‘We have been living the extraordinary for eight years’
- simoneworthing
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
BY LAUREN MARTIN
Majors Robert and Vanessa Evans have received an unexpected honour at their farewell from the Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands Territory – The Salvation Army Australia Territory Ian and Nancy Cutmore Award for their pioneering work.
“They have pioneered the work across the Solomon Islands, grown the main centre and invested in leadership,” said Australia Territorial Commander, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas.
“They will be missed so much there.”
For Robert and Vanessa, it was a beautiful conclusion to eight “extraordinary” years of service in the South Pacific nation.
When they arrived in December 2017, there were 70 soldiers on the roll. Today, there are 321 soldiers.
There was one corps, one ‘fellowship’, and a new mission just emerging. At their farewell meeting, they celebrated the fact that there are now 13 churches affiliated with The Salvation Army, with two at ‘corps’ status and several moving in that direction.
Officership has increased as well. Currently, four couples are being prepared to attend training college in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
For Vanessa, the statistics point to a God who is faithful, and a local ministry team that is faithful in following him.
“It’s an honour to receive [the Commissioners Ian and Nancy Cutmore award], but at the same time it’s extremely humbling because it’s not about us, it’s about what God has done through us. I was overwhelmed by the whole presentation because we never do what we do for recognition or awards.”
Robert adds, “We are so grateful for the Army entrusting us with the Solomon Islands eight years ago. And we are grateful for the support during the entire appointment.”
Throughout their appointment, the Evanses have received prayerful and practical support from the Australia Territory, including territorial funding for the emerging district and a substantial donation from Salvationists across Australia in the 2023-24 ‘Making it Happen’ campaign.
Oversight
They are still overseeing the Making it Happen Campaign projects, four Mission Support Projects, and two small projects, mostly funded by the Australia Territory.
These projects include the building of officers’ quarters in two remote villages, purchasing officers’ quarters in the capital, Honiara, upgrading a village rest house and the coconut oil plant, establishment of a poultry farm, purchase of sea transport and purchasing supplies and equipment for Salvation Army ‘Learning Spaces’ – missional expressions that are changing lives.
“We have seven learning spaces teaching literacy classes to kids who are not in school and women who have had a broken education,” said Robert. “Seeing women in their 50s and 60s writing their name for the first time! Their identity is no longer just an ‘X’ on a paper.
“To raise up local leaders and watch their journey and their development … An illiterate girl who is now teaching others what she has learned, these experiences are just unparalleled in our ministry.”
Social developments
They have also, with their team, pioneered the development of social enterprise at each Salvation Army faith expression to ensure the mission is financially sustainable.
In North Malaita, this expression is a coconut oil plantation. In South Malaita, The Salvation Army faith expression runs a small fuel depot. At Moscom, there is a fishing project because the church leader there is a fisherman. Vanessa has established sewing projects with the Home Leagues using hand-cranked sewing machines to produce clothing for sale.
“We have been identifying what assets they already have, what capabilities exist and putting some seed funding into utilising those assets,” Robert said. “The Australia Territory Mission Support Project money and small projects money has been a game-changer. It’s meant that we have been able to provide seed funding for these projects.”
Momentum is building in the Solomon Islands, and the Holy Spirit is moving. Robert and Vanessa say they will continue to be strong advocates for the local team there, as well as for the incoming District Officers, who have yet to be announced.
Next steps
Whilst the Evanses have returned home to Melbourne, they will continue to serve remotely until the installation of new leaders later this year.
They say that while it’s a blessing to be home and spend time with their children and grandchildren, they don’t believe God has concluded their overseas service.
“The experiences we have had, as well as the further education we have pursued while we have been away, have laid a good foundation for ongoing overseas service or service in Australia in a cross-cultural context,” said Robert.
But for now, the couple is coming to terms with the cultural readjustment of being back in Australia.
“We have been living the extraordinary for eight years,” said Robert.
“We have gone through riots, we have lived in a constant state of crisis. That has become our ‘normal’ and our reality. Coming back to the ‘ordinary’ and ‘normal’ is going to take some adjustment and then rediscovering the extraordinary in this context – what does that look like in our next appointment and beyond?”
It’s a question that no doubt God will answer for them.
