Aussie officers prepare for service in the Solomon Islands
- simoneworthing
- Sep 18
- 2 min read
BY CAPTAIN JOYCELYN McIVER
From early December, my husband [Captain] Brad and I will be serving in the Solomon Islands, which is part of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory.
Brad will serve as District Officer, and I will serve as District Director of Women’s Ministries.
Brad is currently serving in the role of Special Projects – Office of the Chief Secretary, and I am Corps Officer/Team Leader at Waverley Temple (Vic.)
Earlier this year, God spoke to me about living in full surrender to him, and in that moment, he placed on my heart a call to missionary service.
Around the same time, Brad also sensed God’s leading toward overseas service during his time at the International College for Officers. Together, we made ourselves available to The Salvation Army, indicating our willingness to serve in a developing nation.
Saying yes has not been easy. We will deeply miss our family, the Waverley Corps and the comforts of home here in Australia. Our four adult children, their partners, and our two grandchildren (aged 4 and 22 months) are so precious to us, and leaving them is heartbreaking.
On top of that, we have elderly parents and even our much-loved pets – a dachshund and two cats – that we need to rehome. The grief of leaving is already very real. But just as when we first said ‘yes’ to God’s call into full-time ministry, we trust that this yes will also bring incredible blessings and opportunities for service.
“We are looking forward to warmer weather and the natural beauty of the Solomon Islands, but even more so, we are excited about the ministry opportunities ahead.”
Our hearts are eager to walk alongside the local people, to encourage them in faith, and to see lives transformed through a relationship with Jesus.
We know there will be challenges – language differences, limited infrastructure and scarce resources will no doubt stretch us – but we are confident that God will use every past experience, both before and during our officership, to equip us for the work he has prepared.
We feel especially blessed to have had the unique opportunity of an in-person handover with the officers – Majors Robert and Vanessa Evans – who previously held these roles.
Their generosity in sharing their knowledge and experience has been invaluable, and we are so grateful for the way they have supported us in this transition.
To read more about the Evanses and their eight years of service in the Solomon Islands, click on the link below:
