“Solomon Islands, fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness and integrity!”
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.”(Joshua 24:14,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Oceania
Population | 700,000
Area | 28,896㎢, Consists of six main volcanic islands and numerous smaller coral islands in the South Pacific.
Capital City | Honiara (82,000 people)
People Groups | Total 74 groups: Melanesians 94.5% (including Kwaarae, Solomon Islands Pijin speakers, Are’are, Lau/Nggela, Tasemboko, etc.), Polynesians 3%, Micronesians 1.2%, others 0.3%
Official Language(s) | English, Solomon Islands Pijin
Total Languages | 70
Bible Translations | Completed 13, New Testament 20, Partial 11
Religion | Christianity 95.8% (Protestant 33%, Anglican 34%), Ethnic religion 2.6%, Non-religious 0.4%, Buddhist 0.1%, Evangelical 31.2% (210,000 people)
》 About The Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands were first discovered by Europeans in 1568 when Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña arrived, but Spain failed to establish a settlement. In the 1760s, British explorers revisited the islands, and afterward, European explorers and whaling ships from the United States and the United Kingdom began to visit regularly. Missionaries arrived in the 1850s. In 1885, Germany declared a protectorate over the northern islands, and in 1893, Britain took similar action over the southern islands. The British tried to promote plantation agriculture, but very few Europeans were willing to settle in the Solomon Islands, so most educational and medical services were entrusted to missionaries. In 1978, the Solomon Islands gained independence as a member of the British Commonwealth. In the late 1970s, thousands of people from Malaita Island migrated to Guadalcanal Island, acquired land, and began to dominate the local economy. In response, indigenous people of Guadalcanal formed an armed militia in 1998 to expel them. Malaitan settlers countered this in early 2000, resulting in violent clashes and a complete breakdown of government control, bringing the nation to the brink of collapse. In response, a multinational force of 2,200 troops from 15 countries, led by Australia and known as RAMSI, was deployed in 2003 and remained until 2017, helping to restore order. The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth country with the British monarch as head of state. Manasseh Sogavare served as prime minister for the fourth time beginning in 2019, but stepped down in 2024 after losing a parliamentary majority. Jeremiah Manele is expected to become the next prime minister.
The economy is among the lowest in the South Pacific, with about three-quarters of the population relying on subsistence farming and fishing. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products are imported, although the country has abundant undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Before RAMSI’s intervention in 2003, the government was nearly bankrupt, but foreign aid and political stabilization since then have led to modest economic growth. The government is working with the Melanesian tourism alliance to develop its tourism sector. The Solomon Islands‘ GDP per capita is approximately $2,500.
》 Scripture Focus
| Joshua 24:14-18(NIV) 14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.” 15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!” 17 “It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.” 18 “And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.” |
》 Prayer Points
1. In the Solomon Islands, Protestant churches experienced revival in 1935, 1970, and 1982. Evangelical and charismatic churches continued to grow through the 1990s. During the civil conflict from 1998 to 2003, the church became a strong support to the community and even saw martyrs. After the war, churches provided practical aid and counseling to help people recover. However, because the country is made up of scattered islands and 74 different ethnic groups, the revival couldn’t spread deeply to every region. Although 96% of the population is Christian and 31% are evangelicals, nominalism is widespread. Many are turning to cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism, or even converting to Baha’i and Islam. Let us pray that the church would once again cling to the gospel of the cross, and serve the Lord with true repentance and reverence.
2. Most foreign missionaries focus on Bible translation. Wycliffe Bible Translators and the United Bible Societies are working in partnership with local believers. Let us pray that these translation organizations would be equipped with the people, resources, wisdom, and skills needed to translate the Bible into every tribal language and carry out literature ministries. The Short Workshop In Mission (SWIM) trains and sends short-term mission teams abroad, and some participants are committing to become long-term missionaries. Let us pray that churches and mission agencies will support them well. Let us also pray that church leaders and believers will grow stronger in their faith and rise in obedience to serve as true disciples of the Lord.
3. Over half of the Solomon Islands’ population is made up of youth and the next generation. Ministries like Scripture Union, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Youth With A Mission (YWAM), and Campus Crusade for Christ (CCCI) are sharing the gospel and discipling youth. Local ministries such as Christian Care Center, Heaven in Storm, and Bible Way Center are focused on discipleship for women and young people. Many girls drop out of school early, but churches and mission organizations have been faithfully involved in education. New Hope International runs a program that supports churches in establishing Christian schools and is bearing good fruit in the lives of teachers and local communities. Let us pray that the next generation will be nurtured in gospel truth, receive salvation, destroy the idols of self and the world at the cross, and rise as victorious witnesses in this spiritual battle.
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