Greater - Leaders

140 years ago, Florence Young, in the town of Bundaberg, founded the Queensland Kanaka Mission after teaching Sunday School to indentured Solomon Islanders working on their sugar cane farm. Within 20 years, the mission had established itself in the Solomon Islands, renamed as the South Sea Evangelical Mission, in a country dominated by ancestral spirit worship, revenge killing, witchdoctors, fear, superstition, and cannibalism. The purpose was to plant locally-led churches on the islands, train indigenous leaders, provide excellent education with Christian formation and to transform local communities, becoming a trusted institution among the people.

In 1964, the South Sea Evangelical Church was born from the Mission, headquarted by the Onepusu Bible College on Malaita. Focusing on contextual training and discipling indigenous pastors, leaders, missionaries, and future generations to strengthen the church in the Islands.

Having a long-standing relationship with the South Sea Evangelical Church, this year we are excited for a greater investment through partnership for the development of leaders in the Solomon Islands.

The Onepusu Bible College building is requiring much need repair and maintenance. $10,000 will provide building materials to help restore the guttering, ceilings, flooring, staircase and entry as well as replace missing window louvres.

Additionally, the SSEC runs the Su’u National Secondary School, about 25 kms from Onepusu, that was established in 1958 by Christian missionaries. The school is nationally renowned for high academic achievement and outstanding christian character formation of its students. Many leaders, including pastors, evangelists, teachers, public servants and politicians received their education through the school. The school of 500 students has a limited hygienic rainwater catchment and supply, as roofs and old water tanks have fallen into disrepair. Students and staff have to go down to the nearby river to bathe and do their laundry.

A number of partner organisations are committed to restoring the infrastructure of the school, including suitable drinking water. Whitehill is proposing to contribute $10,000.00 to provide the drilling of a new water bore for the school, which will be equipped with a solar-bore pump system and water storage.

Among the Christian churches and organisations, the South Sea Evangelical Church has been know for it’s emphasis on personal conversion, the authority of scripture, indiginous leadership, self-supported local churches and bible literacy among the Solomon Islands.

We’re excited to partner once again with their Bible college and support their school, contributing a $20,000.00 total for much needed maintenance and upgrades. To support the work as they seek to train and equip generations, not just for the work of equipping God’s Church, but for reaching beyond their shores to nearby Islands and neighbouring nations.

Would the hope found in Christ among the Solomon Islands be greater still. Would there there be a greater harvest of equipped and trained leaders for God’s Church. Would there be a greater sending.

All for the glory of Christ Jesus, thoughout all generations, in all places, forever and ever. Amen.