Solomon Islands District Newsletter (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Solomon Islands District

NEWSLETTER February 2020 Volume 3, Issue 2

Launch of District Theme 2020 Inside this issue:

The Salvation Army Solomon Islands has launched it’s theme for 2020 across the District at each congregation (except for Moscom Fellowship due to the lack of available transport). The theme “Salt & Light” is inspired by the quote, “Salt does not need to be the principle ingredient in a given recipe; yet its addition to any mix intensifies and enhances the surrounding substance” (Salim J. Munayer, Through My Enemy’s Eyes).

This quote speaks into the presence of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands. The Salvation Army may not be the biggest church in the country.

But it doesn’t need to be to have a big impact. Just like salt, a small addition can make a big difference. What is important is to know how to effectively use the little it has to have the greatest impact upon people’s lives in this country. That is

what this theme for 2020 is all about; learning how to be “salt and light” right where God has placed The Salvation Army.

The theme was launched first at Honiara Corps on Sunday, 2nd February. Major Robert then traveled to Gateway Corps in North Malaita to launch the theme on Sunday, 9th February and then onto Ramah Fellowship in West Kwara’ae for a launch on Sunday, 16th February, while Envoy Joshua travelled to Fouele New Opening in South Malaita to launch it on the same weekend.

The feedback from each congregation has been very positive with many testifying how God is already challenging them by a new understanding of the difference between being salt and light and how this applies to their own mission and ministry context.

DME Plant Payment & Progress

2

Soldier Enrolments at Fouele New Opening

2

Donation to School Fees Loan Program

2

Gender Equality Workshop

3

10th Anniversary Planning Committee

3

Climate Change Research

3

Personal Reflection

4

Special points of interest:  Micro Enterprise  New Members  Funding Support  Networking  Event Planning  Climate Research

DME Plant Payment & Progress It was an exciting and encouraging start to the year to receive payment for the first six barrels of oil produced at The Salvation Army DME Plant in North Malaita. This batch of oil was delivered to Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI)

for testing and was graded as a-grade certified virgin organic oil, resulting in the District receiving the maximum purchase price.

Major Robert delivered this good news to the plant manager while visiting and inspecting the operation, which was received with great enthusiasm. The plant manager then shared how this plant not only provides an income for their families but grants their workers the privilege of contributing to the nation’s economy by processing a natural product at the local village that supplies KPSI with quality oil for their

products. He told the workers that instead of staying home doing nothing they get to participate in a bigger industry without having to go to Honiara.

It is a real joy for The Salvation Army to be facilitating this micro enterprise through our partnership with KPSI.

Soldier Enrolments at Fouele New Opening One of the men who was enrolled had recently approached the District Leaders about The Salvation Army commencing in his village, not far from Fouele. Envoy Joshua seized the opportunity and took Sam with him to Fouele to complete the classes prior to the enrolment service and now Sam is enthusiastically recruiting others from his village to join The Salvation Army. But wait, there’s more! Another village in the area heard about what was happening and invited leaders from Fouele to visit and share with them all about The Salvation Army.

Please pray for O’o and Pulu villages.

While visiting Fouele New Opening in South Malaita to launch the District theme, Envoy Joshua had the joy of enrolling 11 new Soldiers who completed their Soldiership Classes last year.

Unfortunately, two of the ladies from the village were in Honiara at the time and were disappointed at the prospect of missing their enrolment. Envoy Joshua contacted Major Vanessa and was very pleased to be able to arrange for them to be enrolled at Honiara Corps on the same Sunday. That now makes 13 new Soldiers at the newest congregation of The Salvation Army Solomon Islands.

Donation to School Fees Loan Program The Salvation Army was very grateful to receive a SI$20,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Honiara towards its School Fees Loan Program.

This program provided 13 interest free loans last year to local parents to help them ‘keep their kids in school longer.’ Eleven of these loans were fully repaid over twelve months, qualifying those parents for a grant to pay the second year of school fees, empowering them to pay into a savings account for the third year.

This recent donation will enable The Salvation Army to offer another round of loans this year to a larger group of

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parents who would otherwise struggle to find the funds to cover their children’s school fees.

One parent testifies to the impact of this program for his family: “In previous years our children had the bad experience of being sent home because I had failed to pay their fees on time. But this year, since the School Fees Loan was introduced, my children are happy in school and as a parent it is no longer a heart-felt worry. Thank you Salvation Army for the idea and a big thank you to the sponsors of the program to help keep my children in school longer.”

Solomon Islands District

Gender Equality Workshop  Leadership and Theology of Disaster

Approximately 20 lay workers and 4 heads of churches came together in Honiara for a four day workshop to explore ‘God’s Vision for Human Relationships’ and how this applies in our churches. The workshop was facilitated

by Rev Dr Cliff Bird and his wife Siera Bird. The topics they covered included:

Resilience to address the climate crisis.  Different ways of studying God’s Word.

A variety of activities and action plans were used as a part of the learning process, which were done collectively and in smaller groups. The training was a great time of connecting and networking with other churches to build a theology for ‘Gender Equality’ based on a biblical foundation that transcends social and cultural commentary on this important topic in the Solomon Islands.

 Leadership

and Gender Equality Theology to address violence against women and children.  Leadership and Child Protection & Care Theology to address violence against children.

10th Anniversary Planning Committee The Solomon Islands District has begun planning for the 10th Anniversary of The Salvation Army being officially launched in the Solomon Islands. While still 20 months away, such a significant celebration with the General of The Salvation Army as the guest leader for the weekend, accompanied by a visiting brass band from Ringwood Corps in Melbourne, and invitations to local civic and church leaders along with other international guests, will need this timeframe to prepare for this occasion.

The Salvation Army was officially launched in November 2011 by PNG

Commissioner Andrew Kalai, with the support of Commissioner James Condon from the former Australia Eastern Territory and Commissioner Ray Finger from the former Australia Southern Territory, along with the Brisbane City Temple Band. Since this launch, The Salvation Army has expanded beyond Honiara with four other churches in Malaita and many other mission initiatives due to commence in other Provinces.

several Cadets from Solomon Islands will be in training to become Salvation Army Officers. These are exciting days for this relatively young expression of The Salvation Army that is making a huge impact as it expands across this South Pacific nation.

It is anticipated that by the time the 10th Anniversary arrives at least four more congregations will have commenced and

Climate Change Research to explore these issues than the Solomon Islands, a land that experiences the impact of rising sea levels, salt water intrusion, extreme weather events, food insecurity, increase of crop related pests, unpredictable seasons, and coastal erosion.

This year Major Robert has commenced studying the Master of Transformational Development, which is focused this semester on ‘Climate Change, Justice and Sustainability’. There is no better place

Volume 3, Issue 2

In preparation for a presentation about this environmental and social impact, a meeting was organised with the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology to discuss the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) strategies for mitigation and

adaptation. This meeting proved to be very helpful, providing informed insight into the lived experience of these issues across the Solomon Islands. It also opened dialogue about how the churches might be better involved in the SIG strategies, given the enormous influence churches have in village life.

More specifically, how might The Salvation Army participate in a space that deeply impacts the well-being and livelihoods of Solomon Islanders?

This subject is much more than an academic exercise. It is applied mission in every sense of the word.

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Support Needs:  Mission Travel Budget You can support the follow-up of 12 mission requests for The Salvation Army to commence in other villages by contributing to travel costs between the Provinces.  Building Funds for construction of Officer Quarters: You can support by donating funds to support the construction of Quarters at each of our village churches.

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

 Additional School Fees Loan Funds: You can support by donating funds to distribute to parents applying for a loan to pay School Fees for next year.

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.

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

Prayer Points:  District 2020 Theme - “Salt & Light”  Acquisition of land for Honiara Corps  Preparations for the General’s visit in 2021  Development and training of Nominees/Candidates  Women’s Bible Conference in PNG

Personal Reflection...

A trip to Small Malaita began at 6am on Sunday, 9th February 2020 from Honiara to Port Adam. Due to a tropical cyclone in the eastern part of the Solomon Islands, this journey, which usually takes 19 hours took 41 hours to Fanelei Island, my destination port. This is The Salvation Army's second visit to Fouele Fellowship for the following tasks: To enroll new soldiers, introduce the 2020 Solomon Islands District theme, introduce the 'One Army' series of teaching material to resource Christopher Sukufatu, the community leader of this fellowship for mid-week fellowship, to make visits to nearby mission villages. On Sunday, 16th February 2020, eleven Soldiers were enrolled under the influential leadership of Christopher Sukufatu. Ten of them were enrolled in the morning and one more was enrolled that evening. We were also happy to hear that two of

Fouele's lady recruits were enrolled by Major Vanessa at Honiara Corps that same Sunday. The enrollment of these new soldiers stirred something in the hearts of some who were present and have each openly expressed their willingness to be enrolled in the next round of recruitment.

There was great excitement when the District theme of ‘Salt & Light’ was introduced on Tuesday, 11th February and elaborated on during the following evenings. People came to realize the power of salt and light a believer possesses. Sam Hoasi Ilipo from O'o, a village inland from Fouele Fellowship, was one of the new soldiers enrolled as well.

Through him his village will be the next new opening for Small Malaita. Pulu Village was also visited by Chris, Sam and myself where we were met by Alex Itei and his wife, Melody. Alex was a close associate of Chris in their previous ministry

affiliations. So, Pulu could be the third new opening for The Salvation Army this year. There was also a conversation on a possible mission trip to Ulawa in the Makira Province this year as well where their past church and ministry associates reside and wondering. What next?

Envoy Joshua Henry Aebata