MISSION WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 14

MISSION WORK.

METHODIST CHURCH.

NATIVE MINISTER ORDAINED.

Remarkable progress of mission work is the Solomon Islands in avidenced by the recent ordination of the first native minister In the Western Solomons, where the Methodist Church ia operating. The Rev. Belehazzar Gina k the offspring of a line of warriora, whoee main interest in life was the collection of hwnan heads. Hereditary habits, however, have given way before the mightier law of love. Energies inclined to rua in the some nuged groove of sanguinary conquest* nave been redirected to nobler ends, and a life ha« been dedicated to the saving of other lives of similar antecedents. This remarkable information Is contained ia the annual report of the Foreign Mission Department of the Now Zealand Methodist Church, which, ainca 1922, has assumed responsibility for the wofk of educating and evangelising the native people in the Western Solomons. The annaal board mating has just ban held ia Auckland, presided over by the president of the conference, the Rev. Percy Paris, and news from the field is encouraging. Despite the recent slump la copra, the Native Church during the past year has made a gi/t in kind representing a cash equivalent of £1280. This will go far la assisting the MO eatechlats and native teachers employed by the mission in its widespread area,' which Includes not only New Georgia, Veila Lavella and Cboieeul in the British Solomons, but also Buka and Bougainville in tha Mandated Territory of New C'uinea. Further statistics In the report refuted over 0000 members and 16,000 adherents, with 198 church buildings, day schools, seven Europeaa missiotiarks, one medical Missionary, and eight missionary sisters, engaged in the educational, medical and general work of the mission. y