Personal Reflection…

After the Christmas celebration, we said farewell to 2022 and welcomed 2023 in the New Year’s celebration. During those celebrations we celebrated the goodness of God in our lives and in the life of our ministries within The Salvation Army church. As we started the year 2023, we looked back and saw what God had done, and it amazed us. We are so grateful to God for what he has done. While we thank God for the past, we are looking forward to partaking in what God is going to do through The Salvation Army in the future. Greater things are yet to come!

In the first month of 2023, things were going well. At the beginning, we were worshiping at Rock Haven Inn and the attendances during Sundays started picking up and people who went on holidays to the Provinces were coming back slowly. At the beginning of the second month, we received a letter from the management of Rock Haven Inn. In that letter, the management increased the rental rate significantly above what we could afford and they accused us of using unauthorised instruments on Sundays, which is not true.

The instruments that we are using are the ones used for the last 11 years. Based on that letter, the Corps Council met on the second day from the date of receiving the letter to discuss our position and the way forward in relation to that letter. The Corps Council, during its deliberation, agreed to cease using the Rock Haven Inn with an immediate effect as the new rates were unaffordable.

As God’s Word says, ‘the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’, especially those who become a threat to him. God is doing great things through The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands and the devil will try all that he can do to destroyed that good work. Those problems that we encountered have a direct impact on our ministry. However, God is always faithful. After the Corps Council’s decision to terminate our use of Rock Haven Inn, the Honiara Corps was displaced for three weeks and we defaulted to the District Quarters for our Sunday services. During those three weeks we were tasked to look around for another venue. We were praying and looking. Finally, Envoy Alick one of our leaders found Mbua Vale School Hall. He talked with the School Principal about us using the school Hall. The school administration, through the Principal, were very kind to allow us to use the school hall on Sundays and their rate is affordable. Praise God. The space at the School Hall accommodates our Sunday programs very well. The first Sunday of this month we went to the school hall for our service. The congregation members were very surprised to see that bigger space, which excited them and they have the freedom to chat with each other after our services over a cup of coffee. The school hall presents a different environment compared to Rock Haven Inn. This is evidence that God is in control and performs signs, wonders and miracles.

As the Corps Officers for Honiara Corps, we are so grateful to God for his provision of this venue for our Sunday services. All glory and honour unto Him and Him alone in Jesus name. Amen. Aux