15 brothers and sisters and young people, 10 from New Zealand and 5 from Australia, travelled to the Solomon Islands in late December 2025. Some attended the South Pacific Youth Conference in Honiara, and all were involved in preaching work in early January.
This was the first time the Solomon Island ecclesias hosted the conference and a large effort was put into the preparation including fundraising. Brothers, sisters and young people attended from Fiji and Vanuatu, and Tonga was represented for the first time. Many friendships in Christ across the islands were renewed and new bonds made around the Bible studies led by Bro Nacani from Fiji.
Once the Conference concluded, the preaching work in Honiara began. The New Zealand visitors had planned well ahead to maximise their labours with the local ecclesias. Honiara already has regular seminars organised by Bro Joe Vaea with the support of the Honiara Ecclesia. The preaching drive attracted 3 interested friends who stayed on to discuss the message of hope in the Scriptures.
Following this, the group travelled to Malaita island, a 2.5 hour fast ferry ride away to the north. On arrival in the main town of Auki, the market was used to give out leaflets and speak to the people about the gospel message. A highlight of the preaching was the attention the light blue T-shirts attracted. Matthew 6:10 was translated into Pidjin on the back of the shirts. Many people commented on the “Let the Bible Speak” theme, as they recalled the Sunday evening radio program funded by the Tea Tree Gully Ecclesia – only concluded in recent years. The fact it is remembered raises the question whether the program should be recommenced, as radio is still a strong source of communication across the Solomons.
The preaching group were delighted to meet Bro Alfred and Sis Nestor Ko’ode at the Gwaunaoa Ecclesia. They run a bustling Sunday School from their small meeting hall and preach through this means to the surrounding village. In the same way, at Bio Village, Bro Joseph and Sis Priscilla Kafo do a great work. Bro Joseph and his son Clifton have just completed a hall on their property, and also run a Sunday School which attracts local villagers.
The Kafo family provided a feast to celebrate the visit with the group from overseas, and a Memorial Meeting was arranged with the Malaita brothers and sisters to remember the work of our Lord and to celebrate the common bond that brings us together from many cultures and walks of life as children of our Heavenly Father.