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Resources - Missions (Overseas)
June 2000
Our Battlefield Missionaries
Rev. Bill Van Schie
Kevin and Machi Rietveld, our missionaries in the
Solomon’s, live on a battlefield. Quite literally! The SWIM compound is
located about one-kilometer inland from Lungga Point. In other words,
Kevin and Machi live between the beach and Henderson Airfield on the
Island of Guadalcanal.
During World War 2 Henderson Airfield was one of those places that was
strategic for the future of the war in the Pacific. Those who controlled
this airfield controlled the Pacific supply lines for many of the troops
on both sides of the conflict.
The Allies won the airfield from the Japanese in a surprise attack and
then for a number of months, each day built up their forces in the
Island of Guadalcanal to safeguard their prize possession.
The Japanese landed thousands of troops by night near Lungga Point to
take the airfield back from the Allies. They even took soldiers out of
New Guinea to fight here. Many fierce battles over a number months
ensued. Many thousands of lives were lost but the allies held on grimly.
Off shore the Japanese navy sent their finest battle ships and aircraft
carriers to bombard the Allies’ positions and to land more troops. The
Allies sent many of their finest ships and incredible naval battles
occurred with more than forty war ships lying of Lungga Point in an area
now called Iron Bottom Sound. It was at Guadalcanal that the tide of the
war in the Pacific changed. It was at Lungga Point that the Japanese
advance was halted and they began their retreat.
Kevin and Machi, when digging in their garden, find bullet shell
casings, pieces of steel tank tracks, 1940’s Coca Cola Bottles and many
other remnants of the war. They are constantly reminded of the strategic
location in which they live.
Kevin and Machi Rietveld also live on a modern battlefield today. The
battle is between the empire of evil and the King of Righteousness. The
battlefield is the hearts and minds of the people of the Solomon’s and
the future of their nation. Their ministry is quite as strategic,
critical and timely as Henderson Airfield was a few decades ago.
The people of the Solomon’s are at a crossroad. Because of the faithful
work of missionaries they have come to believe in Jesus as their Lord
and Savior. It is normal to have a church affiliation. However the old
superstitions are not far from the surface and do still have a great
impact on their way of life.
In a recent visit there, I was privileged to meet with clergy and church
leaders from the Catholic Church, Church of Melanesia (Anglican)
Wesleyan United Church and South Seas Evangelical Church. All of them
expressed great concern regarding the impact of the westernization of
their culture.
Through the facilitation of Kevin, I had been invited up to the
Solomon’s to lead a series of seminars in the Churches, Theological
Colleges and with the Youth Groups regarding the Biblical Principles of
Christian Marriage and how to set up a Marriage Preparation Program.
This opening came because the old cultural glue that has held their
marriages and the family together in the past is disintegrating under
the pressures of westernization and the divorce rate is starting to
climb alarmingly.
I was warmly and enthusiastically received by all. I saw pastors and
priests enthused because they now have a proactive Biblical program they
can use to prepare their young people for marriage and as a means by
which they can counter attack the divorce rate.
I saw theological students and a brand new theological college striving
for a deeper understanding of the Word of God and how to apply it back
in the more primitive villages. I saw them struggling to put together a
Bible based and academic curriculum.
I saw young people commit their lives and their relationships to the
Lord desiring to grow in the fruit of the Spirit, to develop agape love
and to walk close in the love of their Lord.
I saw the Lord open the doors of Archbishops, Denominational Presidents
and Superintendents. I saw the Lord give the vision and enthusiasm for
Biblical Marriage Preparation where there was a great deal of despair
before.
I also saw the Lord open the office door of a government minister who is
responsible for Marriage and the Family Law Courts in the Solomon’. I
saw this man become greatly enthused by the concept and the content of
Marriage Preparation that was presented to Him. He became so greatly
enthused that he spoke of planning to develop a national Marriage
Preparation Policy for the Solomon’s with the aid of the local churches.
Right there in his office he asked me to pray for him. I did so asking
the Lord for wisdom for this man, a blessing on his important work and a
blessing on his family.
Yes, the Solomon’s are at the crossroads. Leaving the old ways and
slipping into the spiritual bankruptcy of westernisation. However I saw
the Lord busy at work in the Solomon’s. I saw the Lord opening hearts,
opening doors, encouraging the locals into a Biblically based culture.
Our Solomon brethren are poor materially. They are limited in resources,
education and training. They desperately need and greatly desire support
and expertise. Do you have expertise in teaching, in trades, in aspects
of Word ministry and pastoral care? Then consider the call from the
Solomon’s and work where the Lord is very busy opening doors and
opportunities. Do you hear the call, “Come over and help us?”
Yes, Kevin and Machi are our battlefield missionaries. They have been
strategically placed by the Lord to facilitate projects and Word
training ministries. Has the Lord equipped you and resourced you to be
one of his soldiers?
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