A 12-strong New Zealand delegation of veteran missionaries and current church leaders travelled to Solomon Islands in May to join celebrations marking 100 years since the arrival of the Gospel.

For ex-missionaries the trip was a chance to catch up with old friends and students, many of whom now hold prominent positions in government, business, and the church. For church leaders it was a chance to meet with their counterparts in the United Church of the Solomon Islands.

Image courtesy of Touchstone Newspapers

And for both groups it was a chance to share in joyful festivities but also to assess the difficult conditions Solomon Islanders face after years of ethnic violence in and around the capital city, Honiara.

The head of the delegation was Methodist Church of NZ president Rev Aso Saleupolu. Aso says the group had some concerns about the ethnic tensions and there were some doubts whether it would get government permission to make the trip at all.

"We only spent one day in Honiara before we flew to Munda. It was actually quite okay in Honiara. We walked around and talked with people. They were friendly but the town itself is in bad shape with lots of rubbish in the streets."

Munda is on the island of New Georgia in the western Solomon Islands, and, while it was not directly affected by the violence, many people from there have left jobs in Honiara to return home. They now have reduced incomes and their presence has put additional stress on schools and housing. The conflict has caused a collapse of the national economy, and this too has affected western areas.

Despite this there is a fairly positive attitude among people in the western Solomons, and they celebrated the centennial of the arrival of Christianity with unity and joy, according to members of the New Zealand delegation.

Aso says the celebrations entailed an intensive programme of activities that lasted from early morning to nearly midnight each day. Church delegations from the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Council for World Mission attended. Also present were the descendents of Semisi Nau, a Tongan who was among the early missionaries that came to the Solomon Islands under the leadership of Rev John Francis Goldie.

Many thousands of Solomon Islanders also came to Munda from other islands for the celebrations. About 100 people from Bougainville also attended.

Two members of the NZ delegation were Lyn Sadler and Rev Jim Cropp. Lyn taught at Goldie College for 15 years in the 1960s and 1970s, and Jim served as principal at the college.

Jim says a fine new building, the Samuel Aqarao Centennial Memorial Church was opened to mark the occasion. It is named after the Solomon Islander who was one of Rev Goldie's original party.

Celebrations included choirs, dances, dramas, Solomon-style worship known as lotu, and lots of food. Balloons, a giant birthday cake, and hundreds candles featured in various events.

"It was a privilege to be at the celebrations and experience the gratitude the people have for Christianity. There was a real air of spirituality. The Solomon Islanders have developed a style of worship with action songs that is much livelier than in New Zealand.

"Of special mention was the presence of highly respected church leader Rev John Bitibule. John was born in 1905 and prayed that he might live to celebrate this event. He took a special part in the lotu of May 23 and died peacefully the day after festivities ended," Jim says.

A bonus for those who had worked at Goldie College was that after the centenary celebrations there was 50 year jubilee celebration for the college at Banga.

Lyn says the school now has a well-qualified staff, most of whom are Solomon Islanders. Spirits are high and exam results are good though some of the older buildings need attention.

"I was thrilled to meet many of my ex-students who are doing well and providing strong leadership in the community. Among our former students is the moderator of the United Church, Rev Philemon Riti, and many other ministers including the Solomon Islands' first woman minister, Rev Mareta Tahu.

"Other former Goldie students include the premier of Western Provinces, the manager of Honiara airport, the senior school inspector, and the national director of curriculum development," Lyn says.

Ties to the Solomon Islands and also Bougainville are of particular importance to New Zealand Methodists because from 1922 until the 1960s, the Methodist Church of NZ was responsible for missionary educational and medical work there. For more than half a century hundreds of New Zealand business managers, teachers, doctors and engineers served as missionaries in the Solomon Islands.