Solomon Islands District - Renewal Campaign (Honiara & North Malaita)

Report written by Aux Capt Wency Ramo'oroa...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

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.