch and dinner at Henderson Police Station in the East Honiara constituency from the 1st April to 5th April for the RSIPF.

EQUIP—Pathway to Officership

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Made in the Image of God

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RSIPF Recruits Combined Service

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DME Installation Trip

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DME Installation Trip...continued

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District Soldiership Campaign

3

A Personal Note

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Special points of interest:  NGE deployment  Leadership Training  Value of Women  Ministry to RSIPF  DME progress  DME challenges  31 Soldier Recruits

EQUIP—Pathway to Officership As the mission of The Salvation Army grows and expands in the Solomon Islands, so does the need for trained leadership. This is one of the three priorities of the mission strategy for the Solomon Islands District—to identify and develop local emerging leaders. EQUIP was introduced last year as a ‘Pathway to Discipleship’ and has been expanded this year to offer a ‘Pathway to Officership’.

The EQUIP training program commenced this month with 17 existing and potential leaders from Honiara Corps gathering to embark on the 6 week unit “Leadership Fundamentals.” This unit laid a biblical foundation of leadership (1 & 2 Samuel),

outlined the qualities of a leader (Luke 5:1-11), and introduced some universal leadership principles and practices (John Maxwell & Patrick Lencioni).

The energy and enthusiasm displayed by this group of leaders throughout each session reinforced the importance of this training opportunity to develop the future

leadership of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands. Each participant fully engaged with the teaching and expressed some powerful learning moments throughout the sessions.

Whether or not these leaders continue along the pathway towards Officership, the time they have invested into their own leadership development and learning how to develop others will produce much fruit in their Local Officer roles in the Corps. That being said, it is clearly evident that God is indeed leading some of the participants towards pursuing full-time ministry in The Salvation Army Solomon Islands District.

Made in the Image of God International Women’s Day in the Solomon Islands has become a significant annual event raising awareness of the inequities facing women in this nation:

 64% of women aged 15-49 report physical/sexual violence

 37% of women under 15 report being   

sexually abused 73% of women and men justify domestic violence in some instances 91% of parents are aware of child prostitution in Solomon Islands 73% of land titles owned by men and 2% by women

 14% of women are uneducated compared to 7% of men (Source: World Health Organisation & UN Women)

In acknowledgment of International Women’s Day, Major Robert preached on “Made in the Image of God” to affirm the equal value of women in The Salvation Army through Scripture. There is a lot of wrong thinking in this country about the value of women that is driven by misplaced cultural values and misinformed biblical beliefs. Change the beliefs about women, change the behavior towards them! In a country where 97% of the population profess to

be Christians, church pastors have a greater responsibility than politicians to change the dialogue about women in the church, leadership and society.

RSIPF Recruits Combined Service The Salvation Army’s growing relationship with the RSIPF entered into another new space this month with Major Robert Evans being invited to speak at the Police Recruits combined church service. This invitation came from Police Recruit Melanie Tolilalo, who is also a Soldier of the Honiara Corps.

The Police Recruits meet every Sunday evening for a combined service with Pastors from different denominations sharing the Word of God each week. It was an incredible sight to see 70 Police

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Recruits united in worship and eager to hear from God’s Word. Major Robert felt led to speak from Romans 12:1-8 on the subject “Making Things Right”

challenging the recruits to “offer themselves as living sacrifices” by using their position of responsibility and authority to be a part of ‘making things right’ in the Solomon Islands.

Following his message, about half the recruits responded to the call for prayer.

This ministry time also resulted in a request for a pastoral visit to one of the recruits who had suffered a tragic loss in his family. It is a real privilege for The Salvation Army to be able to minister to members of the RSIPF in such a way.

Solomon Islands District

DME Installation Trip After many months of planning and construction the time finally came for the DME equipment to be installed in North Malaita. Work commenced on the plant in September last year with a construction team from Honiara Corps traveling to Kwai to transport the materials and help lay the concrete slab.

The local team from Gateway Corps then continued the construction throughout October and November by cutting the timber from the surrounding bush.

Unfortunately, this part of the process was frustrated by a number of delays resulting from the ‘opportunistic’ behavior of some locals from other villages who tried to take advantage of the project. By Christmas the wall frames were up but more timber was required to erect the roof frame. A cyclone caused even more challenges and delays with the destruction of the Gateway Corps building from severe weather. However, out of the pile of rubble literally emerged the timber needed to complete the rest of the framing and paneling for the plant. So the decision was made to recycle that timber and rebuild the church when the plant is completed. Major Robert and Joshua visited Kwai again in January to help get the project back on track and support the church community with some disaster relief funds. With new timelines set, an installation trip was planned for the second week of March.

Despite the unmet expectations at the start of the installation trip, the results at the end of a very demanding week in Kwai were pleasing. There are still some challenges to be overcome but the DME plant is almost ready for operation.

Upon arrival, with the DME equipment and the Installer onboard, all was not as expected. The roofing iron and wall cladding was still not completed and the site was far from ready for installation!

Once again the visiting team jumped in to help the local community to catch up.

This work was critical to ensure the installer could do his job. So, while the installer constructed the coconut dryer, Major Robert and Joshua rallied the troops to get the roof finished, wall panels up and the internal furnishings built ready for the other equipment to be fitted inside the work area of the shed.

During the week at Kwai a local man walking past the plant stopped to comment how pleased he was to see the plant progressing and how much difference The Salvation Army was making in North Malaita. These words of encouragement were exactly what the team needed to hear. The value this

plant will add to the local villages and the District will make all the challenges along the way worth every effort. From fair prices for farmers, local jobs for locals and a sustainable income to fund mission initiatives, the coconut oil plant will lay a strong foundation for The Salvation Army, not only in North Malaita, but across the Solomon Islands. Hopefully the next update will include the first barrel of oil produced from the plant!

District Soldiership Campaign “Marching on in March” has been the theme for the District Soldiership Campaign this month, which has resulted in 31 new recruits completing the Soldiership Training Course at Honiara Corps and the new Ramah Fellowship.

Unfortunately, planned classes at two other locations in Malaita didn’t eventuate due to a clash with other campaign activities in Solomon Islands associated with the National General Election campaign!

Despite this unintended clash of dates, the outcomes

Volume 2, Issue 3

of the Soldiership Campaign are much to celebrate. These new recruits, along with another seven recruits from Moscom Fellowship who completed their classes last year, will be enrolled during the District Easter Campaign in April. Wency Ramo’oroa and Joshua Henry deserve public acknowledgement for facilitating the Soldiership Training Course during this campaign. Having well equipped local leaders guide new recruits through this course provides a deeper cultural understanding of The Salvation Army.

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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:  Safe and secure National General Election on 3rd April  Successful District Easter Campaign in Honiara & Malaita  Final stages of DME set-up and training of staff  Participants of EQUIP—Pathway to Officership training

A Personal Note...

I have enjoyed the time on “Equip” taken

by Major Robert and Vanessa Evans whose commitment and competence never fail to encourage me as someone who was willing to be a leader, but sometimes the fear of threat, opposition and criticism continuously hinders me to move on in life. To be a successful leader, I realize that it is a must for me to improve my effectiveness in whatever sectors of life I might be engaged in.

During those few day on “Equip” there were three things which God really dealt a lot within me. The first one is “Fear”. I usually lack confidence, I have negative self image and sometimes identifying myself with failure. I almost lack a purpose in life.

Secondly, “Addiction” (a passion for things). I am a person who spent much of my time on ungodly habits, like on Sundays when my parents were

preparing for church, I just stay at home wandering, using up my energy a lot preparing all sort of stuff for the days income. Because I want to be successful in making money, but nothing happens, no changes, still facing the same problems, just like a maze runner. But through the stages of leadership knowledge, I know that a new day is dawning for me, a new prototype has been encountered. I can hear God talking and answering my deep questions. I can sense that I am totally free from the bondage of fear and addiction… Praise the Lord!

Lastly, the impact of “Influence”. I thought that this change is just my private impression, but to be a leader influence is necessary.

My friends and my other family members can tell from their point of view that I am in mint condition. Even with my wife, I can see a difference in her life. She was a

Bahai’ian, a Bahai follower, not permitted to believe in Jesus, even not to mention his Name. But now she can sing songs that uplifts the name of Jesus. She was flexible when I talked to her about Jesus and you know what? She is now signing up for the recruitment of Soldiership with The Salvation Army for the Lord.

Hallelujah!

David Aebata