Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale says the GREAT Coalition Government will support churches in Solomon Islands to strengthen families and communities through discipleship programmes grounded in Christian values.
Speaking at the formal opening of the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) Biennial General Conference at Kilusakwalo Village in Malaita Province on Sunday, Prime Minister Wale reaffirmed the GREAT government’s commitment to working with churches to promote faith-based community development.
He said the Government recognised the important role churches play in shaping values, guiding young people and supporting families across the country.
Prime Minister Wale said the Government would work with churches through the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs to strengthen partnerships and support programmes that promote Christian principles in everyday life.
“My government has chosen an active role in that partnership. The family and the church were here before the state. We do not come to command the church. We are not your lords. We are your servants, come to stand behind those whom God has already commissioned,” he stated.
He added, he had made a commitment to the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) and the Solomon Islands Full Gospel Association (SIFGA) to support churches in their work with families and communities.
As a member church of SICA, SSEC is part of this broader partnership between the Government and church organisations to strengthen Christian values and community development.
Prime Minister Wale said Government support would focus on discipleship programmes for families and communities, including training, materials in local languages and assistance for existing fellowships and ministries.
He said the initiatives would help churches teach gospel values in homes and communities, strengthening the role of families in shaping the character of future generations.
However, Prime Minister Wale stressed that public funding must be managed transparently and responsibly, warning that misuse of funds would undermine public trust and damage the credibility of the partnership.
The Prime Minister said accountability was essential to ensuring Government assistance reached the families and communities it was intended to benefit, particularly those in remote areas.
“Let every dollar reach the families it is meant for,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Government’s role was to support churches in their work rather than control their spiritual mission. He urged church leaders to uphold integrity, protect vulnerable people and ensure their ministries remained focused on serving communities.
