tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032268999336161352024-03-19T00:57:19.397-07:00Reflections from the Mission FieldA Reflective & Photographic Journal of our Overseas Cross-Cultural Mission Experiences... “The goal of a mission is the emergence of a church out of the soul and soil of a people” (Henry Venn)EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-91031344168091029892023-05-01T05:40:00.008-07:002023-07-19T05:36:56.732-07:00Research Paper in Transformational Development<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In February 2020, I commenced the first unit of the Master of Transformational Development (MTD) with Eastern College Australia. After three years of studying while serving in the Solomon Islands, I submitted my final paper at the end of April. The MTD runs for six semesters, covering subjects pertinent to international aid and development from a faith-based perspective:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Climate Change, Justice & Sustainability</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Biblical Justice, Human Rights and Advocacy</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Economics, Development and Human Flourishing</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Doing Theology in the Context of Poverty & Injustice</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5. Leadership and Organisational Development</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6. Community Development</span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each unit is structured with an eight-week reading period, during which you engage with an online reading cohort, a one week face-to-face intensive, and three assessment tasks, including a take home exam, minor essay and major essay (totalling 10,000 words).</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The major essay (6,000 words) each semester allows the student to choose a topic within the subject matter that relates specifically to their vocational context. Similarly, the final unit requires a research paper (10,000 words) addressing a key issue relating to their situation.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Throughout this course of study, I have had the privilege of studying alongside some extraordinary practitioners from a variety of sectors from around Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand, who have significantly contributed to my learning experience. The relevance of each subject matter to a Pacific context is self-evident and the Solomon Islands has provided the perfect learning environment to apply this knowledge. This has been especially true in our context of leading the growth and development of The Salvation Army in this region, with every unit being timely, relevant and insightful.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lecturers from Eastern College Australia contributed a wealth of knowledge and expertise and were very supportive throughout the journey. I am particularly grateful to Steve Bradbury who commenced </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">me on this journey and to Steve Bevis who took over the coordination of the MTD midway to see me through to completion.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to The Salvation Army Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands Territory for endorsing my study application and to The Salvation Army Australia Territory for approving and funding this course of study. Their investment in me studying the MTD has been an investment in the expanding mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands. Finally, I want to acknowledge Ness for her unwavering support, encouragement and patience through countless hours of study and our District Team who have carried an extra load while I’ve been hidden away completing assessment tasks. In the words of Paul to the church in Philippi, <i>“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now”</i> (Philippians 1:4-5).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My final assessment task was a Research Paper in Transformational Development, entitled <b>'</b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Community development reimagined through the context of a Melanesian understanding and experience of ‘shalom’ at a grassroots village level.'</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This paper set out to reimagine community development through the context of a Melanesian understanding and experience of ‘shalom’ at a grassroots village level by defining human flourishing and community well-being in local languages. Cultural definitions of a ‘good life’ informed a ‘Melanesian Research Methodology’ that was used to capture indigenous voices with the intention of empowering meaningful community participation in development dialogue and processes.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A review of current literature on community development highlights core principles that speak into five key insights identified by the research results, including: Deficit Mindset, Aid Dependency, Here and Now, Land is Life, and Centrality of Relationships. The discussion and application of these insights offer a critical analysis of current development processes in the Solomon Islands and suggests a more sustainable approach to transformational development in continuity with cultural aspirations for a life that is ‘stap gud’.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The research paper can be accessed and downloaded via The Salvation Army Digital Research Repository link below... </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://evaburrowscollege.softlinkhosting.com.au:443/liberty/OpacLogin?mode=BASIC&openDetail=true&corporation=evaburrowscollege&action=search&queryTerm=uuid%3D%2200a6f8590a5a00b3786b8a9700424a37%22&operator=OR&url=%2Fopac%2Fsearch.do"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Research Paper in Transformational Development</span></a><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-81291271885587879722023-05-01T05:30:00.008-07:002023-07-19T04:49:31.382-07:00Solomon Islands District - Gudfala Laef fo Evri Gele & Evri Boe Training<h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">World Vision & The Salvation Army Partnership</span></h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRxUTEZQ8_GEdsihSG8jCSNK-sx7-swZNi5trlv_EJpaj910qKWue5QX3eH9WuAwrYsuEyEeiJMgZDdsQ24NgcTio2_mEchL52Z9TOu4hHdTnLe1uket2T_p2fuL-6uGv5BiYVkpYAiz1QHCoFJGtOsUhMzJ9YOXn1gzr8MyzAjKe6h7-mCOlCrk5I6Y/s533/Gudlaef%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="533" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRxUTEZQ8_GEdsihSG8jCSNK-sx7-swZNi5trlv_EJpaj910qKWue5QX3eH9WuAwrYsuEyEeiJMgZDdsQ24NgcTio2_mEchL52Z9TOu4hHdTnLe1uket2T_p2fuL-6uGv5BiYVkpYAiz1QHCoFJGtOsUhMzJ9YOXn1gzr8MyzAjKe6h7-mCOlCrk5I6Y/s320/Gudlaef%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The Salvation Army Solomon Islands District partnered with World Vision Solomon Islands at the beginning of February this year to take part in the ‘Gudfala Laef Blong Evri Gele an Evri Boe’ (Good Life for Every Girl & Boy) Sunday School Curriculum Training. The training was attended by 20 members of The Salvation Army from our Honiara Church and Gateway Church in North Malaita. After completing this training, the District embarked on an Easter Campaign that sent four mission groups into the provinces to train members of our village churches in this new Sunday School curriculum. The groups travelled to Munda Church in Western Province (attended by members from Barakoma, Vella Lavella and Bonosi, Vonavona Lagoon), Gateway Church at Kwai in North Malaita (attended by members from Kafomauri), Rauai Church in West Kwara’ae, Moscom Church in East Are’are and Fouele Church in Small Malaita. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The rollout of the Gudfala Laef training by our mission teams gave the participants in the workshop with World Vision an opportunity to put into practice their newly acquired knowledge in a real-life ministry context, gaining confidence and demonstrating how easy it is to conduct an engaging Sunday School lesson. During the Easter Campaign, they equipped 13 leaders in Western Province, 17 leaders in North Malaita, 7 leaders in West Kwara’ae, 24 leaders in East Are’are and 54 leaders and children in South Malaita (which included members from the Anglican Church and Church of the Living Word).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7f_YUjKNG-Sclo-3PjY815E4QCBqTrlGNne7b0m7GW4eiUjbFIgn4UoSNjFt_BzrpVlmOvzs2U04P2u8K9uWqk0CTnlC3PQ2aUUGyJe58eUmTotIN07NyokJMqGgqAnor1nKdS6NhRIr8Z7EyfJ3zJLmQYCh6OypOBFpAc-ouwCzh6nuTZWuWFge3Pw/s1128/Gudlaef%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="1128" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7f_YUjKNG-Sclo-3PjY815E4QCBqTrlGNne7b0m7GW4eiUjbFIgn4UoSNjFt_BzrpVlmOvzs2U04P2u8K9uWqk0CTnlC3PQ2aUUGyJe58eUmTotIN07NyokJMqGgqAnor1nKdS6NhRIr8Z7EyfJ3zJLmQYCh6OypOBFpAc-ouwCzh6nuTZWuWFge3Pw/w400-h196/Gudlaef%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;">With the Gudfala Laef now rolled out to eight Salvation Army churches in the provinces and at Honiara Corps, this curriculum will now be used for their Sunday School lessons for the rest of this year. Our District plan is to continue encouraging and resourcing our churches in their effective use of the Sunday School material to achieve the goal of helping teachers in the Solomon Islands deliver lessons on gender equality and positive gender relationships. In October, we will be offering a refresher course for those that have been trained and to train any new members. We are also looking at developing additional lessons to extend the impact of the current curriculum, which we will share with World Vision for use in other church denominations.</div></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-8747123305744258712023-05-01T05:15:00.003-07:002023-07-19T04:34:34.634-07:00Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign (Honiara)<h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reports written by Aux Capt Wency Ramo'oroa and Fred Ganiomea</span></h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8nGwctUMa_Pqtb-pjAqUp0g-4qNEStHid4_9C89p-CZno1FWWBXZgZZ3pgxf-l_87QlP5uC7M-O-0E-Xyr2DZzrzwvjv0JMsQVIwkVkMkA1TvGw4waebgOPlwKnBUCKCcQbJEyZ4DQXSavtvHj1V4a3bcdxOJFHlIK0QXmppKLvXjveIASgH1Av8n_A/s2048/341008567_553158500276478_201503996674938328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8nGwctUMa_Pqtb-pjAqUp0g-4qNEStHid4_9C89p-CZno1FWWBXZgZZ3pgxf-l_87QlP5uC7M-O-0E-Xyr2DZzrzwvjv0JMsQVIwkVkMkA1TvGw4waebgOPlwKnBUCKCcQbJEyZ4DQXSavtvHj1V4a3bcdxOJFHlIK0QXmppKLvXjveIASgH1Av8n_A/s320/341008567_553158500276478_201503996674938328_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year, 2023, the Solomon Islands District sent out teams to the Provinces for the Easter Campaign. Our theme for this year’s Easter Campaign was ‘Sacrificial Living’ and the Scriptures were Philippians 2:5-8 for Good Friday and Romans 12:1-2 for Easter Sunday. Almost half of Honiara Corps members, including our District Officers, went out on the Easter Campaign to our village churches in the Provinces. So, Aux Capt Fostina and I conducted the Easter Campaign at Honiara Corps with the few of our members who did not travel. Not much was happening at Honiara Corps during the Easter weekend but we conducted a service on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Daniel Hagi led worship and preached on Good Friday on the theme ‘Sacrificial Living’ from Philippians 2:5-8 very powerfully. I did the Easter Sunday message under the same theme based on Romans 12:1-2. I can testify that people were very emotional about what Jesus did on the cross for us and the question on Easter Sunday was very challenging, because we were asked to respond to what God has done through Jesus Christ.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During Easters I have experienced and witnessed in the past, we only preached about the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. That was our routine celebration year after year. But this year it is quite different, as we looked beyond the event and focused on the actions.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First, we focused on Jesus’ action to set the tone for the Easter campaign and also it is the essence for Easter celebrations. Secondly, we focused on Christian’s actions to respond to what God has done through Jesus Christ. I reflected on the action of Jesus on Good Friday message and that challenges me deeply in a sense that His action is why I have life and I can live. Without His sacrifice there is no guarantee of life for me to live. And He shows me the way to live in order for me to have victorious life as He did. On Easter Sunday, I was challenged by the message too. Instead of preaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we preached about our action in responding to what God has done through Jesus Christ. I was in a moment of surprise because the Scripture has taught me to look beyond the event and not to get stuck in the event. If I still revolve around the event, then I will go nowhere.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, after the Easter weekend, hearing those messages, I am very encouraged and that gives me a new lens to look at how I could move and look beyond the events. Coming back to the weekend, I am very blessed and the onus now is on me to imitate Christ’s humility and to respond to what He has done in order for the Easter theme ‘Sacrificial Living’ to be meaningful and to have an impact in my life as a person that has accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Thank you King Jesus for showing the way to eternal life.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All glory and honour unto Your Name. Amen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Aux Capt Wency Ramo’oroa</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the Easter weekend campaign, those of us who were left behind at Honiara Corps were really blessed from the Word of God spoken by God’s servants Daniel Hagi and Auxiliary Captain Wency. I was once a real committed Soldier of The Salvation Army over the past years, then for the past seven months, I began to grow colder with my Christian life and I stopped attending church and other church activities that I usually attend. I followed my own desires and started hanging out with friends and work colleagues during my free time. I even ignored some of my church leaders who requested to visit me. Somehow during the Easter weekend, I made up my mind to visit church again. While I was sitting down and listening to God’s word, I started to feel guilt in myself. It was like a mighty storm started in my soul. As I opened my Bible, the Word of God spoke to me from Luke 15—’the parable of the lost sheep’, and it has encouraged me to recommit myself back to His presence. Now, I thank God for His greater love and mercy to send His only Son to save a sinner like me again. If He can do it for me, He can do it for you. God bless.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Fred Ganiomea</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-44106304922253271382023-05-01T05:10:00.001-07:002023-07-19T04:27:11.709-07:00Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign (East Are'are & South Malaita)<h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reports written by Major Vanessa Evans and Regina Akwasitaloa</span></h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS02KlrmLFpXBtnpHBSyI9KwPaS-_IreCBUwE3U5_O1GFFUfMl86quI-GH65b3qu1Dqogg_9kh_KPSJ2A6YrPKq3-td4mYCGO_HkG6grcG7TGneq0VfsPU8j4N4C7ntBGaH8P0n7DGwsHlDguMqm8f3WbO5ZvIQWwfdbEnoBScfk7b_nW0hIkCX-p6M0/s2048/340758140_138923472477000_3588521430757686686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS02KlrmLFpXBtnpHBSyI9KwPaS-_IreCBUwE3U5_O1GFFUfMl86quI-GH65b3qu1Dqogg_9kh_KPSJ2A6YrPKq3-td4mYCGO_HkG6grcG7TGneq0VfsPU8j4N4C7ntBGaH8P0n7DGwsHlDguMqm8f3WbO5ZvIQWwfdbEnoBScfk7b_nW0hIkCX-p6M0/s320/340758140_138923472477000_3588521430757686686_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Preparing for any trip comes with its challenges and our Easter Campaign was no different. Due to minimal ships going to East Are’are, we were dependent on going on the Pelican Express. This was a great plan until on the day before we were to leave they cancelled the trip due to the ship needing maintenance. We then went through the emotions of the trip not going ahead and then being on again when friends from another church mentioned they had organized with the Taimareho ship to do a short trip to Afio. We were pleased and excited that we would be able to continue with the trip and got word to our villages that we were on our way. Peter and the skipper of our OBM met us at Afio at 3:00 am on the Thursday morning and we then travelled two hours onto Moscom. Travelling through the early hours of the morning on the calm seas was amazing and it was beautiful to see the moon setting and the sun rising on the opposite sides of the boat. It is always a pleasure spending time at Moscom. I love the people, the location and we were extremely blessed by the hospitality of the leaders Peter and Susan and the Moscom congregation. Moscom is growing and God is doing great things within the community through the use of the OBM and church services and programs. Good Friday was an amazing time of fellowship and the feast, which consisted of fish, kasava pudding and veggies, after church was delicious. Each person of the church had a job to do and had fun in the process.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday was another early start out on the water to Fouele with a 2 hour OBM ride. This was my first time at Fouele and it was just as amazing as all of the other villages that I have been blessed to travel to. When we arrived we went through the mangroves, which was like nothing else I have experienced before. We were warmly welcomed by Robinson and Lottie and their family who are the</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">church leaders, as well as by Chris, who is the chief and also our previous church leader. We were spoilt by having mud crab for lunch and then fish for the rest of our time there. On Saturday afternoon we were able to take a 10 minute ride in the boat to Fanalei Island to see the devastation that climate change has had on the island and the community that lives there. The opportunity to also lead both congregations through the Easter services, as well as taking them through the Gudfala Laef Sunday School material was amazing and to see Regina and Elizabeth rise to the occasion of training was awesome to see.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like I mentioned earlier, our trips come with challenges. Our next challenge was finding out on the Monday that the boat that we hoped we would take home had been chartered overnight and wasn't going to be near us until Thursday which meant we had to travel on the Victory boat, which is one that Rob had travelled on when we first arrived in Honiara. Let’s just say his trip was not great, however, this trip was fine, other than being sunburnt as we were on the top deck with no shade. We had to sleep on the open deck and we were grateful that the seas were calm. Being able to spend time at Moscom and Fouele and share Easter with these congregations, as well as with our mission team, was just what my soul needed. To be out in the villages is like nothing else and I am privileged to be able to do this for God.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Major Vanessa Evans</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the Easter mission, I was so blessed both spiritually and physically, as I know that because of God I am able to travel into different places that I’ve never been to before. I really enjoyed the environment and how God showed me His goodness through the natural environments. I am so blessed and convicted by the Word of God that was preached by Major Vanessa Evans on Good Friday from the book of Philippians 2:5-8, that spoke about how we should have the same mind like Christ and our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. And we should be mindful that servanthood is very important for our Christian life. As well as Easter Sunday, the Word of God preached by Major Robert Evans from Romans 12:1-2, which reminds me as Christ shows His great mercy, we should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. It recaptures my heart and mind to give a strong passion to our God by offering Him true worship: ‘Not to conform to the standards of this world, but transform us inwardly by a complete change of our mind’. I just give honour to our Daddy God in heaven for the great and marvelous things He has done. To God be the glory.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Regina Akwasitaloa</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-3575469335005214832023-05-01T05:05:00.009-07:002023-07-19T04:19:45.240-07:00Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign (West Kwara'ae)<h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reports written by Festus Ganiomea and Nirit Taba'a</span></h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWAJiI6PPKRB_yj8DOeZXT_7YtJa_frfAjrNmxAWXUwhiXgRA32pv48ApfU9Wjx6RNvTua8QEcIJVWyat87vhk3RZ8F55oiyt2w9qjE6qtsdQRSaVDh8iCWq7poF2vEuanKkIRp6HDw7m614B07-orQtyCErJqUsS7dgOr0wG4IGbwBrSSf7jOP_iYKE/s2048/340821411_1222171945086456_377763927462764559_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWAJiI6PPKRB_yj8DOeZXT_7YtJa_frfAjrNmxAWXUwhiXgRA32pv48ApfU9Wjx6RNvTua8QEcIJVWyat87vhk3RZ8F55oiyt2w9qjE6qtsdQRSaVDh8iCWq7poF2vEuanKkIRp6HDw7m614B07-orQtyCErJqUsS7dgOr0wG4IGbwBrSSf7jOP_iYKE/s320/340821411_1222171945086456_377763927462764559_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Our mission trip to Rauai in West Kwara’ae was a very successful one, with five of us who travelled down during the Easter weekend. Our trip began here at Honiara ports on Thursday, 6th April 2023, where we boarded MV Auki Express and departed at 8 am. The trip was very exciting because two of our mission teams boarded the same ship to Auki. We reached Auki and boarded a truck to where we headed to.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My team arrived at Rauai late in the afternoon and we took a little rest and later prepared for our first program in the evening. During that evening we had our first program, which was the film crusade about Hell and Heaven. There were more than 80 people who attended that film show during the night.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Friday, 7th April, which was Good Friday, we had a morning service and elder Jackson took the opportunity to share from the Word of God to the people. His sermon was based on Philippians 2:5-8. After that sermon, he gave an appeal and 14 people responded to God’s Word. Out of that 14, only two couples accepted Christ for their first time and the others recommitted their lives back to Christ. In the evening, we showed the film the Passion of the Christ and 70 people attended that show. Next day, we just rested.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunday, 9th April, for the Easter Sunday Service, Solomon and the youth at Rauai lead us powerfully into worship and Elder Jackson got another chance to share again to us from God’s word from Romans 12:1-2. His sermon was very powerful and after that sermon 5 people responded to God’s Word. Later that evening, we had to refilm the Passion and Hell movie as they requested.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Monday, 10th April, the team returned back to Honiara safely on the Auki Express. These mission trips were truly a challenge for those of us who we left our comfort zone and stepped into the field where we encountered so many things. We just want to give all the glory back to our Lord Jesus Christ for His strength and guidance throughout the whole mission. To God be the glory, great things He has done.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Festus Ganiomea</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year’s Easter Campaign has been a joy and blessing for me. I have been challenged by the theme saving others and sacrificial living. I had experienced God’s blessing and God answered my prayer after this campaign and I thank God for that, as it motivates my faith and belief that He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who has risen from the dead so I may be saved.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also want to express how God has been with me, as I can see what has been done at Rauai community throughout the weekend. We experienced the devil trying to disturb our program and families had been attacked by evil spirits but as Ephesians 6:12 says, ‘we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.’</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, I’ve picked an object when reflecting back on my journey with the Lord. The object is a key to a lock. If there is a right key to a right lock, nothing can stop you to unlock that particular door that has been locked. Nothing is hard for the Lord to fight against the right enemy. And then I release that if I want to be sacrificially living for Jesus. I must have the right spirit in me, make right choices, with right armour to fight against evil, like a right key to a lock to unlock it so that I will be able to save others. I praise God for all He has done for me, to save me and accept me for who I am. To God be the glory, great things He has done.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Nirit Taba’a</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-28920648742882623652023-05-01T05:00:00.002-07:002023-07-19T04:36:29.614-07:00Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign (North Malaita)<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><h4><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reports written by Webster Buakalo and Abraham Taba'a</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8eIq39h00n8gwIpA14OigoGVAQKyXgov2TfOExzkFfBG82_BY6RwZJvLlGczn8uQ4QbIbnquJOtbL0q7MxNgOoSlTCi4yvdrYGnYhROVqXsS8h1mVK9X8FHEU2iuIhm4Mt-8dJGNu4nzph9B0r7W8vPVkBxKfsDFJwLPiKIgnsLcs_QB0HAG0M2BLeA/s2048/340991407_122840260768605_3448508474661672018_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8eIq39h00n8gwIpA14OigoGVAQKyXgov2TfOExzkFfBG82_BY6RwZJvLlGczn8uQ4QbIbnquJOtbL0q7MxNgOoSlTCi4yvdrYGnYhROVqXsS8h1mVK9X8FHEU2iuIhm4Mt-8dJGNu4nzph9B0r7W8vPVkBxKfsDFJwLPiKIgnsLcs_QB0HAG0M2BLeA/s320/340991407_122840260768605_3448508474661672018_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is risen indeed and lives forever! What a great time that God is at work. It was an exciting and challenging trip and there were 28 of us that travelled to Gateway. We boarded Auki Express to Auki and travelled by truck to Gateway, arriving at 5:30 pm.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was a great experience of joy, peace, love and harmony between Gateway, Kafomauri and Honiara Corps sharing things in common. We shared our duties for cleaning up, morning and evening devotions. Spiritually and physically, we were filled by the power of God. There was something new, something great, something beautiful happening among us; something we never experienced before. God is at work because He has risen indeed and He is our King that reigns forever.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the powerful theme ‘Sacrificial Living,’ the character demonstrated about itself as we saw all Christians and even the backsliders working together as one. The Friday session was led by Honiara worship team and the preacher was sister Elizabeth Tolilalo. There were people who gave their lives to Jesus. On Sunday, Gateway worship team led the worship and the preacher was Webster Buakalo and also people gave their lives to Jesus too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We would like to acknowledge Solomon Islands District leadership for allowing us</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">to go on this mission trip. Let’s give glory, praise and honour back to our God for great things He has done. Amen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Webster Buakalo</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Easter is a significant holiday in the Christian faith and it is a time when believers reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My reflection of our Easter program in Kwai Village includes:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The significance of Easter: This reflects on the meaning of Easter and how it impacts my life. Easter represents the hope of new beginnings and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The program's theme (Sacrificial living): This considers the theme of the Easter program in Kwai village and how it relates to the message of Easter. When I think about how the songs, readings, and</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">other elements of the program that contributed to the overall theme of the Easter campaign, it is very effective to my personal view as a young Christian.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The music: The music involved in the Easter program, reflecting on the songs that were sung considers the lyrics and how they relate to the Easter story. How the music impacted my emotions and helped me connect with the message is really meaningful to my spiritual life.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The message: Reflecting on the message that was shared during the Easter program in Kwai Village, it impacted my personal life and how it can be applied to my daily life as a Christian.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The community: When I think about the community of people in Kwai who attended the Easter program, I reflect on the fellowship and sense of belonging that comes from being a part of a community of believers in sharing the goodness of Christ.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Overall, the sacrificial living of Jesus Christ teaches us important lessons about selflessness, humility, love, obedience, and forgiveness. By following His example, we can live lives that are pleasing to God and impactful to others. Committing you and I as a living sacrifice for Jesus Christ is not a one-time event but a daily decision to follow Him and live according to His will.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Abraham Taba’a</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-45084166676676063352023-05-01T04:58:00.002-07:002023-07-19T04:36:17.168-07:00Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign (Western Province)<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reports written by Envoy Alick Hagi and Irene Aebata</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEm5qsnHm18F281-Fk0aVliMXHyFOh4nPyO6Z5C47cLXeDIAJShAtZMzHqqsqGmxIeyopHujk0gYdbcKHIqX6tYrVj89tnrnavDfACzLEUUBcxVgwzUUxH92lZgjgGc78W7eQ0PC8QcU1l-bDIsUluLHDPtq4KEkN7ZF-uSq3y3aVNUfMrrHpQo2S7R-A/s2048/340842255_143853788427557_1349728029909811292_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEm5qsnHm18F281-Fk0aVliMXHyFOh4nPyO6Z5C47cLXeDIAJShAtZMzHqqsqGmxIeyopHujk0gYdbcKHIqX6tYrVj89tnrnavDfACzLEUUBcxVgwzUUxH92lZgjgGc78W7eQ0PC8QcU1l-bDIsUluLHDPtq4KEkN7ZF-uSq3y3aVNUfMrrHpQo2S7R-A/w320-h320/340842255_143853788427557_1349728029909811292_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Our mission team departed Honiara on the 2nd April 2023 and was the first team to leave. Our team consisted of two youth, namely Junior Ganiomea and Irene Aebata, myself and wife Esther Hagi. Our destination was to stop at Noro and catch a public bus to Munda. We got a public three tonne truck from Noro to Munda. The transport dropped us at the church in Dunde, an area called Tolovae. Our team met up with Rex and Manalyn and had morning tea before children began to arrive for the morning Learning Space. Rex requested Junior and Irene to take the morning devotion. They had a class and then Rex told the children that they will have an Easter break.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our team rested while Rex went to Lambete station to do the shopping for the old people that will be visited and given a little blessing. We accompanied Rex to distribute the food to the old people. The families appreciated the food given to them. In the afternoon, Mr. Apollos Tuzakana arrived at Munda. He walked across Kohingo Island and got a boat at Rawaki across to Noro and a bus to Munda.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day, Tuesday 4th April, Apollos wanted us to visit his place. He organized a bus from Munda to Noro, and then a boat ride from Noro to Bonosi to his place in Vonavona lagoon. All the expense were meet by Mr. Apollos. We got to his place and were met by their family who prepared for us. I had the opportunity to conduct an awareness session about The Salvation Army for the whole community and after Mr. Apollos ask his family what is their decision. He made it clear to them that he will join The Salvation Army even if they will wait. We went back to Noro and caught a public bus back to Munda.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Wednesday we had a rest day then on Thursday 6th April, in the evening Junior and Irene did a session for the youth. There were 7 youth that attend the session. Friday, 7th April was Good Friday and so I preached on our District Easter theme “Sacrificial Living” from</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Philippians 2:5-8. On Saturday, 8th April I did Soldiership Classes with three recruits. Then in the afternoon, Irene and Junior Gani did a class for five of our leaders: Rex Tiokomateana, Manalyn Tiokomateana, Apollos Tuzikana, Mary Tuzikana, and Kendrick Lonisasa from Barakoma New Opening.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunday, I preach again on our theme for Easter “Sacrificial Living” from Romans 12:1-2. We had 7 seekers that responded to the message. I had the opportunity to present a New Opening Certificate to Kendrick from Barakoma. After the service on Sunday, Kendrick and Apollos left for Noro by Public Bus. Our mission to Munda, Western Province was a very successful trip. Junior Ganiomea recommends that in the future we need to send two youth to help in our new mission and fellowship. I am in support of the idea and will wait for our District Team to approve the vision.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Envoy Alick Hagi</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was so blessed to be in Munda for the Easter campaign as part of the team to Western Province. We had a great time together with the youth, as well as the adult leaders of our church. I saw that God is moving in Munda. I was very excited when I saw what God is doing in the lives of the young people.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For Junior and myself, we didn’t expect that we would lead a youth program but somehow God had spoken in our hearts when the youth at Munda came forward and asked if we could do the youth program for them. We led a program for them on Thursday afternoon. What God is doing by using us when we were in Munda, I haven’t seen anywhere except in Munda what God has placed in the hearts of the young people. I’m so very excited that we came to meet each other and share with them the Word of God through the songs we sang and through our testimonies. Also Junior and I had the privilege to share the ‘Good Life for All Boys and Girls’ training. For me to lead our leaders in this training was a challenge, but now I am able to teach the adults and I can confidently say that they are also excited about the training. It feels different when God has called you to be His witness and when you are His witness, He will bless you.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Bonosi, I see that God will continue to touch the lives of the people and the families in Bonosi. They were very excited by our visit to their village and were interested to learn about The Salvation Army church, so we shared with them what God has for them as a community. For me, going to Western Province was not easy because I thought that I’m too young to go on a mission, but somehow God has a plan for my life, so He changed my mind that I’m His witness and I will go wherever He calls me. I will answer His calling.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just want to give all glory and honor back to God. To God be the glory, great things he has done in Western Province.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Irene Aebata</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-83932520248209011792023-05-01T04:40:00.008-07:002023-07-16T04:56:24.238-07:00Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following a disrupted District Easter Campaign last year, due to COVID-19 lockdowns, it was wonderful to have the freedom to send out teams across the Solomon Islands District again. This year, the District Team decided to invite the young adults to join them on the campaign trail to provide a mission experience for the young people from Honiara Corps. This decision coincided with the completion of the World Vision ‘Gudfala Laef Blong Evri Gele & Evri Boe’ Sunday School curriculum and the District Preaching Workshop, enabling the participants in both these training events to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. The theme for the weekend ‘Sacrificial Living’ was developed during the Preaching Workshop, providing sermon outlines for the mission teams to share at each location. As teams prepared to travel to their respective destinations, they were confronted by the reality of life in the Solomon Islands with the cancellation of two of the ships travelling to key ports in Malaita. With one of the trips facing cancellation and two of the others being </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">delayed, the teams prayed for alternative pathways. At the last minute, with very limited seats available, God made a way and the teams set off on their voyages, which involved travel by ships, public trucks, ray boats and even a bit of a hike. The stories that emerged from the weekend were nothing short of inspiring! This special report captures short reports from team leaders and reflections by a team member from each team, accompanied by photos to show the diverse mission and ministry undertaken throughout the Easter weekend. These stories will testify to lives transformed, leaders equipped and communities deeply encouraged by the interaction between the visiting teams and local Salvationists. The statistics for the District Easter Campaign include: 42 sent out on mission, 309 attending Good Friday and 312 attending Easter Sunday services, 42 recommitments and 2 first time commitments to faith, 135 leaders and children participating in the ‘Gudfala Laef’ training, 3 new Soldier Recruits and 2 new Missions! It is clearly evident that God was at work through this campaign.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCTEop0sLMIFEen2c2S4DN4WBC084MPtnuOmirqu8dyN0PmsK_YObeQBcYxx8MpdM9zspmM4hA6aLA2PQwCtpNIECD9t0-x3jE4o_7-1VCdGQYRf0EWWmyM4p_8H9RgQGfw8znP1trHoG281ifA2WoFNomhIrN0W2mSq2Z6QSNChcRE9k8bVtmmNkL2k/s1282/Easter%202023%20-%20Sacrificial%20Living%20Logo.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1282" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCTEop0sLMIFEen2c2S4DN4WBC084MPtnuOmirqu8dyN0PmsK_YObeQBcYxx8MpdM9zspmM4hA6aLA2PQwCtpNIECD9t0-x3jE4o_7-1VCdGQYRf0EWWmyM4p_8H9RgQGfw8znP1trHoG281ifA2WoFNomhIrN0W2mSq2Z6QSNChcRE9k8bVtmmNkL2k/w400-h208/Easter%202023%20-%20Sacrificial%20Living%20Logo.jpeg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The stories and photos from the special report published with the April newsletter can be read in the following blog posts...</i><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-72352434210834089572022-11-30T19:09:00.000-08:002022-11-30T19:09:08.342-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 8)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Officer's & Nominees Retreat</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday, 19th November 2022</span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last day of the retreat commenced with Nominees Rex and Manalyn leading the morning devotions before Colonel Garth presented the final two sessions. As with the previous sessions, the topic on ‘Attitude’ spoke directly into the lives of the local leaders. The Colonel referred to the lives of several biblical characters—Moses, Joshua, Joseph, Ruth, Elijah, Daniel, Job, David, Barsabbas, and Paul—providing case studies to identify the relationship between attitude and character. Two key points emerging from the case studies were, <i>“Your attitude cannot take you where your character cannot sustain you”</i> and <i>“Your attitude, not your aptitude will determine you’re altitude.”</i> Finally, the question was asked, “What do you bring to Jesus in your pot?” (John 2:1-11), with three suggestions offered:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ol><li>You carry a conviction</li><li>You carry a revelation from God that confronts culture</li><li>You carry a vision</li></ol></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a final meal together, the District Officers led a closing Worship Service that provided an opportunity for testimonies from the congregation leaders. Once the first person stood up to speak, it unleashed a wave of open sharing that revealed the value and impact of this retreat to the leaders. Majors Robert and Vanessa then discussed the District’s progress with the Territorial Strategic Plan (TSP) Local Action Plan to celebrate the mission goals achieved this year and share the mission goals for next year. The recent change of appointment for Solomon Islands was also officially announced with Envoys Alick and Esther welcomed as Area Officers for Malaita, in addition to their current role as Area Officers for Western Province. Major Vanessa then concluded the Officer’s & Nominees Retreat with a message from Isaiah 30:21 entitled ‘God Whispers’, reminding everybody that <i>“you won’t hear Him if you aren’t near Him.”</i> Auxiliary Captain Wency extended heart-felt words of thanks to Colonels Garth and Patti, acknowledging their leadership and investment into the lives of the Solomon Islands leaders. The venue for the retreat was a real blessing, providing a pleasant, relaxing and suitable environment for the leaders to enjoy each other's company and get the most out of the time with the Territorial Leaders. An expression of thanks was also extended to Pastor Andrew Fanasia from SWIM for the use of their facilities. This vote of thanks was reciprocated by Andrew, as he expressed his appreciation to The Salvation Army for choosing the SWIM base for this event. After a well-earned rest back at their motel room, the Territorial Leaders were driven to the airport by the District Leaders for their return flight to Port Moresby. The week Colonels Garth and Patti spent in the Solomon Islands was an enormous encouragement to the District and a great opportunity for them to see in person the mission and ministry they read about in monthly newsletters and through regular posts on Facebook.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrJLQ8WA3szQ40AwPDZ36Ome1oYopb401nTYzD5xh281naiLGx63y6UZby48uJV2FTYQlDyJAzf8k5QqJOfv6Cv8AjJwWzQX2ZEz0sutnHSDdYbXmoBLS7rnfkUkPdtH-5EZEHy-WoCHG04N6MPkoQGWkajGQ96RRGtEg5TAroLTZ9vIWRLi54G9I/s2929/20221119_155249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="2929" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrJLQ8WA3szQ40AwPDZ36Ome1oYopb401nTYzD5xh281naiLGx63y6UZby48uJV2FTYQlDyJAzf8k5QqJOfv6Cv8AjJwWzQX2ZEz0sutnHSDdYbXmoBLS7rnfkUkPdtH-5EZEHy-WoCHG04N6MPkoQGWkajGQ96RRGtEg5TAroLTZ9vIWRLi54G9I/w472-h265/20221119_155249.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-41338511444019002202022-11-30T19:03:00.005-08:002022-11-30T19:03:37.136-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 7)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Officer's & Nominees Retreat</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Friday, 18th November 2022</span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3kSD1Q7UtAeSJb4FnDcx_JX-trQ77N6ulnb7OzgZH4bJ0joCVNeTFEtlQrtcQy2jcalGnQ6M6-bHicOIDRg0_iczyWdxx9u5V6l6E5-SzzCvtBsR3hoZ9olUrRg01fUUqqbgoN0rXyWYO8SsQe0lUdHjM44LAO9gonANg2TIOophWpRLKfKhQ1Ir/s4096/20221118_094959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3kSD1Q7UtAeSJb4FnDcx_JX-trQ77N6ulnb7OzgZH4bJ0joCVNeTFEtlQrtcQy2jcalGnQ6M6-bHicOIDRg0_iczyWdxx9u5V6l6E5-SzzCvtBsR3hoZ9olUrRg01fUUqqbgoN0rXyWYO8SsQe0lUdHjM44LAO9gonANg2TIOophWpRLKfKhQ1Ir/s320/20221118_094959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Day two of the Officer’s & Nominees Retreat began with Nominees Jimley and Joana leading morning devotions. Colonel Patti then continued on from yesterday with a session on ‘Practical Holiness’, speaking from Romans 12:1, Galatians 5:16-26 and Romans 7:14-20. She highlighted The Salvation Army’s 9th Doctrine—<i>”We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ”</i>—to emphasise the process of surrendering our whole selves to Jesus Christ, which is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course, a session on practical holiness isn’t complete without reference to one of the great historic holiness teachers of The Salvation Army, Samuel Logan Brengle, whom she quoted, <i>”Holiness equates to having the mind of Jesus in control over every issue of life.”</i> The session was wrapped up with Colonel Patti outlining 3 conditions of discipleship identified by Jesus: complete surrender, identifying in His suffering and death, and obediently following Him (Mark 8:34-37); before concluding with Paul’s testimony declaring <i>“it’s no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me”</i> (Galatians 2:20). Colonel Garth led the second session for the day on the topic of ‘Honesty’, unpacking seven definitions:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ol><li>Honesty means telling the truth</li><li>Honesty is not just truth-telling, but truth-living</li><li>Honesty means truth over tolerance</li><li>Honesty is always the best policy</li><li>Honesty makes you complete</li><li>Honesty pleases God</li><li>Honesty is a value to be taken seriously</li></ol><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Wjqz10RSvDFYfyZdnUDSgCG4HQiEbqgYiKPzX2R6k6M9FBeei-Y-boZaouPxrYfJwsIrYo-yKclfGx0G0dY2jqbrNc3fa5K4SS430wC_ojj1K9ZAof9hfSAWK0GPS2tulKs9e0eWTdCx82E6_fdwPkChwkYTgCw0OWwql8PysX4v01oijxK2YEk/s2062/20221118_142901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2062" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Wjqz10RSvDFYfyZdnUDSgCG4HQiEbqgYiKPzX2R6k6M9FBeei-Y-boZaouPxrYfJwsIrYo-yKclfGx0G0dY2jqbrNc3fa5K4SS430wC_ojj1K9ZAof9hfSAWK0GPS2tulKs9e0eWTdCx82E6_fdwPkChwkYTgCw0OWwql8PysX4v01oijxK2YEk/s320/20221118_142901.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The session concluded with a discussion around the importance of trust and how that applies to a Salvation Army officer or leader. The lunch break was hampered by heavy rain, keeping everyone under cover. This was followed by a business session led by the District Officers to discuss the Mission Support Projects (MSP), statistics and other mission matters. Major Vanessa spoke about the newly purchased sewing machines and starter kits that will be handed over to 5 Home Leagues as a skills development and income generating project to support local mission and ministry initiatives. Major Robert updated the leaders on the other MSP’s and explained the use of the ‘Called to be a Soldier’ and ‘Day by Day’ books, which had finally arrived after being held up in customs, as a follow-up to the recent District Renewal Campaign. The session was very interactive and went longer than planned, with a number of leaders asking clarifying questions, eager to be fully equipped as church leaders. Unfortunately, the rain continued all afternoon, causing the cancellation of the scheduled recreation activity and a modified version of the renewal activity to under shelter. The evening devotions was led by Envoys Alick and Esther Hagi, which was a fitting conclusion to an amazing day that was full of blessings and helpful leadership insights.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-66869368672740363532022-11-30T18:56:00.003-08:002022-11-30T18:56:27.628-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 6)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Officer's & Nominees Retreat</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thursday, 17th November 2022</span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPOAl8395Kpi_TjsSXRTxnXhjfQGWsND5nqHH7eGQwXxQgzbNY9LStF18ytKR5IJxgD6PS0Z4ai35TUlmElQuX1DddMFQTl-X_79xM47LwNXSG9L33YK-D7Tee4geGVJOMtdbGWFXZGaT2iD68o1GG5XP7xr9Va0sXQIeasUNxv2032O8DC2xi4Ck/s4096/20221117_134936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPOAl8395Kpi_TjsSXRTxnXhjfQGWsND5nqHH7eGQwXxQgzbNY9LStF18ytKR5IJxgD6PS0Z4ai35TUlmElQuX1DddMFQTl-X_79xM47LwNXSG9L33YK-D7Tee4geGVJOMtdbGWFXZGaT2iD68o1GG5XP7xr9Va0sXQIeasUNxv2032O8DC2xi4Ck/w315-h177/20221117_134936.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>On Thursday morning, the District Team travelled out to SWIM (Supporting Work in Ministry) Conference Centre and Transit House to set-up for the Officer’s & Nominees Retreat ahead of the arrival of the congregation and Territorial leaders. Colonels Garth and Patti joined the delegates for lunch before the District Officers launched the retreat with an Opening Worship session. The District Emergency Services Coordinator Festus, together with his wife Freda, prepared lunch and the rest of the meals for the retreat. During the Opening Worship, Major Robert introduced the leaders from each of The Salvation Army congregations across the District using a PowerPoint presentation to feature mission highlights from each location. Major Vanessa then introduced the Nominees/Candidates who have applied to enter the Officer Training College in PNG. A message was given on ‘Choosing a Covenanted Life’, based on Deuteronomy 30:11-20, to set the tone for the three days together.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3jPz2TBKfVM2dAlqY_bWlhY0EHXta7X6-EYhA7pS_Qoovjxxn96yjGuhvYf2uPO81BVPBqfuUebIEpNk27kck0vsxIm1IcrAUVbRepUruJDs_zC2zNrSYN_N4e5gXxrizEbBIz7O0z0UMm-3WteU2VsB1tOW-S3y4FrB18S8GbNEK6ws8WlT8S58/s4096/20221117_152034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3jPz2TBKfVM2dAlqY_bWlhY0EHXta7X6-EYhA7pS_Qoovjxxn96yjGuhvYf2uPO81BVPBqfuUebIEpNk27kck0vsxIm1IcrAUVbRepUruJDs_zC2zNrSYN_N4e5gXxrizEbBIz7O0z0UMm-3WteU2VsB1tOW-S3y4FrB18S8GbNEK6ws8WlT8S58/s320/20221117_152034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The first session was led by Colonel Garth, who spoke from 1 Samuel 15:1-35 on ‘Spiritual Integrity’. After highlighting some of the barriers to spiritual integrity, Colonel Garth outlined the requirements for leading with integrity. His message resonated strongly with the leaders present, providing a challenge that spoke into each of their cultural contexts. The second session was led by Colonel Patti who spoke from Matthew 5:43-48 and Philippians 4:8-9 on ‘Spiritual Perfection’, building on the verse—<i>”be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”</i> (Matthew 5:48). Colonel Patti explained the biblical context for spiritual perfection and gave some practical guidance on how to live a holy life that is set apart from sin and for Christ. Both sessions were powerful and timely messages that complimented each other and incorporated the Territorial theme ‘Rebuild, Restore, Renew’ that has been taught across the Territory, including Solomon Islands for the past two years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAMpfN87q7n1qqOihQkyDQ6qi8-D4mNryYrOgMg5gDO1HquOl5FsexZrnaThczfd87pCJdQYnLxLiHTCJCWIvHO8OqPNZJwCSuRLHGgoqBVkvc9viLCYicKOBq4BT813HVZ9lYnLHBHP2M8-pgIiz4U1ktvSCL2LPbrjw-Hn9ezF_vszYvFGIYwTc/s4096/20221117_183538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAMpfN87q7n1qqOihQkyDQ6qi8-D4mNryYrOgMg5gDO1HquOl5FsexZrnaThczfd87pCJdQYnLxLiHTCJCWIvHO8OqPNZJwCSuRLHGgoqBVkvc9viLCYicKOBq4BT813HVZ9lYnLHBHP2M8-pgIiz4U1ktvSCL2LPbrjw-Hn9ezF_vszYvFGIYwTc/w292-h164/20221117_183538.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>Following another delicious meal prepared by Freda and Festus, everybody gathered in the communal lounge for evening devotions, led by Auxiliary Captains Wency and Fostina. It has been wonderful to see Fostina’s growth, as she is now standing alongside Wency with more and more confidence in an upfront leadership role. As she emerges from the shadow of her husband, her God-given gifts and abilities are shining brightly, inspiring the other women to break free of the cultural constraints placed upon them because of gender and lack of education. Nominee Jimley led the evening worship and everybody joined together in a time of prayer to end an inspiring day. The rest of the evening was kept free to encourage unstructured social interaction between the leaders, who are normally separated by the seas and remoteness, with very limited mobile and internet coverage in many locations. The value of fellowship becomes very evident during these types of events.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-70336514195284034602022-11-30T18:47:00.002-08:002022-11-30T18:47:45.920-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 5)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Learning Space, Networking & Coffee Ceremony</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday, 16th November 2022</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwfZOV_iPDHP6olVgc58jZBsSv49sdqJjLm4i0ReGmnPEUu_Mp-nJsC6L57Nlkwvx72C7DC9WlBltyMTdThAU6s9vE9DPvKom9ZJDKTfufD_ClSji5A8xH7CPYpjrO7GvAGgwa98VCksEI-O6CZAlwH8Y98ZceT9231HlgNKWNn8lai-6BsWKSiZM/s3667/20221116_100807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="3667" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwfZOV_iPDHP6olVgc58jZBsSv49sdqJjLm4i0ReGmnPEUu_Mp-nJsC6L57Nlkwvx72C7DC9WlBltyMTdThAU6s9vE9DPvKom9ZJDKTfufD_ClSji5A8xH7CPYpjrO7GvAGgwa98VCksEI-O6CZAlwH8Y98ZceT9231HlgNKWNn8lai-6BsWKSiZM/w293-h165/20221116_100807.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>The Salvation Army Learning Space at Burns Creek Settlement in East Honiara is an exciting expression of transformational mission in action. Colonels Garth and Patti were welcomed by the women and children who participate in this learning space with great enthusiasm as the young boys in traditional dress greeted them with a cultural dance. Chief Peter Usi felt honoured to have the Territorial Leaders visit their humble community. The Colonels were able to observe a literacy lesson conducted by Elizabeth Tolilalo and even joined in on leading an action song with the children. It was exciting and a little emotional to see the progress of the children as one of the girls who previously could not read or write stand up and confidently read out a welcome speech to the visitors.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4n8FrYPlaX_vb6vxoh70dOTGmdh6UkS75DadyDFn79ouk8O16k76owgOmUF4QWFau39RpjkB6fEgwlMly2mZn6GPr4yFOC8aVXAGLWUMde8MqLqGWBxcenhTitPbf3QTHnMAXdu2-o9c3cuODGpEdPqR6-oQdLGFW9LNmu8Zpawx71qXdM-kf6oc/s4096/20221116_110240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4n8FrYPlaX_vb6vxoh70dOTGmdh6UkS75DadyDFn79ouk8O16k76owgOmUF4QWFau39RpjkB6fEgwlMly2mZn6GPr4yFOC8aVXAGLWUMde8MqLqGWBxcenhTitPbf3QTHnMAXdu2-o9c3cuODGpEdPqR6-oQdLGFW9LNmu8Zpawx71qXdM-kf6oc/w297-h168/20221116_110240.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the Learning Space literacy class, the Colonels were taken to visit Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands for a networking meeting with Managing Director Bob Pollard. This social enterprise tour provided them with an insight into the operations of the DME coconut oil plant The Salvation Army operates in North Malaita. They learned about each step of the process of a village operated plant, from cracking the nut to extracting the oil. The tour also gave them an understanding of how the oil is processed and made into the quality products sold by Kokonut Pacific locally and internationally.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnFM2dEAnwbgHpf2zxRQhcJ76fLYltYEMVGTFlxKl81vhyBkD7vDfojBTRoZ4fUx1U9YwY7_evrzJRTIpVGzWnPbj4IyNJfpQ_opi-6J1k51pplWRa0nb8xH7WMyUP_3n4M-X_47ZSh6CT8L_IpKtodW1zo_rl_Rg9VTSEv2cOKcnKfuQlhRsPwNz/s4096/20221116_133236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnFM2dEAnwbgHpf2zxRQhcJ76fLYltYEMVGTFlxKl81vhyBkD7vDfojBTRoZ4fUx1U9YwY7_evrzJRTIpVGzWnPbj4IyNJfpQ_opi-6J1k51pplWRa0nb8xH7WMyUP_3n4M-X_47ZSh6CT8L_IpKtodW1zo_rl_Rg9VTSEv2cOKcnKfuQlhRsPwNz/w303-h170/20221116_133236.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>Following the first networking visit, the Colonels were taken out for lunch with Archbishop Chris Cardone of the Catholic Archdiocese of Honiara to B Natural Café, where the Solomon Islands District Team conduct their weekly meetings every Monday morning. Archbishop Chris is a good friend of Majors Robert and Vanessa and a strong supporter of The Salvation Army. In the absence of acceptance by the national church council (SICA), Archbishop Chris has proactively engaged The Salvation Army in a number of ecumenical events and joint mission opportunities, including working with the Sisters at Mary Mazzarello Development Centre, where Major Vanessa has done a couple of workshops with the women about how to make and use the reusable sanitary kits.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT0Hi3LqLp3_HFQmECg4cR2iNNpuOBzKqT_B5ckLMhtKrYtnVb7ZUMur3wmGET7c2Zc0vThz28WPtUcJQ0pXlYGTn6zyvyZRBTWR9o_1IvAlxW8CMT0swL5lwPtXzkHJ2Zc8f7emWY764bqs18DgZYArZB3xPKL_FyPmhadhsyiU2EZ4_kd9Y8jbX/s4096/20221116_135903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT0Hi3LqLp3_HFQmECg4cR2iNNpuOBzKqT_B5ckLMhtKrYtnVb7ZUMur3wmGET7c2Zc0vThz28WPtUcJQ0pXlYGTn6zyvyZRBTWR9o_1IvAlxW8CMT0swL5lwPtXzkHJ2Zc8f7emWY764bqs18DgZYArZB3xPKL_FyPmhadhsyiU2EZ4_kd9Y8jbX/w285-h160/20221116_135903.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After lunch, the second networking meeting was held at World Vision with Nancy Waegao, who heads up their Gender and Child Protection Sector. This social justice visit provided the Colonels with an insight into the World Vision Channels of Hope for Gender program and Gudfala Laef for Boys & Girls Sunday School curriculum, which is currently being rolled out to The Salvation Army churches. Major Vanessa has established a strong working relationship with World Vision, which has proven to be a valuable partnership for The Salvation Army in this social justice space.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYLJszIIHJ97xc0rtaZcZ33SBosVZhN-vsbQy1nOFhIOOhJQ50YZeZ-yBby6_W1QJOKdySwaumoOQsj__ThpFEKtOROhDsYI7Ujvibq3aylM7Dp-8nhzIkonWBoCOPiO9poMaD5aavnTPB7ozwT4u5aWmlkx6fIWNQmtMsQJrci6S2N6VDFvbKY3l/s4096/20221116_191427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYLJszIIHJ97xc0rtaZcZ33SBosVZhN-vsbQy1nOFhIOOhJQ50YZeZ-yBby6_W1QJOKdySwaumoOQsj__ThpFEKtOROhDsYI7Ujvibq3aylM7Dp-8nhzIkonWBoCOPiO9poMaD5aavnTPB7ozwT4u5aWmlkx6fIWNQmtMsQJrci6S2N6VDFvbKY3l/w296-h167/20221116_191427.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>In the evening, the Territorial and District Leaders had dinner with Ethiopian friends who are also an important part of the Solomon Islands District networks. Dr Zelalem is a medical doctor and the Chief of Field Office for UNICEF Pacific in the Solomon Islands. Zelalem and Hawariat had invited Majors Robert and Vanessa to their home for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, so the visit of Colonels Garth and Patti presented an opportunity to share this experience with the Territorial Leaders. They were all blessed with generous hospitality, great company and a delightful cultural evening of home cooked Ethiopian food and fresh stovetop roasted coffee, served in their traditional way. Drinking coffee in Ethiopia is an unhurried communal event where life and stories are shared over 3-4 brews.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This day of networking was aimed at connecting the Territorial Leaders with some of the important community and business relationships that significantly contribute to the success of the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands District. These networks are intentionally nurtured by Majors Robert and Vanessa to ensure they are mutually relational, as well as functional. The visits undertaken today are only a sample of a wide and diverse network of relationships that have become integral to the development and growth of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-39355360794824011532022-11-30T18:36:00.002-08:002022-11-30T18:37:18.037-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 4)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Workshops, Cultural Tour & Fellowship</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tuesday, 15th November 2022</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The day started with two skills-based workshops to provide the Colonels with an experiential insight into a new social enterprise project and sewing group that are having an impact on the livelihood and well-being of Solomon Islanders. Colonel Patti joined with a group of expat women who meet weekly to make reusable sanitary kits that are distributed to disadvantaged local women around the Solomon Islands. Colonel Garth joined with a group of local men for a session of melting aluminium cans and a lesson on different aluminium casting techniques. Unfortunately, the charcoal used to fuel the foundry didn’t burn hot enough to bring the cans to melting point, so the Colonel missed out on seeing this part of the process. The working theory behind this disappointing outcome to the workshop is that the charcoal contained too much moisture from exposure to recent heavy rain. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MfLcKy6_xpqx0GBYaMDz41UeuHpO78rH_KyQacU0x66Rmj0iiKNhJCGhdJYkUDRQpvEF-Il4pEN1xxongC2SDGQG5hSzxiFAc-QgA3jU3jtwCn77SOr8dWphy_vFbn0FDeHdcssv5EqpulhVRMDnsPvXRcr_Y-mltxbI4FD8CPo3TC-p82H5TYwj/s2048/8%20Reusable%20Sanitary%20Kits%20Sewing%20Group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MfLcKy6_xpqx0GBYaMDz41UeuHpO78rH_KyQacU0x66Rmj0iiKNhJCGhdJYkUDRQpvEF-Il4pEN1xxongC2SDGQG5hSzxiFAc-QgA3jU3jtwCn77SOr8dWphy_vFbn0FDeHdcssv5EqpulhVRMDnsPvXRcr_Y-mltxbI4FD8CPo3TC-p82H5TYwj/w136-h182/8%20Reusable%20Sanitary%20Kits%20Sewing%20Group.jpg" width="136" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvH5GxAh1wS2bVTZtZ6zA6umq93mXYAqh07nRSO4nxh4VpWOaNbg2Fvgbd0TSU4QS5Olfsi08jmAeBNfNlwmp9karUjqjQlhdL1H-R0U1DUOepE8-JPYfaw9VcwC011F33J8kvuZcpUQMq0JL9BaRS-YpAxa4M2nY8IcnatVNd1pdcS5ZfsSPI7lj/s4096/20221115_124248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvH5GxAh1wS2bVTZtZ6zA6umq93mXYAqh07nRSO4nxh4VpWOaNbg2Fvgbd0TSU4QS5Olfsi08jmAeBNfNlwmp9karUjqjQlhdL1H-R0U1DUOepE8-JPYfaw9VcwC011F33J8kvuZcpUQMq0JL9BaRS-YpAxa4M2nY8IcnatVNd1pdcS5ZfsSPI7lj/w324-h182/20221115_124248.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Following the two workshops, the Colonels were taken out for lunch before embarking on a cultural tour around Honiara CBD. The tour commenced at the Arts/Craft Market and Art Gallery, where they were treated to the creativity of S</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">olomon Islanders through wood carvings, shell jewellery and paintings. The next stop was the “Pride of Our Nation” memorial to the indigenous Scouts & Coast Watchers who played a pivotal role in supporting the Allied Forces during World War Two. The memorial is a reminder to all Solomon Islanders to feel pride in the selfless sacrifices that their ancestors made. Finally, the Colonels were taken to the Guadalcanal American War Memorial, situated on top of the Skyline ridge, offering panoramic views of Honiara. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN9mcxiDS1RMQh9jyu-FzH_Q2AYsK9yl9KH1itS0MX8PUIZM6huCAeS6GmLpEuizOXqde0ERcIZrCKOCVv5CJYyoHI5SMj-tRr9lr0yYY0TNtbDZqxSr4qeGtPWyrKM3GtHHOk1YXq-KUnNfhFDeVFzkECC50v7nQ9miiU97pZuNIiL2d8B2A-_bU/s2782/20221115_144705a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2782" data-original-width="2304" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN9mcxiDS1RMQh9jyu-FzH_Q2AYsK9yl9KH1itS0MX8PUIZM6huCAeS6GmLpEuizOXqde0ERcIZrCKOCVv5CJYyoHI5SMj-tRr9lr0yYY0TNtbDZqxSr4qeGtPWyrKM3GtHHOk1YXq-KUnNfhFDeVFzkECC50v7nQ9miiU97pZuNIiL2d8B2A-_bU/w142-h172/20221115_144705a.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR-0ZCfWYogtuWQWSLw624W_MHgOVgHiEc3PSiwPay12h2rkczV-sybJUEUAX3WtWw-YnttuJzTVv53MNuLH-3xXrvRVRyLEkSSzGrXhXsQzUhXjV-fnHt3yGKDvb5lmfeUu8j8AvnWww6DH9LVojTq_Xq1M34iNmROLI-TgzvX4dWXHr0MIN6oZE/s3286/20221115_205230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="3286" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR-0ZCfWYogtuWQWSLw624W_MHgOVgHiEc3PSiwPay12h2rkczV-sybJUEUAX3WtWw-YnttuJzTVv53MNuLH-3xXrvRVRyLEkSSzGrXhXsQzUhXjV-fnHt3yGKDvb5lmfeUu8j8AvnWww6DH9LVojTq_Xq1M34iNmROLI-TgzvX4dWXHr0MIN6oZE/w307-h172/20221115_205230.jpg" width="307" /></a></div></div></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The scheduled evening Prayer Meeting was relocated from the usual location at the ‘Prayer Mountain’ to Festus brother’s home, where another Fellowship Service was held with the grieving family. A group from Honiara Corps gathered together for this time of worship and prayer. During the evening people were invited to share words of encouragement with the Ganiomea family. Auxiliary Captain Wency, Major Robert and Colonel Garth spoke into this space from Scriptures that brought comfort and support. A powerful time of prayer followed in the Solomon way, creating a collective chorus of a heartfelt cry out to the <i>“God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles”</i> (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-12793303136091034752022-11-30T18:22:00.005-08:002022-11-30T19:11:03.126-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 3)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">District Review & Community Walk</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monday, 14th November 2022</span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichPVvit88zN-QS7vjhRq_rgnUN2K3RfQGHiMmztznYuApEkHj0NNGU7seSuXBoRULPttavbvu3nFwfz0p106_-qzGEfhw0rlzYAr-0dk4SAviKBrWDX6X-Pbo4nM0wxjoBbKFFPPHnL7D_xu4v1dvH45w4C81GKjj2iLZR1C1Ay_mauuBZZaVAqK_/s2560/20221114_093858.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichPVvit88zN-QS7vjhRq_rgnUN2K3RfQGHiMmztznYuApEkHj0NNGU7seSuXBoRULPttavbvu3nFwfz0p106_-qzGEfhw0rlzYAr-0dk4SAviKBrWDX6X-Pbo4nM0wxjoBbKFFPPHnL7D_xu4v1dvH45w4C81GKjj2iLZR1C1Ay_mauuBZZaVAqK_/w312-h176/20221114_093858.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>One of the important tasks undertaken by the Territorial Leaders during their visit was the facilitation of a District Review to evaluate the mission and ministry impact of the Solomon Islands District. This is the first face-to-face review process for Solomon Islands since gaining District status, due to COVID-19 travel disruptions over the past few years. In preparation for the District Review, a detailed review document was completed by the District Officers in advance of the Territorial Leaders visit to present their Statistics, Programme (Children’s & Youth Ministry, Women’s & Men’s Ministry, Music Ministry, Social & Community Services), Personnel (Officers, Candidates/Nominees, Employees), Business Administration (Finance, Property, Projects, IT, Boards, Inventory). The District Team had a productive discussion with the Territorial Leaders, highlighting strengths and identifying areas for future growth. It was an encouraging process for all involved looking back on the past couple of years of growth and development of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a full day of sitting around a table discussing mission and ministry, it was time for some recreation. Armed with some foreknowledge that the Colonels’ <i>“favourite pastime is walking/hiking and exploring new places,”</i> Major Robert organised to take them for an evening walk with the Honiara Hash House Harriers group that he connects with most Mondays. This is a family friendly group of expat and local walkers and runners who meet weekly at various locations around Honiara for an organised walk/run. It is a great way to discover new places, see how people live in urban villages and meet people from all walks of life. Major Robert has been walking with this group for 18 months, which has become a valuable source of networking and fitness. The walk commenced at Lengakiki in the west side of Honiara and weaved around gravel roads and walking tracks, up and down hills for 4 kilometres. The Colonels were welcomed with the customary friendly smiles and warm greetings from Solomon Islanders who are always accepting of strangers walking through their neighbourhoods. What Honiara lacks in infrastructure is offset by a freedom of movement around a relatively safe and hospitable society. This is in direct contrast to walking conditions in Port Moresby, providing the Colonels an opportunity to explore new places in safety.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuK-cyQNiVTxRUViadIO0j3JYfuyoF9flaucBWETuXnFMW2D3LDiBeTZrdH7cDMBc2WXEm-525wWpBF2faH16FyFWuWy02AuuK4WmkdzjFPTEzsrTzhAtEFVd3WZIYOnVXGHCj4n8r1PE4nFAB_V0R_cfvT5ZtoxqvrcoFm-NhwkJaWK81AOIaRV6/s2560/20221114_180351.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuK-cyQNiVTxRUViadIO0j3JYfuyoF9flaucBWETuXnFMW2D3LDiBeTZrdH7cDMBc2WXEm-525wWpBF2faH16FyFWuWy02AuuK4WmkdzjFPTEzsrTzhAtEFVd3WZIYOnVXGHCj4n8r1PE4nFAB_V0R_cfvT5ZtoxqvrcoFm-NhwkJaWK81AOIaRV6/s320/20221114_180351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the walk, there was a BBQ held at the home of one of the Hash members, whose work contract has finished in the Solomon Islands. This provided a great opportunity for the Territorial Leaders to socialise with one of Major Robert and Vanessa’s network of friends. One of the unique rituals at Hash is the ‘circle up’ after each walk where newbies are welcomed and weekly nominations are made for several fun categories, with nominees subjected to a raucous rendition of the Hash group jingle. Consequently, the Colonels were invited to join the other newbies for this ritual. Let’s just say the lyrics of the jingle would be more suited to a public bar than the THQ board room! If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, Major Robert was also included in an unexpected and slightly irreverent ‘naming ceremony’ where he was dubbed “Dog Handler” in response to his recent dog attack. Fortunately, all this frivolity was taken with good humour by the Territorial Leaders, who really enjoyed the time of recreation and social interaction with a terrific group of people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-49925538615499942612022-11-30T18:17:00.005-08:002022-11-30T19:10:17.572-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 2)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Holiness Meeting & House Cry</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday, 13th November 2022</span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw6wWyZUQyMsBJeJpvMWU33Fr9rJnyu44l5Bap4vrIeJs8q5g3nIQhvNwuqjZUQ89-8cp4dlRzA8Di4q06bgKq1ZhDt6tw6QAivtkPgh8tPIgaqVDewuEmq6KqnRqRo1AMnVFo0fA79JNbCdIHC0i0jA7_AZL8HqhYewJj7Rglm1X6bCC-eAu8o6W/s4032/IMG_5209.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw6wWyZUQyMsBJeJpvMWU33Fr9rJnyu44l5Bap4vrIeJs8q5g3nIQhvNwuqjZUQ89-8cp4dlRzA8Di4q06bgKq1ZhDt6tw6QAivtkPgh8tPIgaqVDewuEmq6KqnRqRo1AMnVFo0fA79JNbCdIHC0i0jA7_AZL8HqhYewJj7Rglm1X6bCC-eAu8o6W/s320/IMG_5209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>On Sunday morning, 170 Salvationists gathered at the new Honiara City Council Multipurpose Hall for a combined Holiness Meeting with the Territorial Leaders. This venue was chosen to provide more space for the expanded congregation and to allow additional time for a fellowship lunch after the service. The Territorial Leaders were led into the service by the same cultural dancers and timbrelists that greeted them at the airport. After an official welcome by the District Officer, the Honiara Corps Worship Team led an opening time of vibrant praise and worship, displaying the spiritual fervour of the congregation. A number of items were presented during the service by the Children & Youth and Brass Band Learners from Honiara Corps. Testimonies were shared by two representatives from the Malaita and Western Provinces - Envoy Judith Akwasitaloa (Gateway Corps) and Kendrick Lonisasa (Barakoma New Opening). YPSM Webster Buakalo presented an engaging children’s story to 40 energetic pikinini, who are an active part of the life of the Corps.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the highlights of the Holiness Meeting was the enrolment of five Soldiers from Honiara Corps and a Soldier from Rauai Fellowship, including the acknowledgement of 15 new recruits from Vella Lavella, Western Province, who recently completed their Soldiership Classes and are now awaiting enrolment upon a return visit by the Area Officers. Another highlight was the commissioning of two Local Officers from Honiara Corps - Martha Hakolo as Corps Secretary and Mitlyn Taba’a as Corps Treasurer. Festus Ganiomea was to be commissioned as Corps Sergeant Major but was absent due to a sudden death in his family that morning. Colonel Garth spoke powerfully from Ezekiel 37:1-10, asserting, <i>“Our greatest need in this territory, is personal and corporate holiness.” </i> The Holy Spirit spoke through his message, prompting 38 people to respond by coming down to the altar for prayer. After the final song, Major Vanessa acknowledged the visit of the Territorial Leaders by presenting on behalf of the Solomon Islands District the original artwork commissioned for the 10th Anniversary, depicting The Salvation Army flag by local artist Riaz Maninga. Envoy Alick Hagi presented a wood carving of a turtle on behalf of the Provinces and Auxiliary Captain Wency Ramo’oroa presented shell money on behalf of Honiara Corps. These gifts are a cultural expression of appreciation and honour, demonstrating to visitors how much they are valued.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D7ALIWlb_vUgi0dCeHNksDtK4lemTGiD1lc_pardHeiN--z1Wl7E6NGDuIxQ2uKgyVHlz007QFX2FYCwStCl7bh6tl77Tzr5Wmlg5TuN4_SH4PJA-0ok7qCH9GV8-EZ_AK1o0aXj5I8jmEOqikDa9w5IaGIz0X_IqPn-hdMP15s1XIJzbPLO9pB_/s4096/20221113_125728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D7ALIWlb_vUgi0dCeHNksDtK4lemTGiD1lc_pardHeiN--z1Wl7E6NGDuIxQ2uKgyVHlz007QFX2FYCwStCl7bh6tl77Tzr5Wmlg5TuN4_SH4PJA-0ok7qCH9GV8-EZ_AK1o0aXj5I8jmEOqikDa9w5IaGIz0X_IqPn-hdMP15s1XIJzbPLO9pB_/w452-h254/20221113_125728.jpg" width="452" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The scheduled evening activity of an Open Air Outreach at Borderline was cancelled due to the death of the brother of a member of the District Team. Instead, the decision was made to release the Corps to attend the ‘House Cry’ as an expression of support and care for the Ganiomea family. Colonels Garth and Patti were gracious and understanding of this change to the program, willingly accompanying the District Officers to engage in this pastoral response. A ‘house cry’ is a Melanesian cultural response to grief where family and community members gather together at the deceased’s home to mourn prior to the funeral and burial. The house cry will usually consist of singing and storytelling to celebrate the life of the deceased and to acknowledge the hope that is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, followed by feasting from the food contributed by those who gather. It is common for a house cry to go until the early hours of the morning. However, once the Corps Officers arrived at the house, a natural handover occurred, allowing the District and Territorial Leaders to leave after spending an hour with the family, so they were home at a reasonable hour. The change of program and attendance of the Territorial and District Leaders was deeply appreciated by Festus and his wider family. It also released the Corps leaders from the tension between fulfilling their cultural and church duties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-3493754917989815682022-11-30T18:09:00.000-08:002022-11-30T18:09:47.158-08:00Solomon Islands District - Territorial Leaders Visit (Day 1)<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arrival & Welcome</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday, 12th November 2022</span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKNJDMQX0CeTqhZUq9mwgx5B2ccFQ5GBTRbbbLOE260AQZ6oEy_mGRefEUiDdkfwNX_a5tfxPai1tkXcIUamLAWiveYvVAdB71u8TfMZKsDBhbFjPI9oXFVQq2urK7LFg9XEb7BYIHE7IMnjVgCl7sd6aHUUueEghJtw-F0v89U7RoD3AuoHznk1g/s4096/20221112_141948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKNJDMQX0CeTqhZUq9mwgx5B2ccFQ5GBTRbbbLOE260AQZ6oEy_mGRefEUiDdkfwNX_a5tfxPai1tkXcIUamLAWiveYvVAdB71u8TfMZKsDBhbFjPI9oXFVQq2urK7LFg9XEb7BYIHE7IMnjVgCl7sd6aHUUueEghJtw-F0v89U7RoD3AuoHznk1g/w174-h227/20221112_141948.jpg" width="174" /></a></div>The opening of Solomon Islands borders on July 1st 2022 provided a long-awaited opportunity for the Territorial Leaders of the Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands Territory to visit the Solomon Islands District for the first time. Colonels Garth and Patti Niemand arrived in Honiara on Saturday, 12th November where they were greeted by District Officers, Majors Robert and Vanessa Evans and Honiara Corps Officers, Auxiliary Captains Wency and Fostina Ramo’oroa. They were then led to the leaf hut out front of Henderson Airport by Major Vanessa and Auxiliary Captain Fostina through a guard of honour, lined with Malaitan dancers and Salvation Army timbrelists from Honiara Corps, for a cultural welcome from an enthusiastic group of Salvationists from across the District.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A small Welcome Service was conducted under the leaf hut, which attracted the attention of other travellers and locals mingling at the airport, who were captivated by the blended sight of Salvation Army uniforms and cultural dress, accompanied by the joyful sound of singing and timbrels. As the Colonels entered the leaf hut, they were presented traditional floral lei’s by two Honiara Corps youth, with the Solomon Islands District flag waving proudly in the background. Woven bamboo fans and cold coconuts were also provided as an expression of hospitality to keep the visitors cool in the tropical heat. After the cultural dances and timbrel display, Western Province Area Officer Envoy Alick Hagi extended words of welcome to Colonels Garth and Patti on behalf the District, which was followed by a time of worship led by Nominee Jimley Fafaluta from Gateway Corps in North Malaita. Major Robert then offered further words of welcome to everybody gathered and appreciation to the welcome party for their fitting reception of the Territorial Leaders.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An overview of the program for the week was provided, which included: Combined Holiness Meeting at Honiara Corps, Corps Fellowship Lunch, Street Outreach (Sunday); District Review, Honiara Hash House Harriers Walk (Monday); Reusable Sanitary Kits Sewing Group & Social Enterprise Workshop, City Cultural Tour, Prayer Meeting (Tuesday); Mission Support Project & Learning Space Visit, Social Enterprise & Social Justice Network Visits, Lunch with Catholic Archbishop, Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony (Wednesday); Officer’s & Nominees Retreat (Thursday—Saturday).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswlUXeD1bOPgcqRlu_VcAMLFUVBHskdfQ4ECOilA9-AxphJ2XFDVbc9sLHjWkffb-9npp_Pfp5nPZGilZ0i2pqBtrjgJPXH4SQva6oEmcK8paFr6slrsiQqEsVjm5EAJqBiUEFVP0baEzSOACkyyRq96KNp827-sD-NLHR-Hvv5fGbvCPl2nhj0W6/s4096/20221112_143820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="4096" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswlUXeD1bOPgcqRlu_VcAMLFUVBHskdfQ4ECOilA9-AxphJ2XFDVbc9sLHjWkffb-9npp_Pfp5nPZGilZ0i2pqBtrjgJPXH4SQva6oEmcK8paFr6slrsiQqEsVjm5EAJqBiUEFVP0baEzSOACkyyRq96KNp827-sD-NLHR-Hvv5fGbvCPl2nhj0W6/w509-h287/20221112_143820.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Colonel Garth responded to the welcome with gratitude and joy for the opportunity to meet Solomon Islands Salvationists in person, at long last. He referred to the theme of the 10th Anniversary last year - ’Greater Things’ - to acknowledge the wonderful work God is doing in the Solomon Islands District. Major Vanessa brought the Welcome Service to a close with a time of united prayer in the Solomon way. The Colonels were then driven by the District Officers to their motel accommodation, which gave them a first-hand insight into the deteriorating road and traffic conditions of Honiara, especially following 24 hours of torrential rain! A gift basket awaited the Territorial Leaders in their motel room, providing a selection of local products from the Solomon Islands, good coffee from PNG and a few other items to make their stay comfortable. The District Officers then rejoined the Territorial Leaders for dinner later that evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-17890550684996059222022-11-01T05:00:00.003-07:002022-11-07T01:35:17.682-08:00Solomon Islands District - PNG Southern Region Congress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9rlVcPebD9R5xW0XlNYfleC6T_bxPZCe_-bUzah6U3zI50RSE1L2ZY4dbfknWO7epd__DYSiRrjkC6euBX899G5qHrtmNrCcPn1FB5O4QMBZIoIer5K3_kMnNMy8PuqKLgOZNuYHMIQKiUgNtMH02ABnzptbQFLGRq1w0_iE8el1DAxJWwhkIy0n/s2048/312948737_442070128046701_5457034154533320754_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9rlVcPebD9R5xW0XlNYfleC6T_bxPZCe_-bUzah6U3zI50RSE1L2ZY4dbfknWO7epd__DYSiRrjkC6euBX899G5qHrtmNrCcPn1FB5O4QMBZIoIer5K3_kMnNMy8PuqKLgOZNuYHMIQKiUgNtMH02ABnzptbQFLGRq1w0_iE8el1DAxJWwhkIy0n/w445-h251/312948737_442070128046701_5457034154533320754_n.jpg" width="445" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Major Robert and Vanessa, along with Auxiliary Captain Wency and Fostina, travelled to Port Moresby to attend the PNG Southern Region Congress that hosted a visit from the World Leaders of The Salvation Army, General Brian & Commissioner Rosalie Peddle. The Congress commenced on Thursday, 27th October with Offer’s Councils, where Officers from South Central Division, South East Division, Gulf District, Solomon Islands District came together for two sessions of worship, teaching and fellowship. The first public Congress meeting ‘Celebrating the Southern Way’ was on Friday evening, which featured a night of praise and worship, cultural items, and a message by the General. On Saturday morning, Salvationists from around the Southern Region gathered at THQ for a March of Witness around Boroko, followed by an Open Air at Centre Point. The Koki Corps Brass Band, along with a combined Timbrel Brigade, led a procession of hundreds of enthusiastic uniformed Soldiers that snaked around the streets of Boroko, offering the public an impressive sight. The real impression, though, was the presentation of God’s Word though song, drama, testimony and a salvation message. In the evening, the Children and Youth were featured in a Praise & Worship meeting, presenting some very creative items that included cultural dances, timbrels and an amazing silhouette performance. The final public meeting on Sunday morning was a Holiness Meeting, which attracted the largest crowd for the weekend. Like with the previous events, the pre-worship had people up dancing and singing with great passion and cultural pride. Koki Corps Band and a Divisional Worship Team supported the congregational singing, with the Cadets presenting a skit for the children’s segment and a combined Sunday Schools reading the Scripture before the General gave his final message. One of the highlights of the Holiness Meeting was the mass enrolment of 84 Senior Soldiers and 67 Junior Soldiers from all over the Southern Region. The other highlight was the public acknowledgement of Auxiliary Captain Wency and Fostina as the first non-commissioned Officers of the Solomon Islands by the Territorial Commander, with the General praying a prayer of blessing over them both.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbRMgtxuoXtXbZLyKlmMx0tRUVTmZU-W099cBwJXwcNs3bky04C572Tg1Nospel-OvitKbaGkPKQVnEtVlqQG1qbkH6ohMkZghO30WFTSRKjnINmrZFTIhOAGdFc7xneTDe6PktEzaXJTUFFfTq0gAvuUxQbGP9V8D-4UusRMbw5scSciTqVgs6fy/s603/General%20&%20Solomons%20Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="603" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbRMgtxuoXtXbZLyKlmMx0tRUVTmZU-W099cBwJXwcNs3bky04C572Tg1Nospel-OvitKbaGkPKQVnEtVlqQG1qbkH6ohMkZghO30WFTSRKjnINmrZFTIhOAGdFc7xneTDe6PktEzaXJTUFFfTq0gAvuUxQbGP9V8D-4UusRMbw5scSciTqVgs6fy/w455-h243/General%20&%20Solomons%20Team.jpg" width="455" /></a></div></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Reflection written by Auxiliary Captain Wency & Fostina Ramo'oroa...</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we heard that we were required to be at THQ for the General’s Visit we were very excited and looked forward to attending the program and anticipating to see and experience greater things that God is going to do in our lives during the program. While we were very excited about the news of going to PNG, we did have some doubts in our preparations which gave us less hope whether or not we will be able to attend the program because our visas were not ready. Even on the last working day of that week before we flew on Sunday to Port Moresby, I was waiting for an email from THQ confirming the approval of our visas. However, at about 5:00pm I received a message from our District Officer advising that our visas were finally granted. Praise God. Anyway, the rest is history. The program had three parts to it. The first part was a Welcome program at the Airport, the second was the Officer’s Councils and third was the Congress.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aux Capt Fostina had a great experience during the program. She was well received by the Officers, including our Territorial Leaders, and they encouraged her a lot in her ministry. Their hospitality and kind gestures made her feel at home and feel that she is part of a wider loving and caring Army. She was quite surprised by the infrastructure in PNG, including THQ. But most of all, she was deeply moved and encouraged by the messages shared by the General and Commissioner and also the skits by other groups during the program. As a newly emerging member and leader in The Salvation Army, those messages have motivated her to see and evaluate herself, especially her spiritual wellbeing. She also acknowledged that even though her understanding of English is very low, she seemed to grasp most of what had been said. She was also blessed and privileged to meet with General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle in person.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, both of us are new in this space. This is our first time to attend what is called Officer’s Councils and Congress. We did not know what Officer’s Councils was all about and what the congress looked like in The Salvation Army context. However, attending the program during the weekend gave us more insight into The Salvation Army programs. We are so thrilled with what we have seen and experienced during the weekend. We also feel that God has spoken to us during the weekend through what we have seen, heard and felt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the weekend, we met some officers and cadets and they were very generous to us by encouraging us in our ministry and especially about life at the Officer’s Training College (OTC); something that shed some hope for Aux Capt Fostina, as she is in a preparation stage for our journey to the OTC. Nothing more is so enjoyable than being in the presence of the Lord with those who share the same values, faith and are on the same journey. We learned a lot during the weekend about many things. Some of the things were very new to us while other things are an encouragement of what we have already seen. This opens our eyes to see the bigger picture of the wider Salvation Army. For us, we come from a country where some people know little about The Salvation Army and others know nothing about The Salvation Army. So our participation through the congress will help us to lead the Army in our own country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We experienced some challenges during our stay for this program. But in the midst of those challenges, God has spoken to us powerfully to live a life of servant leadership and to accept those challenges as an encouragement on our journey of faith. Above all, we are very grateful to God for His unconditional love and faithfulness upon our lives as He leads us down this pathway of our Christian Journey. We give God all the glory, honour and praise for great things He has done. Amen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_ORCcobvKVIX-RBlceb2SW8rBalApRqztL0FBMC28GZabXL6Ntcy74RkAG14ggTkOBmUFriXPuLXX4mOAU0fJR5NWNZ8XVhLFSiLxklahXxoxcjbyDKy_QK7EngX6n_g5lftKa__QKucVEpj8wDdzpM88GWAAawetJ161ouJOUilSs3kgK0kaPN6/s2048/312606875_10229957858277666_3423775239239751526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_ORCcobvKVIX-RBlceb2SW8rBalApRqztL0FBMC28GZabXL6Ntcy74RkAG14ggTkOBmUFriXPuLXX4mOAU0fJR5NWNZ8XVhLFSiLxklahXxoxcjbyDKy_QK7EngX6n_g5lftKa__QKucVEpj8wDdzpM88GWAAawetJ161ouJOUilSs3kgK0kaPN6/w447-h251/312606875_10229957858277666_3423775239239751526_n.jpg" width="447" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-1066417756270541082022-10-24T05:00:00.001-07:002022-10-24T17:50:38.723-07:00Spiritual Formation Journal - Chapter 6<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Master of Transformational Development</span></h3><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><i>Community Development</i></h4><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although this semester is the final chapter in my academic ‘Master of Transformational Development’ journey at Eastern College Australia, it marks a transition in the unfolding journey of personal and professional transformation that will continue long after graduation. In continuity with Romans 12:1-2, throughout this journey I have quite literally been <i>“transformed by the renewing of [my] mind,”</i> spiritually, culturally, and intellectually, which has affirmed <i>“God’s good, pleasing and perfect will”</i> through my calling as a Salvation Army Officer to serve in a cross-cultural context and awakened within me a deeper self-awareness and sense of God’s providence in this space. The application of this transformative journey to my mission and ministry over the past three years cannot be overstated, as it has contributed significantly to the growth and development of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I embark on my research paper for this final subject – ‘Community Development’ – I am aware that development is also an ongoing process of transformation towards a preferred or desired state of well-being. Unfortunately, in much of the western world, a state of well-being has become defined by the pursuit of more at the detriment of the symbiotic relationships that sustain us. In contrast, the process of framing my research topic within a Melanesian understanding of ‘shalom’ has revealed that community well-being in a Pacific context has more to do with maintaining right relationships than accumulating wealth or establishing programs and projects. The richness of the term ‘shalom’ is captured well by the Melanesian terms <b>‘gutpela sindaun’</b> (PNG) and <b>‘stap gud’</b> (SI), describing fullness of life, no conflict or division, peaceful existence, love and joy in community (community well-being), holistic well-being. It is noteworthy, the lack of material wealth or modernisation expressed by these definitions. It is going to be a fascinating journey of discovery to explore how these cultural definitions influence village aspirations for development at a grassroots level and how this compares or contrasts with national and foreign development agendas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is the relational dimension of well-being that has spoken into my journey of personal transformation throughout this course of study while leading the growth and development of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands. Reflecting back on an Executive Leadership Development Program I completed a number of years ago, I recall an assessment of leadership blind spots, identifying that the gap between my stimulus and response to be very quick, which can be a real asset leading in a crisis. However, it can be somewhat of a barrier in facilitating local participation and teamwork in any leadership or community development context, which requires much more attention to the process than results. Process is the space where relationships are nurtured or neglected! It doesn’t matter how much material benefit community development promises if it doesn’t nurture holistic relationships within and between communities, with the environment and with the Creator. As a product of a results-driven culture, with a task-oriented personality and a default disposition towards problem solving, lingering too long in the messiness of process is not my natural or preferred leadership habitat. However, I find myself as an unwitting actor in some divine comedy frequently dwelling in this space in my current vocational context. And when that space creates what I consider to be unnecessary drama, I also find myself trying to change the script. Yet, it is in the state of process that a mutual transformation is actually taking place. With a growing self-awareness and appreciation for the value of process, along with the intrinsic and inviolable nature of relationships for human flourishing and community development, I am becoming a much more willing actor in the ‘dramedy’. Though, I must confess that this is very much a work in progress!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is no mistake, then, that Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) <i>“stresses a ‘relationship driven’ strategy that works on building and rebuilding relationships within and among community groups”</i> (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993). This strategy is foundational to my research methodology and is reshaping the way I evaluate and manage existing mission development projects initiated by The Salvation Army. I am looking forward to how the results of my research will inform the process of future community engagement in villages where we are nurturing mission and ministry partnerships.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:4-6)</i></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-30889834086488345852022-10-01T05:00:00.056-07:002022-10-20T04:05:57.380-07:00Solomon Islands District - Renewal Campaign (East Are'are & South Malaita)<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Report written by CSM Festus Ganiomea...</b></i><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHerePTueCAsra_lZQjnTRPAqQtDLTDIyBm3FqvRuav-BDAgwfCAbJan2E-f-eM8S4r_K6zAcdfE2h1YpqmBo-6Z1eqdia9UxDDf_6vk46zGOH0JTOZMReP9gWLGC1I1Ycm4_np1hOhq1C7DnlMpn_8_gxIqCxuWaOFytzNtpd0CAvjclpf0a-8fhs" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="449" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHerePTueCAsra_lZQjnTRPAqQtDLTDIyBm3FqvRuav-BDAgwfCAbJan2E-f-eM8S4r_K6zAcdfE2h1YpqmBo-6Z1eqdia9UxDDf_6vk46zGOH0JTOZMReP9gWLGC1I1Ycm4_np1hOhq1C7DnlMpn_8_gxIqCxuWaOFytzNtpd0CAvjclpf0a-8fhs=w123-h104" width="123" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our mission to Moscom and Fouele was truly a challenge for us over the past weeks of the District Renewal Campaign for the recommitment of Soldiers. The trip cost a lot in both finance and physical strength, but through the grace and strength of our God Himself, we managed to successfully complete the campaign. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We began our mission on the 24th August 2022, when Michael Rautiku and I boarded the MV Ortega and left Honiara for Moscom through a three-day journey trip. We reached Moscom on the 27th August 2022 at 11:00pm and we had a rest for that night.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Sunday, 28th August we joined the morning devotion before we began our campaign during the main service, where Michael had the privilege of preaching. His sermon was based on Romans 12 and he challenged the congregation on the journey of their Christian life. Right after the sermon I began the campaign based on the standards of a Salvationist and Soldier in The Salvation Army.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Monday, 29th August after we had breakfast, Michael and I went over to check on the Solar Freezer Project and reinstalled the faulty device that was first installed and was damaged. We checked to see that everything is functioning well again. After the work, we just rested for the whole day and prepared for travelling on the next day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS09wFPDaf301b63Eqpo_getUmhhVZkREPwtBBQzkzbwADlsvBm4dp_4ETylJQfjPG2dyZg3Qsos834DYZvDizPugXVvzSlr8NUZlou9HnzhyhfrJ8BIVDpU5gDwsG0RKB3VlQbCm9hxHYn4WVH-oVMDgyBqSOi6kes6CT3CH73ThTMk7uAnop_Apd/s2560/20220607_151930.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1152" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS09wFPDaf301b63Eqpo_getUmhhVZkREPwtBBQzkzbwADlsvBm4dp_4ETylJQfjPG2dyZg3Qsos834DYZvDizPugXVvzSlr8NUZlou9HnzhyhfrJ8BIVDpU5gDwsG0RKB3VlQbCm9hxHYn4WVH-oVMDgyBqSOi6kes6CT3CH73ThTMk7uAnop_Apd/w186-h413/20220607_151930.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>Tuesday morning of 30th August, at about 10:00am, Michael and I, accompanied by other men and women from Moscom church, travelled to Fouele. We hired somebody from another community to be our skipper due to the rough sea. It took us four hours to travel from Moscom to Fouele, arriving around 2:00pm in the afternoon. In the evening, Michael and I joined the evening devotion and we called it a night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday, 31st August our next campaign session was held at Fouele congregation. We began our service at 10:00am and I had the opportunity to deliver a sermon and present the campaign standards of Soldiership to the congregation of Fouele. In the evening, we showed a film to the congregation about heaven and hell, which really attracted other surrounding churches to attend the film. After the film, two brothers from the Anglican Church surrendered their lives to accept Christ for the first time, which was a great impact of our mission to this community in South Malaita.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thursday, 1st September at about 8:00am in the morning, Michael and I travelled back to Moscom with other members of Moscom church who accompanied us. The weather during the day was not really fine, so we had to patiently face the heavy rain and rough sea until we reached Moscom at 2:00pm. Later that evening, we showed the heaven and hell film to the congregation at Moscom until late that night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VlC2Sv1i0v3UBD6hyJ0UehHs62s94-ujhjswqTqtDtuZwwyNvPA6crFn7zUIMARMWnP5LWfqr0LpaBC0VpmrzOPlZKRdzHQtAgAjH92Z56tFFGoXbLozH4NVPpeAIbuOJvTgFN3pFvrs_09nn3HyQ34TLNeeuU6eJ7Cl0hgsA63GLBhXCdG-PcOU/s2560/20220606_091928.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1152" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VlC2Sv1i0v3UBD6hyJ0UehHs62s94-ujhjswqTqtDtuZwwyNvPA6crFn7zUIMARMWnP5LWfqr0LpaBC0VpmrzOPlZKRdzHQtAgAjH92Z56tFFGoXbLozH4NVPpeAIbuOJvTgFN3pFvrs_09nn3HyQ34TLNeeuU6eJ7Cl0hgsA63GLBhXCdG-PcOU/w165-h367/20220606_091928.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>On Friday, 2nd September, Michael and I boarded a ship and headed back to Honiara. We left Moscom around 10:00am and arrived in Honiara on Sunday, 4th September at 3:00pm. During the three day journey we experienced heavy rain and rough sea but we managed to arrive safely home. Some of the challenges we faced during the mission included our physical strength, as we were sometimes so tired and weary, yet we managed to complete the mission. During our stay at Moscom and Fouele we had to meet our own meals without depending on the community. Also, fuel shortage led to high price of fuel.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The mission to Moscom and Fouele brought a really great impact to these two places. The feedback received mentioned that after the campaign church leaders and members began to live according to the standards and way of a Salvation Army Soldier. It showed that the campaign brought back the life that we should be like Jesus in our Christian life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael and I saw the mission as miracles, because both of us were sick during the time we were ready to leave but the moment we stepped into the field we were healed. All we have to say is ‘to God be the glory, great things He has done!’</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-42237899839834444762022-10-01T05:00:00.041-07:002022-10-20T03:43:41.037-07:00Solomon Islands District - Renewal Campaign (West Kwara'ae & Fataleka)<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Report written by Envoy Alick Hagi...</i></b><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihPWaI__abbIlhQPv-UkzqaGv3vrKqcTrG_WjpHIJRd7-Zs0gLfQqjTN4ro4q1hMrzTxZsnJtb9A2aLf-ji1nAtL9m_7oNAjbGU4erRH8y_2__f09SI1gR1nNgbQ9xAWmacTkBfkGID5h8FFHPOge_IhfLKKvCsR-N0UQNLLJAQ9im2zrLb3Z6pIU6" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="452" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihPWaI__abbIlhQPv-UkzqaGv3vrKqcTrG_WjpHIJRd7-Zs0gLfQqjTN4ro4q1hMrzTxZsnJtb9A2aLf-ji1nAtL9m_7oNAjbGU4erRH8y_2__f09SI1gR1nNgbQ9xAWmacTkBfkGID5h8FFHPOge_IhfLKKvCsR-N0UQNLLJAQ9im2zrLb3Z6pIU6=w200-h91" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the District geared up for the ‘Called to be a Soldier’ renewal campaign there were lots of disrupting factors. The first being the delay in receiving our grant for travelling and second the delay of ‘Called to be a Soldier’ books arriving on time.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My trip to Rauai had two purposes; first to respond to a leadership crisis in the congregation and the second to conduct the renewal campaign. Given the importance of this trip, I had to travel despite the delay of the books and recommitment cards. So, as soon as the grant hit our account, I was the first to take off to Malaita Province and up to Rauai. I arrived in Auki on 15th August 2022, but the truck that travel to Rauai was overloaded so I was not able to board. I slept overnight at Kwainaketo with one of our youth from Honiara Corps who was in Malaita. The very next day we came back to Auki by taxi to catch the vehicle that travels to Rauai. We got there early so we could get a proper seat. We got off at Anokelo village and some youth from Rauai were there to meet us. They wore their Salvation Army blue t-shirt and carried our bags and goods up to Rauai. It was almost an hour walk from Anokelo to Rauai.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhacIU8Z6LUYC5QlhOKrjU7s9QHXDQe9AbgwpNAv8hb0f8_letu1vFYbtwnu7q8Zor8FJHdz-TPVsmChMOYdMB8Q5FgC8HDW-kSRRgMZN3YqrZ-L1HlGgPZs3BqmwIYxoRaRI747gkaXKNbw06AH-bvFqy0gEWfMYRufH2HxS2PAqtBu4JEvBWLW3lb" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhacIU8Z6LUYC5QlhOKrjU7s9QHXDQe9AbgwpNAv8hb0f8_letu1vFYbtwnu7q8Zor8FJHdz-TPVsmChMOYdMB8Q5FgC8HDW-kSRRgMZN3YqrZ-L1HlGgPZs3BqmwIYxoRaRI747gkaXKNbw06AH-bvFqy0gEWfMYRufH2HxS2PAqtBu4JEvBWLW3lb=w164-h320" width="164" /></a></div>In the evening of Tuesday 16th August 2022, I got all the Rauai congregation in the common meeting hall and confirmed the congregations’ commitment to remain a part of The Salvation Army, due to some recent unrest in the village. Their response was we are The Salvation Army church! Then on Wednesday, 17th August 2022, before I walk to Ngalifalisi with elder Kemuel, John Misitana, Pastor Clifton Siau and my wife Esther; Alban Oba came and asked if I could wait for another day. I said no, I want us to go and check the soldiers at Ngalifalisi. It was almost 5 km of walking. We got to Ngalifalisi at Seth Misitana’s house where they use to have worship. I went through the soldiers list and found that only five soldiers remained, with all others having moved out elsewhere and some to Honiara. I asked Seth’s son who keeps the house because his father went to Honiara. He is not a soldier, but I wanted to find what his thoughts were concerning The Salvation Army. He was very supportive but because his Father and Alban did not cooperate together, he and others in the community just hold back. I only find that his daughter Grima Kosi is the only faithful soldier that can walk to Rauai every Sunday to attend worship. I asked his father what if her daughter does the fellowship for them? He said it is ok and I encouraged him to support his daughter.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Sunday, 21st August 2022 we had a reconciliation service between the church leaders and the congregation. It was an emotional time as they now feel delivered from the bondage that held them captive. This event happened after I had discussions and did the ‘Called to be a Soldier’ session, where I stressed The Salvation Army’s practice, attitude and behavior. The session helped them understand what it means to be a Soldier in The Salvation Army. The service concluded and we all went to have lunch and then came back to the church and continued with our sessions 8,9 & 10. We started our after-lunch session and I had the privilege to enroll four Junior Soldiers. Then after the enrollment, I divided the church into two groups for discussion and presentation of what they learned from the sessions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2Kiu87OwBBXXmSSrCOtVZ7ucUYH38VsAU7zvzfiChlaLFVzLyElWa6D1STTtQXnjR8FGk3WxE1wAy4dHuC7GpwBiv2AVzGEwrlN4woZJGaPZ6VOQuZX9QRDEoVMzLSNdE421275DlYZ5FWsXltJcMT4OsGpT_8UWELzQH3UqF1eqIWcajj28pRJTd" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="209" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2Kiu87OwBBXXmSSrCOtVZ7ucUYH38VsAU7zvzfiChlaLFVzLyElWa6D1STTtQXnjR8FGk3WxE1wAy4dHuC7GpwBiv2AVzGEwrlN4woZJGaPZ6VOQuZX9QRDEoVMzLSNdE421275DlYZ5FWsXltJcMT4OsGpT_8UWELzQH3UqF1eqIWcajj28pRJTd=w161-h320" width="161" /></a></div>After completing the Rauai ‘Called to be a Soldier’, I left Rauai for Ramah on Wednesday, 24th August 2022 on a north road public transport. I waited for Auxiliary Captain Wency to arrive on Thursday, 25th August before going down to Ramah to collect the commitment cards. Upon arriving at Ramah, I was met by the community elder Martin Lagwai and told him that we would have our sessions in the evenings. Our first session started with the message from General Brian Peddle, then the forward content. Then I went straight into chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4. This was Thursday, 25th August 2022 in the evening. On Friday, 26th August 2022 I did another four chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8 and Saturday Evening I completed the final chapters 9, 10, 11 & 12. I was very excited that I completed the ‘Called to be a Soldier’ for Ramah in only three days and presented their commitment cards. There were only ten that received the commitment cards.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Monday I went up to my father-in-law place and had a rest while waiting to get back to Rauai on the weekend of 3rd September 2022 for the certificate presentation. I spent 5 days waiting to return back to Rauai on 3rd September 2022 just to present their commitment cards. It was a great time of celebration because two weeks ago there was a reconciliation and now I am back to present them their commitment cards. Grima Kosi, the only faithful Soldier from Ngalifalisi, always walks 4 km to Rauai for Sunday worship. She came with her younger brother who is interested to become a Junior Soldier. She received her card from congregation leader Pastor Clifton Siau. I encouraged Grima Kosi to do house fellowship with the family. Her Father is very supportive of The Salvation Army and so her first Sunday, 28th August 2022, she had seven in attendance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjx8q_nIZ6v2jVaQYoQDA93O123sUZO-Gv6OJkYNIku3M01L8uW1sumfHTc4WWbdThH_3RhwdU6CFaf68CPEBaOatSh85WsK5X0zfOZQkyCzLl03Kx8I7pCUeCbF4fliDLvyLlGOYGqThqmcpO_9NtLbNueLdma_Hlzd1sB-kzIVOyL0ZcDYqMGqGl7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="695" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjx8q_nIZ6v2jVaQYoQDA93O123sUZO-Gv6OJkYNIku3M01L8uW1sumfHTc4WWbdThH_3RhwdU6CFaf68CPEBaOatSh85WsK5X0zfOZQkyCzLl03Kx8I7pCUeCbF4fliDLvyLlGOYGqThqmcpO_9NtLbNueLdma_Hlzd1sB-kzIVOyL0ZcDYqMGqGl7=w400-h240" width="400" /></a></div><br />I presented the recommitment cards to the Soldiers who attended the 12 sessions of ‘Called to be a Soldier’. Rauai had a total of 53 soldiers, but only 28 in total received their recommitment card, as the others had gone to Honiara.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-91681568248681382022022-10-01T05:00:00.001-07:002022-10-20T03:25:48.927-07:00Solomon Islands District - Renewal Campaign (Honiara & North Malaita)<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Report written by Aux Capt Wency Ramo'oroa...</b></i></div><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzsp0Y_cfmngsS_S0WtO35CpqFxSYzSFPAaIuSPob7Vw85JyPremqUOkE7BnebTya_PzPX-jVMlnscLBym2BS3_wkYbzDiD01p8swffAl1I9y0ww2d5TwWdL2SwDpQNHgI3gLEJZugKUusvUdtdGGQTGF4pGsiy2zSFBiHmCyMzyDKLnLetHLFMWA3" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="215" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzsp0Y_cfmngsS_S0WtO35CpqFxSYzSFPAaIuSPob7Vw85JyPremqUOkE7BnebTya_PzPX-jVMlnscLBym2BS3_wkYbzDiD01p8swffAl1I9y0ww2d5TwWdL2SwDpQNHgI3gLEJZugKUusvUdtdGGQTGF4pGsiy2zSFBiHmCyMzyDKLnLetHLFMWA3=w124-h123" width="124" /></a></div>In the month of August 2022 the Solomon Islands District focused on its renewal campaign throughout the District. This renewal campaign is very crucial for the District in order to maintain and uphold the values, practices and culture of The Salvation Army as a church, considering the level of growth in our District. Furthermore, for the current Soldiers to reflect on their covenant and renew it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before we went out for the renewal campaign we went through a spiritual warfare with sickness and delay of some essential resources for the program, which caused us to delay the renewal campaign trip until almost the end of the month. Auxiliary Captain Fostina and I went out to North Malaita covering Gateway and Kafomauri congregations. We travelled on the 25th of August 2022 and arrived at Gateway evening the same day and were well received by the congregations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I opened our session on Friday morning with a sermon about living a life of Holiness to set the tone for the weekend from 2 Peter 1:3-4. We structured our campaign into four sessions: The first session on Friday morning, second session Friday afternoon, third session Friday evening and the fourth session Saturday morning. We took the congregations through “Called to be a Soldier” thoroughly to make sure they understood the message clearly. During the sessions it was very emotional for others as this message challenge them deeply. There were some who wrestled with this teaching trying to figure out a way forward for their lives. But in the midst of the deep emotional feeling they were wrestling with, God was at work and I saw the evidence of it on Sunday morning during our Holiness meeting when the Soldiers willingly signed their renewal cards. It was clearly expressed during and throughout the sessions that this is the message that they were waiting for. This teaching was very timely for them as they are approaching an unprecedented time where some of them almost abandoned their covenant. One of the Soldiers speaking in tears said that he regretted that his family did not come with him to attend the program. He said that for those who have their partners and their children with them for the program are so fortunate to hear this timely teaching.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2ZWJs08TvFsStD8srAoDO8ZKK7sAk45HcfrUodJS2N197dekfaYFVnRkLikbRgu2jEVRw0wCFlLslFipuQO7g66PRSIjW8soXaj7MQ4YjE0xjbT4mT4Kbg0BZgQont5_E74TPNf1P0wUYaZ011FhuwH0rbaMZ2pZQmV5JpmcGzrvaC0i1a-0W4YWi" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="385" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2ZWJs08TvFsStD8srAoDO8ZKK7sAk45HcfrUodJS2N197dekfaYFVnRkLikbRgu2jEVRw0wCFlLslFipuQO7g66PRSIjW8soXaj7MQ4YjE0xjbT4mT4Kbg0BZgQont5_E74TPNf1P0wUYaZ011FhuwH0rbaMZ2pZQmV5JpmcGzrvaC0i1a-0W4YWi" width="320" /></a></div>During the session we had good times of asking and answering of questions to clear the doubts of others especially about our behaviours and practices. It is clear that a consistency of teachings about our behaviours and practices is mostly needed in our newly established congregations so that they will uphold and protect the integrity of our newly emerging church. This teaching helped them to understand the importance of the covenant that they have signed and the level of commitment needed from each soldier in upholding what they have committed to. After the completion of the “Called to be a Soldier” teaching in the afternoon of Saturday we prepared for the Sunday holiness meeting. The period after the teaching and before the signing of the renewal cards, I asked the congregations to prayerful think about the message we heard during the teaching while they prepare themselves for renewing their covenant during the Holiness meeting. I preached from Luke 9:57-62 on the theme “No regret”, encouraging the congregations to make a serious decision that they will never regret. This message was very fitting as we concluded our renewal campaign.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the Holiness meeting, I had the privilege to dedicate the outboard motor with the boat that was given to Kafomauri as part of resourcing them to advance the mission of The Salvation Army in North Malaita. That OBM was made possible through the Mission Project Support funds from International Headquarters. We finished our Program with a time of celebration and feasting. Both churches were very happy and thankful to God for such a program. Kafomauri congregation then returned home after feasting on Sunday evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZxY1Yb3t64RalIUboWo5RCfc1DfUwOiP5EPXc6p9YPowIa5_gLxtMpS8a6cO91wKM-kh5v_aTiyQ6tqGq1uHxrZ5k6fDJRHtr3YOaeOznPrnuv-HLdMQsbs8za1_ltknSzPl1iOXdN1sk9BjMrVD4MvqjYSHBMn1DxYbOOrsHzxA5Y5q3hHerAhWN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="695" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZxY1Yb3t64RalIUboWo5RCfc1DfUwOiP5EPXc6p9YPowIa5_gLxtMpS8a6cO91wKM-kh5v_aTiyQ6tqGq1uHxrZ5k6fDJRHtr3YOaeOznPrnuv-HLdMQsbs8za1_ltknSzPl1iOXdN1sk9BjMrVD4MvqjYSHBMn1DxYbOOrsHzxA5Y5q3hHerAhWN=w210-h126" width="210" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrROqwbgpqKjo1brPIGfG2XOoIfI4QPW4Z_FZoifioe1oRBa3-OJlII2yovvbaY2SCINgp9q-osjCL34HVRHE3jSBfffS6o2o8ibdeqhizmvEzaeXpncgD_OJnkT8mrnjzRFV_NpBJFC_-vK9tHyAZejrBmX72IU7aAQEN876QRuZrqLFrKfzU5bfE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="696" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrROqwbgpqKjo1brPIGfG2XOoIfI4QPW4Z_FZoifioe1oRBa3-OJlII2yovvbaY2SCINgp9q-osjCL34HVRHE3jSBfffS6o2o8ibdeqhizmvEzaeXpncgD_OJnkT8mrnjzRFV_NpBJFC_-vK9tHyAZejrBmX72IU7aAQEN876QRuZrqLFrKfzU5bfE=w213-h127" width="213" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We left Gateway on Monday morning for Auki, hoping to catch a boat in the afternoon the same day to Honiara. That plan didn’t work out because the boats were all busy with the US Navy Mercy Ship visiting Solomon Islands. We spent a day and night at Auki and boarded the ferry the next day to Honiara.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The renewal campaign for Honiara Corps will be happening very shortly. I have decided to do it in two ways. Firstly, we will do the renewal campaign in our weekday neighbourhood fellowship groups. Secondly, I am looking at doing another round of renewal campaign at HIPS school for those who can’t attend our neighbourhood fellowships. I have decided to do it this way so that all our Soldiers will have an opportunity to attend the renewal campaign program. This teaching needs to continue in our congregations to encourage and remind the Soldiers and Adherents to remain faithful to their covenant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-76702264977722888772022-06-04T05:00:00.001-07:002022-10-20T06:59:10.658-07:00Spiritual Formation Journal - Chapter 5<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Master of Transformational Development</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Leadership & Organisational Development</i></span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At the beginning of this semester, we launched the Territorial Strategic Plan for Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands Territory in the Solomon Islands. The strategic plan is based on the theme: <b>“Rebuild – Restore – Renew”</b> taken from the Scripture, <i>“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations”</i> (Isaiah 61:4). The vision driving this theme states, <i>“The Salvation Army will actively rebuild, restore and renew where a broken world needs it most.”</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the last six months, the relevance of this theme for Solomon Islands has been punctuated by the riots in November 2021, the community outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2022, proceeding lockdowns and curfews, economic hardship, China security pact, localised flooding and food shortages; all of which exacerbates the brokenness that normally plagues this nation. The impact of COVID-19 related restrictions on meeting together and travelling has greatly hindered The Salvation Army’s ability to put into effect this strategic plan in ways that come naturally to us. It has also slowed down the rapid mission growth we have experienced over the past four years. So, as an action-orientated leader, I have found this period of time to be immensely frustrating!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A time will come soon when we can return to our normal program and set into motion mission activities that will ‘rebuild’ and ‘restore’ but maybe this hiatus has given us time and space to ‘renew’. Ironically, renewal means to ‘resume an activity after an interruption’ but I sense there is space for renewal amid the interruption in this context. For me, this time has led me back to the journal I kept during our pilgrimage to the Holy Land back in 2019, just three months prior to the pandemic. At the end of each full and rich day of exploring places where Jesus walked, I spent some quiet time over a double espresso recording the experiences and insights from our adventures. Reflecting back on those experiences and insights over the past couple of months has indeed been a time of personal renewal in the absence of significant activity and adventure. Ascension Sunday this year provided me with one such moment as I recalled our trip to the Sea of Galilee to the place where Jesus reinstated Peter before His ascension into heaven. This is what I recorded in my journal on that day:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“The first location we visited today had the most profound impact on me! We travelled to the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee where Peter was reinstated by Jesus after his denial of Christ. Here the words of Jesus, “Do you love me?” spoke powerfully to me. We stood on the shore of Galilee and sang the words of Howard Davies song, “Lord, You Know That We Love You.” This was a most fitting song for a very sacred moment. Three rocks shaped as love hearts imbedded into the ground nearby added to the impact of the moment. As we sang the final verse I was overwhelmed with such deep emotion I could no longer sing but could only allow Christ to speak through the singing of the rest of our group…</i></div><i><br /></i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Lord, you know that we fail you;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our sins, how sorely they grieve you!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Many times we have fallen,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lord, lift us up again.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>May we walk to be worthy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of the call that is ours.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>May your will and your purpose</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Claim our undivided powers!”</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Following this powerful moment, I went and stood in the Sea of Galilee and allowed Christ’s deep, deep love for me flood my soul.”</i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remembering that experience in our current circumstances was a powerful challenge to me that ‘my walk may be worthy of the call that is mine’. This has also spoken into some personal conversations with Vanessa about whether we want to extend our time in the Solomon Islands for a third term of another three years. We have been wrestling with this decision, flipping back and forth between our desire as parents and duty as officers, unsure of which way we ought to go. This period of renewal and reflection has given us space to find clarity in our own spirits that our work here is not done and claim the last line of the song that spoke to me on the Sea of Galilee three years ago: <i>“May your will and your purpose claim our undivided powers!”</i> While there are processes outside of our control about whether we stay or go, we are content to say, <i>“not my will, but yours be done”</i> (Luke 22:42).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-45763127457523005662021-12-24T04:00:00.001-08:002022-10-20T05:01:39.311-07:00Solomon Islands District - Christmas Carolling<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA0JE3_di09XU-oX8U25X5M38-nd_WJj7Z_P3XWbcwZSe3p8j6wKmKFgzZTsNy7Nb1jJqoqhH7EYpcyKTVCmEpYOTAYaEsWmcjHrCSvXBVjz1sAMSXF6_ArA3ksl69OPyeNExNnsm6aOypflKw6Uoo88Gsxuyw23P2-9zuMc1U9Z0dUxkd6yodKePW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="161" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA0JE3_di09XU-oX8U25X5M38-nd_WJj7Z_P3XWbcwZSe3p8j6wKmKFgzZTsNy7Nb1jJqoqhH7EYpcyKTVCmEpYOTAYaEsWmcjHrCSvXBVjz1sAMSXF6_ArA3ksl69OPyeNExNnsm6aOypflKw6Uoo88Gsxuyw23P2-9zuMc1U9Z0dUxkd6yodKePW=w196-h155" width="196" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqJqHXX6pnnj_x9y8NjkS9kzt6Yv8qzBo5CQJbd09ZUAIoDQa5lvMueJon0foKa8rXNjkjPBQxQ59EQQ8h4sm5rRfw09eBb7Bz05ZMMfeAACqX7TIbEgnzNP8dkasrErIGawUqqepjOPIGTGSoIFbYjkXaX7CvBGY3S6ErpRsOxBWMeOc1c5pRlIab" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="161" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqJqHXX6pnnj_x9y8NjkS9kzt6Yv8qzBo5CQJbd09ZUAIoDQa5lvMueJon0foKa8rXNjkjPBQxQ59EQQ8h4sm5rRfw09eBb7Bz05ZMMfeAACqX7TIbEgnzNP8dkasrErIGawUqqepjOPIGTGSoIFbYjkXaX7CvBGY3S6ErpRsOxBWMeOc1c5pRlIab=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Immediately after weeks of busy rehearsals leading up to the 10th Anniversary weekend, the Honiara Corps Brass Band shifted focus to getting ready for Christmas carolling. This year, the brass band engaged in four evenings of carols the week prior to Christmas across 15 communities at Borderline, Gilbert Camp, Mount Austin, Green Valley, Talise Market (Honiara Central); Destiny, Rice Farm, Bethlehem, Blue Lagoon (Burns Creek, East Honiara); Christian Care Centre Women’s Refuge, Tenaru Corona Market (East Guadalcanal); Central White River, Namoruka, Upper Central, Independence Valley (White River, West Honiara).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcLch-x6mQLK8xBKcZsTEpp9zPJ2Uh708T64RhlOBg6jXn3ajD_RwyHvfDK9D80GBes6nWmN6Qsyuh_X6nqVI4woYr6FrwAqQzQcR-RG9VM5iig9EmYnRN1rGy4hskSL1P1_PqcZvr7ufxQBOFErc_l_GnsvEe74cw3zlmtae4jfLp3FkV4GG129PC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="160" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcLch-x6mQLK8xBKcZsTEpp9zPJ2Uh708T64RhlOBg6jXn3ajD_RwyHvfDK9D80GBes6nWmN6Qsyuh_X6nqVI4woYr6FrwAqQzQcR-RG9VM5iig9EmYnRN1rGy4hskSL1P1_PqcZvr7ufxQBOFErc_l_GnsvEe74cw3zlmtae4jfLp3FkV4GG129PC=w190-h226" width="190" /></a></div>In consultation with the Solomon Islands Police Support Program (SIPSP) Team Leader from New Zealand, The Salvation Army District Team offered the Christmas Carolling as a community engagement opportunity for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF). This offer was enthusiastically embraced by the RSIPF Crime Prevention Unit and supported by the NZ Police advisors and AFP personnel. Together, positive messages of ‘peace on earth, goodwill for all humankind’ were shared through singing of carols, Christmas messages spoken by Salvation Army leaders and community safety and well-being messages delivered by the RSIPF. The communities that were visited responded very well to the combined participation of The Salvation Army and Police, with community leaders at each location expressing their sincere appreciation for this form of community engagement. The presence of police alongside musical instruments was a welcomed contrast to the images of riot gear over the past few weeks of civil unrest. It was a reminder that the police are not the enemy and an invitation for communities to work together with the local authorities to maintain peaceful relationships in the uncertain days ahead.<br /><br /></div></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIfkdD0XAf2HJ1XkcKRi97w9iF2L3qrjZetbp0rv4JySzTAhJq9mL3D3FBfdJdufezll6rFccF6Udn8Wumy4bYDHSdJyzTxQUh5cfgMjdvxqa97Fiqc32DTZOeFqI5YoUs5m9IrBtZonNTaQS0ciw9C7Z-b6UEhzBSxbKo4ClldSDd28U9RW4I5iKf" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="160" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIfkdD0XAf2HJ1XkcKRi97w9iF2L3qrjZetbp0rv4JySzTAhJq9mL3D3FBfdJdufezll6rFccF6Udn8Wumy4bYDHSdJyzTxQUh5cfgMjdvxqa97Fiqc32DTZOeFqI5YoUs5m9IrBtZonNTaQS0ciw9C7Z-b6UEhzBSxbKo4ClldSDd28U9RW4I5iKf=w135-h147" width="135" /></a></div>We are very grateful to the NZ Police Advisors for taking the lead in facilitating this community engagement partnership with the RSIPF. We are also proud of the commitment and development of the brass band players, which enabled this ministry to take place. Next year, further opportunities for outreach with the brass band will be explored to build upon this community engagement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-83306529748490629602021-12-01T04:00:00.015-08:002022-10-20T02:41:54.920-07:00Solomon Islands District - 10th Anniversary<div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7URNWPKi1OWuYfA4OmfvBJgc_-lEe0K5qckGwOw3irqw6AvvKb-iAdrbwtgnmVSsqCoBjMzUWFwvbu2JniMTtjV0j38zLJRPHmAHG1fHPRGVkZ7AsAqA9NTzY33l2B0lT6WUG4-A7nVwFebFD5JQXoyDztNrU-PSKMkv3Z1Sa8MoHcQLUWOb7KFvm/s2565/10th%20Anniversary%20Banner%20(A4%20Landscape).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="2565" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7URNWPKi1OWuYfA4OmfvBJgc_-lEe0K5qckGwOw3irqw6AvvKb-iAdrbwtgnmVSsqCoBjMzUWFwvbu2JniMTtjV0j38zLJRPHmAHG1fHPRGVkZ7AsAqA9NTzY33l2B0lT6WUG4-A7nVwFebFD5JQXoyDztNrU-PSKMkv3Z1Sa8MoHcQLUWOb7KFvm/w547-h104/10th%20Anniversary%20Banner%20(A4%20Landscape).jpg" width="547" /></a></div><b><br /></b></i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b>Special Report written by Major Robert Evans, District Leader...</b></i></div></b></i><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">General Albert Osborn, former international leader of The Salvation Army, wrote a hymn acknowledging, <i>“What a work the Lord has done, by His saving grace,”</i> which rings true today as The Salvation Army has just celebrated ten grace-filled years of mission and ministry in the Solomon Islands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVBFi2_MNJaN_oJbqOZkgzza-giI5jFYQZP5HLHm5vJyWmjNlbaGCtGreOJS6XCuIJz0s0f4OnWdI4msIgJadRR_3bdfQkQ_KUzM1ypgTLpTzEdpFpMDdBireLNuACyqmZZrAYnR4VkK086FdxFVv3bAH7zzfGroklXU_WdRwNK831Sz1Te3yWSzMx" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="381" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVBFi2_MNJaN_oJbqOZkgzza-giI5jFYQZP5HLHm5vJyWmjNlbaGCtGreOJS6XCuIJz0s0f4OnWdI4msIgJadRR_3bdfQkQ_KUzM1ypgTLpTzEdpFpMDdBireLNuACyqmZZrAYnR4VkK086FdxFVv3bAH7zzfGroklXU_WdRwNK831Sz1Te3yWSzMx=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></div>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 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, <i>“Greater things! Greater things! Give us faith, O Lord, we pray, faith for greater things.”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-5GIR9OjXYBFeG_oueCAFHDf4wThXQUUoonLbjJPP2dicRffw1Vd95e80IaxsLOySfO3RjeNuJx4qzNTppKvTLtrd6gb4mPgnduYgEiIsqsvu0JoLYo2i0yfjCQhnUrVd3nrUSG2V7crA4qTx-vGIsHAn7Q72crP5TBBAmIMjaZ95prZyR00o1NHD" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="437" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-5GIR9OjXYBFeG_oueCAFHDf4wThXQUUoonLbjJPP2dicRffw1Vd95e80IaxsLOySfO3RjeNuJx4qzNTppKvTLtrd6gb4mPgnduYgEiIsqsvu0JoLYo2i0yfjCQhnUrVd3nrUSG2V7crA4qTx-vGIsHAn7Q72crP5TBBAmIMjaZ95prZyR00o1NHD=w200-h132" width="200" /></a></i> Pastor Jimmy Vasula from Gateway CRC Church, who hosted the anniversary weekend, was the guest speaker for the Opening Program. He congratulated The Salvation Army for ten faithful years of mission and ministry in the Solomon Islands and challenged the local Salvationists to go on to the ‘next level’.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The weekend proceeded with two workshops on Saturday morning where Major Vanessa introduced the World Vision ‘A Good Life for All Boys & Girls’ Sunday School resource and Major Robert launched the Territorial Strategic Plan. After lunch an Open Air and March of Witness with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Brass Band provided an amazing display of over 100 Salvationists marching from Henderson Police Station back to the venue for 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 hosts, followed by a celebration feast of pork, chicken, kasava and taro that was cooked overnight on a traditional ‘motu.’ After lunch the main Worship Service included the enrolment of six Soldiers, recognition of two new Churches, and the warranting of six non-commissioned Officers, with a video message by the Territorial Commander.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7l_09j-HSt1tzyrpBy6vKCcpsjxj4lE2YoILWKEeVHKBTNDRou-BWbJc9F19omoT-KeSpDAjs1w52jqw5tia3iTaDsB43xGpCMmrF852Doy-mC_YI7L_jZ2rgDqjLDB-6yUySKpyO670Qr8-3kjN4-Chz3ZgHN4oT6SNdCeVh7Sov6B07xGZcwFXp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="336" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7l_09j-HSt1tzyrpBy6vKCcpsjxj4lE2YoILWKEeVHKBTNDRou-BWbJc9F19omoT-KeSpDAjs1w52jqw5tia3iTaDsB43xGpCMmrF852Doy-mC_YI7L_jZ2rgDqjLDB-6yUySKpyO670Qr8-3kjN4-Chz3ZgHN4oT6SNdCeVh7Sov6B07xGZcwFXp=w148-h94" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkOY0OPNR_Eo2OrQ1JYt2Rgq8OlfIGI7FR6gguSm-KPHiAZdv3shylvolrGd0sgkIrF4Th-ah1skNYHuyiL-tqNEJ4XTBNLDoXsH-FfpR8INj27UbYLmQmVzWqjCS38NkH84rENmzxfoPTyIz04gFZbXek6-WEcR9zNhA2hHlNkUEQtoD3vzfqVQSC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="318" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkOY0OPNR_Eo2OrQ1JYt2Rgq8OlfIGI7FR6gguSm-KPHiAZdv3shylvolrGd0sgkIrF4Th-ah1skNYHuyiL-tqNEJ4XTBNLDoXsH-FfpR8INj27UbYLmQmVzWqjCS38NkH84rENmzxfoPTyIz04gFZbXek6-WEcR9zNhA2hHlNkUEQtoD3vzfqVQSC=w142-h95" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbvcQh_ICHir65JZfAjte_eZ6pcblZR_hOskTR7aRZ21jP-2IiTqfD5XctNqm9n5L20xHSjPfKQu4yIeCzgC_jUk3HczXlLa2smPdtIstZzrhWDfQJE0iRgXw_OperrkhunSK83ZlQ2dK_SmgGO8a1BueGwuSqb7aelAAK1BAjrHVOLFlYEWeoo2No" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="322" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbvcQh_ICHir65JZfAjte_eZ6pcblZR_hOskTR7aRZ21jP-2IiTqfD5XctNqm9n5L20xHSjPfKQu4yIeCzgC_jUk3HczXlLa2smPdtIstZzrhWDfQJE0iRgXw_OperrkhunSK83ZlQ2dK_SmgGO8a1BueGwuSqb7aelAAK1BAjrHVOLFlYEWeoo2No=w137-h95" width="137" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The finale for the weekend was a spectacular Mission & Cultural Celebration that was opened by a video greeting from international leaders General Brian and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, along with other video greetings from several previous Territorial and District leaders. The evening was also attended by a number of community and business leaders who are great supporters of The Salvation Army. Major Robert presented an overview of the mission activity throughout the District, after which, each church presented cultural items representing their villages and provinces. A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a commissioned artwork portraying The Salvation Army flag in an abstract Solomon Island style</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinl48MY3J3iFYw09wemP2hEiIosoK7AtW7n1SqTS4LIR8YXKnd_bGwj-1OCTEhAuk3_QW17vvJ_2mYLUDfdDTrVWgE8yda1aiiFU3Lb9pgsOlBjUrrnLKNXH2ugPm5r04iTYeUIbgnZLDz7K7pxbEfs-RnAk5gUvsRKRBATC9r4xcJ6tRhhwZpKNQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="417" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinl48MY3J3iFYw09wemP2hEiIosoK7AtW7n1SqTS4LIR8YXKnd_bGwj-1OCTEhAuk3_QW17vvJ_2mYLUDfdDTrVWgE8yda1aiiFU3Lb9pgsOlBjUrrnLKNXH2ugPm5r04iTYeUIbgnZLDz7K7pxbEfs-RnAk5gUvsRKRBATC9r4xcJ6tRhhwZpKNQA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br />The theme for the weekend ‘Greater Things’ was creatively manifested through song and dance, leaving no doubt that the best is yet to come!</div></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Special Report written by Major Vanessa Evans, District Leader...</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2021 theme for the Solomon Islands District was “Greater Things.” Jesus said <i>"You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that"</i> (John 1:50). To help with this theme one of the songs that became a bit of an anthem particularly at Honiara Corps was Chris Tomlin’s God of this City. The chorus says, <i>‘Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city, Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done here.’</i> This song was not only sung throughout the year but was also the theme song for our 10th Anniversary weekend celebration. We wanted to celebrate all that had happened over the last 10 years as well as holding on to the promise that we would see greater things in the future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHPr9uBo9DJuU8FeI4eWiozMWn8_rI28FUfeFdCM6Dub8T85iCpRsjYa7GSqmyC6WP3dfXpUFwnpcLbiWscR8TQ-ttXVzTlI-s0O7zll-JU_a3_SnHc6XSSZaty0hcz_zN3JMH4ldAVZa2e0F2UtPITDZ4HyBzmcWK36HrpUWXfyxQhX8KYJxu2og0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="285" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHPr9uBo9DJuU8FeI4eWiozMWn8_rI28FUfeFdCM6Dub8T85iCpRsjYa7GSqmyC6WP3dfXpUFwnpcLbiWscR8TQ-ttXVzTlI-s0O7zll-JU_a3_SnHc6XSSZaty0hcz_zN3JMH4ldAVZa2e0F2UtPITDZ4HyBzmcWK36HrpUWXfyxQhX8KYJxu2og0=w200-h199" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji3SrgPe2mliIfOVAN7DeB5OF3SCV5rGGbJr9zX4nIbkNaMwiOZwfs47mJInZWN9XdXFh-5F7CwBJSC_MSd-Ll4fD8HX4EZxoaFhLGBUO9DzANrGCxfMY1zAjuBWbckBT1jBiZMvL6vD8_B5o-bPxySuF64-BxZsYI6Lqt-Xwcno5MCKe99LlrZIJw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="286" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji3SrgPe2mliIfOVAN7DeB5OF3SCV5rGGbJr9zX4nIbkNaMwiOZwfs47mJInZWN9XdXFh-5F7CwBJSC_MSd-Ll4fD8HX4EZxoaFhLGBUO9DzANrGCxfMY1zAjuBWbckBT1jBiZMvL6vD8_B5o-bPxySuF64-BxZsYI6Lqt-Xwcno5MCKe99LlrZIJw=w199-h200" width="199" /></a><br /><br /></div>Friday night was our opening program and what a program that was! The District Leaders, Corps Officers and Village Church Leaders were led into the CRC Gateway church by traditional dancers from the Honiara Corps, supported by the Honiara Timbrel Brigade. There was lots of singing, dancing, messages from the PNGSI Territorial Leaders Colonels Garth & Patti Niemand, as well as greetings from our 9 church leaders. We were also blessed to have a Historic Video Presentation that reminded the Solomon Islands that they “Were always on His mind.” This presentation showed some wonderful historic pictures of The Salvation Army being connected to the Solomon Islands as far back as 1894. Pastor Jimmy from CRC Gateway was our guest speaker. Pastor Jimmy and his wife Mama Mary are great friends and supporters of ours and allowed us to use their beautiful facilities for our Anniversary weekend.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3OYtqu8ooYNWGzK8QAW70G6i_Bn0aPoxeT_1-uDcU6fKs4MjA0_6ucTthydtIN3zmJUcuI_y5Ugbz7BPMUHRBv90QTnag9ahhhdzrALdQ08rT-Z0X3M9SKtkwJCb4R8TwxKhCWKkahZnRdbdanmbm9JGiUmcvOW9ICp6vhzmBKMoQS1JB6wvDA8N2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="312" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3OYtqu8ooYNWGzK8QAW70G6i_Bn0aPoxeT_1-uDcU6fKs4MjA0_6ucTthydtIN3zmJUcuI_y5Ugbz7BPMUHRBv90QTnag9ahhhdzrALdQ08rT-Z0X3M9SKtkwJCb4R8TwxKhCWKkahZnRdbdanmbm9JGiUmcvOW9ICp6vhzmBKMoQS1JB6wvDA8N2=w138-h103" width="138" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgknqtgc4jwFsVk2vtM2oqJPFjG9hrU_tWnE-36QeCcO1E1i5vYN6ueJ-p3BOkAAsCXs24mFd1-qbbAvBmTRYSbTn4swwhhYwbv047wMO90m61bsHW-G3s-Rn5-fAFTcfobOOis-IjoF4tyNfUZ9_2cNxVcITR0C1MFSs6ISFV8Myw2ALyaZwBw0oVF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="311" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgknqtgc4jwFsVk2vtM2oqJPFjG9hrU_tWnE-36QeCcO1E1i5vYN6ueJ-p3BOkAAsCXs24mFd1-qbbAvBmTRYSbTn4swwhhYwbv047wMO90m61bsHW-G3s-Rn5-fAFTcfobOOis-IjoF4tyNfUZ9_2cNxVcITR0C1MFSs6ISFV8Myw2ALyaZwBw0oVF=w138-h104" width="138" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuLjSfaTvQBMQF2Cw6dyHVyim-ZPoWrCZUYjtua28wsW876iTVyPSnROp9hCOoIjcskfC2rDkHFKgK1IU2yeuc7eIcp32Ath1um0x_i1JIhpWcX8VYtnbMb9pRpCaUgV9G6F48NAbr7NX4W8U2MerbMbvWOTghfz1mPMGR5ywezpO8-UrIlC8F-Dam" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="311" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuLjSfaTvQBMQF2Cw6dyHVyim-ZPoWrCZUYjtua28wsW876iTVyPSnROp9hCOoIjcskfC2rDkHFKgK1IU2yeuc7eIcp32Ath1um0x_i1JIhpWcX8VYtnbMb9pRpCaUgV9G6F48NAbr7NX4W8U2MerbMbvWOTghfz1mPMGR5ywezpO8-UrIlC8F-Dam=w139-h104" width="139" /></a></div><br />Saturday was a full day. There were two workshops that were held; the first was on the Sunday School curriculum from World Vision called ‘A Good Life for Boys & Girls’. I have had the privilege of being a part of the working group to put this together. The second workshop was led by Rob who spoke on the Territorial Strategic Plan - ‘Restore, Renew, Rebuild’ and how each of our congregations can use this theme next year as this will become our overall theme for the District. Saturday afternoon consisted of a March of Witness along the main road of Henderson with the assistance of the RSIPF band, which then led to a Brass Band concert. It was great to see our band and the RSIPF band play together and we thank the RSIPF for their support over the last 3 years. Saturday night was the youth meeting which was amazing. 16 Junior Soldiers were enrolled and I preached on how to Stand Out From The Crowd (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). I was humbled and amazed at the work of the Holy Spirit as 51 adults, youth & children responded to God’s Word. Sunday afternoon was a great celebration of the future with the enrolments of 6 new soldiers and the warranting of our new Auxiliary Captains and Envoys. Sunday evening was again another amazing celebration of culture and mission as we were led in by the Gateway Corps traditional dancers. Each corps and church fellowship presented items throughout the night with messages from previous leaders. It was great to see our many friends from different networks that we have developed over the last 4 years join in the celebrations. The other highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the Commissioned Artwork “God’s Light in the Darkness” by Riaz Haikiu Maninga.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvMWFf0jPzqQJUUQqOJn_TEIx7rvRttWQLqP9NbrsLTb4RYPRLTUwaiLZAwGmhpcWSbtgWnNXIgPFvQMbb62yNLXe5tHWkl3jproejoTN5iwKrC8BYjsAFDLE1bbh8wVesftGBsQAEFdlkBTi74KaAJS1DtUPsC1iFSkBF5ZPgQKIAUJzIA7xu_ZnU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="695" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvMWFf0jPzqQJUUQqOJn_TEIx7rvRttWQLqP9NbrsLTb4RYPRLTUwaiLZAwGmhpcWSbtgWnNXIgPFvQMbb62yNLXe5tHWkl3jproejoTN5iwKrC8BYjsAFDLE1bbh8wVesftGBsQAEFdlkBTi74KaAJS1DtUPsC1iFSkBF5ZPgQKIAUJzIA7xu_ZnU=w400-h233" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this country of Solomon Islands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903226899933616135.post-89813164442037521132021-11-14T04:00:00.001-08:002022-10-20T06:52:28.610-07:00Spiritual Formation Journal - Chapter 4<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Master of Transformational Development</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Doing Theology in the Context of Poverty & Injustice</i></span></h4><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I must confess that after I read the unit guide for this semester, I approached the subject with a degree of reservation. The minor essay question asking to <i>“Identify a key point of tension or difference between your ‘inherited theology’ and your emerging theology that is evolving in response to the challenges posed by your vocational calling”</i> evoked a tension in my theological sensibilities. I struggled to connect with the notion of an ‘emerging theology that is evolving’ in response to my ‘experiences’, rather than God’s revelation. From the outset, I found my theological roots (The Salvation Army comes from a Wesleyan Methodist theological tradition) reacting to any thought that human experience is an equal or greater authority in forming a contextual theology.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I come from a theological position that there are core beliefs about God’ as revealed in Scripture, that are unchanging regardless of culture, time or experiences. Obvious examples include: Authority of the Scriptures, Monotheistic God, Trinitarian God, Divine & Human natures of Christ, Salvation through Christ alone, etc. So, to encounter Stephen Bevans as the first reading for the semester, who places experience above revelation, only fuelled my reservations about the subject. The author’s explanation of ‘contextual theology’ made me incredibly nervous, especially if the "experience of the present" is at odds morally, ethically or spiritually with the "experience of the past". I wrestled with the question, <i>“If there is space for “self-theologising” to be included in Henry Venn’s 3-Selves model for indigenous churches, then, how do we genuinely invite and include a “new agenda, new methods, new voices, new dialogue” </i>(Bevans, 2009, p. 13) without losing biblical integrity in arriving at and applying a contextual theology?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, throughout the reading period the breadth of readings and diversity of thought on the subject balanced Bevans’ views with an understanding of contextual theology which <i>“leads us to the realization that the fundamental transformation that must take place is not the transformation of an ancient message into a contemporary meaning but rather the transformation of our lives by means of God’s Word”</i> (Segura-Guzman, 2010, p. 130). The other authors and our cohort discussions enabled me to engage with contextual theology, not as a threat to biblical truth, but as an endeavour to allow God’s voice to speak through other cultural contexts in a way that will provide a contextual revelation from within their respective cultures and life situations. I was reminded of previous undergraduate study where I encountered authors like Clark Pinnock who affirmed, <i>“We do not affirm the possibility of God’s revealing himself outside Christianity begrudgingly - we welcome it! Not only does such a possibility suggest bridges in other cultures to enhance mission, but it also allows us to hear the word of God from others and deepens our own understanding of revelation”</i> (Pinnock, 2015, p. 208).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The subject also provided an excellent reference point for retrospective reflection on interfaith dialogue I had with leaders from the Ahmadiyyah Muslim Community and Afghan Muslim asylum seekers in my previous appointment. It has given me new language and fresh understanding for these conversations where I felt theologically way out of my depth at the time. It also has affirmed, that despite my inadequacies, the Holy Spirit was clearly present and guiding this dialogue and I was simply joining in on a conversation that had already begun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In my current vocational context, navigating a course for The Salvation Army as still a relatively new mission in the Solomon Islands has been a process of discovering what this movement needs to look like in this cultural context. The major essay has allowed me to apply the learning of this semester into a culturally specific challenge that could open the door for future mission and ministry for The Salvation Army by engaging in critical theological reflection and application. It has contributed significantly to conversations I am currently having with local community and church leaders and I believe will provide a useful paper, not only for the Solomon Islands, but also for The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea. Learning how to ‘do theology in the context of poverty and injustice’ in this context could not be any more relevant and timely!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>EphesiansFour12Missionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622800640358391813noreply@blogger.com0