MP says Churches paved way for political independence

Member of Parliament (MP) John Sala, who is also an Elder in the Church, has registered his appreciation for many important roles played by the Churches of Christ Church (CCC) in Vanuatu, and other churches, that developed to an eventual wish for Vanuatu’s political independence.

He conveyed this in his keynote address at the 54th Annual Conference of the Churches of Christ Church of Vanuatu, when he looked past 36 years, even the era when the leaders of independence began forming political parties that would rise to speak out for Vanuatu’s political freedom. In his speech last week, during the official opening of the Churches of Christ 45th annual conference, MP John Sala, who is from South Malekula constituency, looked back during the early Missionaries arrival in Vanuatu.

“We recognized that the Churches of Christ Vanuatu were one of the pioneers of Christianity in the country that arrived here over 100 years ago, especially on Ambae, Maewo and Pentecost,” he said. “We also recognized the fact that the CCC and othercChurches did not only bring and spread the Gospel to the islands, but they were also instrumental in establishing schools, hospitals and dispensaries in the islands. These led church leaders in those days to realize that locals must take up positions of responsibilities within the Churches and so, the thought of independence,” MP Sala recalled.

He spoke of the negative impacts of many developments arriving in the country today and caution the Church Leaders not to be silent on bad social issues that ruins the life of many young and old men and women and children in the country today.

He recommended that CCC leaders must spent more time in Prayers, seek ways in which the Church can engage in certain business undertakings so as to become more self-financing, work more closely with the national government and the Vanuatu Christian Council to tackle many unwanted social issues affecting the life of the people of Vanuatu today.