SOLOMON ISLANDS SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH HISTORY

"In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history".

{White,Ellen G. Counsels for the Church (1991), p.630}

Last update:  Friday, 23 January 2015, 15:05 hour.

It was the Trader in Roviana lagoon in Western Solomon Islands, Norman Wheatley (a non-Seventh-day Adventist, originally from Brisbane, Australia), who initiated the plan for Seventh-day Adventist Church to start mission work in Solomon Islands for the very first time.  A significant time in history was when Norman Wheatley was sick and returned to Australia (his home country) for medical treatment.  He then went to the Sydney Sanitarium (now known as Sydney Adventist Hospital) for treatment.  The Sydney Sanitarium was an hospital operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church at that time.  Norman Wheatley then asked the people in the hospital if they had Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church in Solomon Islands.  He later learned that there was no Seventh-day Adventist Church in Solomon Islands at that time.  As a result Norman Wheatley encouraged, arranged and provided resources for Seventh-day Adventist church, through Pastor Griffiths F. Jones and his wife Marion.  Pr G.F Jones and wife Marion arrived at the BP area in Gizo Island in Western Solomons to start mission work in Solomon Islands for the very first time on May 29, 1914.

It seems that the gospel of Jesus and civilisation (Smith 2012) were the only goods that colonisation brought to Solomon Islands. In particular, gospel of Jesus with messages of justice and mercy can correct what colonisation did to our islands. For example, Colonial empire invaded our islands, claimed our islands, suppress local cultures & knowledge, renamed our islands, draw new island boundaries, and introduce colonial cultures (colonial social & westminster systems) - to expand colonial empire territories (Smith 2012; Denzin et al. 2008; Mitchell et al. 2002). The era of colonisation has given rise to the era of neo-liberalism (Denzin et al. 2008). In an era of neo-liberalism with footprints of colonisation, Christians in colonised communities (as in Solomon Islands) can call for justice and mercy that are based on bible principles. Justice and mercy can educate then liberate the oppressed, the marginalised and the disenfranchised communities from the ongoing effects of colonisation & capitalist system.

Today, the Seventh-day Adventist church building at Munda Township in the Roviana lagoon, Western Province, Solomon Islands is still near the properties of the Wheatley families.  Click here   to read history about Norman Wheatley, who introduced SDA church to Solomon Islands. Some believe Norman Wheatley was looking for another church to compete with the dominant church (Methodist) in the area of Roviana lagoon at that time.  It has been argued that the leader of the Methodist church in Solomon Islands, Rev. Goldie, involved in business rather than focus on church works.  However, others believe Mr Wheatley arranged for the church Seventh-day Adventist because he liked his experiences at the Sydney Sanitarium hospital.  There could be more than one reason. GOD can use principles, strategies and methods that can confuse us humans at times. For example, in the Bible GOD used heathen Kings like Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar to play some key roles in accomplishing His plans.  In addition, GOD also used resources of a heathen nation to re-build Jerusalem under the order of Cyrus.    Furthermore, even in the Bible GOD used an unclean yet very clever bird (Raven), to deliver food for Prophet Elijah.  Similarly, God can use anyone and other resources outside the Seventh-day Adventist Church structures, to be part of His mission works.  To illustrate, Lauru Supporting Ministry had experienced how GOD used some non-Seventh-day Adventist people to donate a lot of monies and  labour to build the new Katurasele Seventh-Adventist Church in 2012.  It was Lauru Supporting Ministry that requested and organised the Australian volunteers to donate monies and went to Katurasele to build the new church.  Glory to GOD. 

Let us reflect on the 100 year period in Solomon Islands.  Reflect on the progresses in the developments of our SDA institutions, developments in our manpower training programs - to cater for current & future changes, expansions in the geographical areas in mission territories and most importantly reproduction of Christ's character in our lives.

You click here  to read more about the early history of Seventh-day Adventist church in Solomon Islands.  The first document is a large pdf file that is 3.68MB that we got from the history book for Solomon Islands schools, and the second resource will re-direct you to a respectable external source.

You can   click here  to read about the Lauru (Choiseul) Seventh-day Adventist Church history.

SOLOMON ISLANDS SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH HISTORY

REMEMBER GOD IN OUR PAST HISTORY

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100 Years:  May 29, 1914 - May 29, 2014