Solomon Islands Mission: Valued and Needed!

Peter van der Schoor and I, Jack De Vries, have just returned from a week in Solomon Islands.   We met with the leaders of the local churches including the Archbishop of Honiara Adrian Smith (pictured here with Peter van der Schoor and Eric Maefonea).  The clear message from the partner churches and agencies in Solomon Islands is that the ministry of SWIM (the CRCA mission in Solomon Islands) is needed, is valued, and the partnership we share in the gospel is one of trust and hope.   These affirmations were also echoed by our SWIM missionaries, staff, and gospel workers.

In the duration of the week, we met with each of the missionaries and gospel workers individually to review and evaluate the effectiveness of our gospel work in Solomon Islands.   We witnessed first-hand:

• the expanse of the DEED ministry done by Jair Duinkerke as we travelled over rugged terrain and across a swift flowing river to a remote village perched high on the opposite hill, delivered a water tank, steel sheeting, plumbing, and provided training how to set up a water catchment system, one of more than 50 villages who have received this assistance;
• the impact of the gospel changing the lives of those in prison as we joined our gospel worker Jack Bana (supported jointly by the Crossroads Ministry) preach the Word, collect finished Crossroad Bible studies, and hand out more Bible studies to scores of men who eagerly listened to the message of Christ;
• the life-transforming power of the Word help the disabled discover their God-given abilities through the hope, training, and encouragement provided at Bethesda by Gideon Row and his staff as we visited the Kokonut Pacific Company and saw at least four recent Bethesda graduates engaged in meaningful employment and contributing significantly to the growth of this industry;
• the rich treasure we have in the Bible as we discussed and leafed through the wealth of teaching materials prepared by our WORD missionary Eric Maefonea which he delivers throughout Solomon Islands by radio, training seminars, conferences, not only in churches, but also to community and government leaders;
• the growing difference made in the lives of Solomon Island children as more than a 100 children are able to go to school because Christians in New Zealand and Australia contribute to their school fees;
• the excitement and joy of the Toowoomba team from Queensland as they arrived in Honiara enroute to their short term mission to Yandina, a town on Mbanika Island in the Russell Islands, in the Central Province of Solomon Islands; and
• the immense blessing the SWIM base continues to be:
  • to local men and women who have employment;
  • to the needy and destitute who receive relief;
  • to short term mission teams who come to Honiara to serve in God’s mission in Solomon Islands and find lodging at the Transit House;
  • to children and young people who participate in Children’s programs and sports, and
  • to our missionaries and support staff who have a safe and serene place to study God’s Word, prepare teaching materials, and administer the functions of SWIM.

In addition to celebrating the good things God is doing through the SWIM mission in the Solomon Islands, Peter and I also spent a significant part of our time working through a number of issues and challenges our missionaries are facing.   Not only did we desire to support and encourage our missionaries and gospel workers, we also wanted to hold them accountable, work through any issues and challenges, and forge ahead with the vision and mission God has given us for this work in Solomon Islands.   Some of the issues and challenges were:

• Jair and Lauretta Duinkerke are nearing the end of their tenure at SWIM, and besides the need to find a replacement DEED missionary, we want to provide good care for this family as they bring their time in Solomon Islands to an end.
• Currently there is no acting SWIM Director, and until Geoff Hughes assumes this role, between our WORD and DEED missionaries, there still needs to remain a level of oversight of the SWIM mission.
• Eric Maefonea’s four year appointment will draw to a close in December 2015, with the possibility and hope of reappointment.
• The importance of upholding and promoting the ‘core values’ of SWIM, especially the value of cultural relevance: “speaking and ministering in a manner which the culture we are trying to reach can understand.”  

When Peter and I met with our missionaries, the whole staff wholeheartedly and unconditionally reaffirmed the core values of the SWIM mission, values which underpin its mission and vision: Biblical teaching, unity, teamwork, Godly leadership, loving people, prayer, spiritual growth, and cultural relevance -- all vital to serving the Lord!

Upon our return to Australia, on Monday 29 June we gathered together for a meal at the home of Jack and Jeannie De Vries with 20 people attending, including us as hosts, Peter van der Schoor, and the newly appointed Director Geoff Hughes and his wife Jan.   The purpose of this gathering was not only to share a meal, but also to share about God’s mission through SWIM in the Solomon Islands and garner interest of those attending to be part of the Solomon Island Workgroup (SIW) which will be formed in Queensland.   Those attending came from five Classis Queensland churches: Bray Park, Redlands, Inala, Westside, and Tivoli.  Once Classis Queensland gives their approval, this newly appointed committee will transfer the work of SIW based currently in Tasmania to Queensland.

Besides the visit to the village to deliver the water catchment system, another highlight of the trip to Solomon Islands was witnessing the 'retirement' of Lawrence, a local man who has worked on the SWIM base for as long as the base existed.   When he started working on the SWIM base he was in charge of 'security'.   We heard stories of how Lawrence would make his nightly rounds, and when he passed the chicken coup, he would count each of the chickens to make sure not one was missing.   For the past number of years Lawrence has worked as a groundskeeper.   It would be difficult to estimate how many kilometers he has walked behind a lawnmover keeping the grass neatly trimmed.   As someone shared at his 'retirement' Lawrence's work was one of quality.   And anyone who has visited the SWIM base can attest to the quality of his work.   Lawrence will be sorely missed.   May God grant Lawrence wonderful 'retirement' years ahead with his family and community.

Jesus taught us that when he returns in his glory, He will say to some:  "Come, you who are blessed by my Father;  take your inheritence, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.   For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stanger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me....Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)   What a joy and blessing it is to serve our Lord Jesus and join Him in his mission in the Solomon Islands.   Through WORD and DEED we encounter Christ in others and through WORD and DEED others encounter Christ in us!   To God be all the glory!