Imagine blackbirded laborers from the Solomon Islands toiling in Queensland. This is where the story of Kobito SSEC Church begins.
The Kobito SSEC Church has roots in the South Sea Evangelical Church SSEC. It is an evangelical Pentecostal church in the Solomon Islands. Around 17% of Solomon Islanders belong to it. This makes it the third largest denomination in the country.
The SSEC’s story starts in 1886. It began as the Queensland Kanaka Mission QKM in Australia. The mission aimed to reach Kanakas. These were laborers from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu working on sugarcane plantations. Florence Young founded the QKM. She was the sister of plantation owners Arthur, Horace, and Ernest Young.
By 1904-05, the QKM had grown. It employed missionaries and native teachers. They reported over 2000 conversions. Young explained Christian ideas using pidgin English and illustrations.
In 1904, Young established the South Seas Evangelical Mission SSEM. It was a branch of the QKM. The SSEM followed workers back home to continue their religious education. Fewer workers were arriving due to the White Australia policy. Young administered the SSEM from afar. She made annual trips to the islands until 1926.
Between 1906 and 1920, the SSEM created small coastal enclaves. These enclaves faced threats from powerful bush groups. On Malaita, a missionary was killed. This was ostensibly to purify a curse. But it was also due to perceived threats to the groups power.
Under pressure, the SSEM changed its language policy. In the 1920s, it began using English instead of pidgin or local languages. They even devised a simplified English.
After World War II, some islanders felt the SSEM withheld education. Malaita Bible teachers participated in the Maasina Rule movement. The South Seas Evangelical Church was established in 1964. It became independent from the mission in 1975.
The SSEC has strict rules for its members. They cannot drink alcohol, chew betel nuts, or smoke. Both men and women actively participate in church activities. The SSEC discourages traditional music. This is because it is seen as related to ancestor worship.
The SSEC sponsors schools in the Solomon Islands. These schools receive government subsidies. They primarily train local people as Bible teachers. These teachers then return to teach their own communities.
In 1964, seventy years after the QKM arrived in the Solomon Islands, the South Sea Evangelical Church became a self-governing national church. It was registered in 1966.
Today, the Kobito SSEC Church stands as a testament to this history. It represents faith and community in Honiara. Remember Florence Young and the Kanakas as you reflect on its story. It is a story of transformation.