Biche Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Community on Gatokae, Marovo, Western Province over the weekend marked 100 years since the establishment of the Adventist Church and arrival of the gospel at the community.
The Adventist gospel was formally established there in 1924.
Over the weekend from Friday 27th December to Saturday [Sabbath] 28th December 2025 the community came together to successfully organise the historic event.
A number of guest speakers were present to officiate in the spiritual gathering.
The opening program began on Friday evening. It featured an opening devotion and the unveiling of a monument to commemorate the arrival of the gospel on the shores of Biche.
It was solemn program as the community took a moment of silence to reflect back at the time when the first Adventist church was formally established 100 years ago.
Most of the pioneer missionaries and members of the first church have passed on.
The moment was erected to remember their efforts in accepting the gospel and establishing the Adventist gospel at Biche.
It now stands as a memorial for the young generations to see when the gospel arrived at the community.
The writings on the monument reads; “This stone is to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of the arrival of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission at Biche Village in 1924. Those who happily received the message has already rest, awaiting His imminent soon return.”
Following the unveiling of the monument, the congregation went into the church for the opening vespers program [worship].
On Sabbath a good number of Adventist communities around Gatokae turned up at Biche to join in the Sabbath service program.
During the day long program the congregation were blessed with the sermon, songs, thanksgiving prayer and testimonies.
There was a segment were some of the past stories and histories of how the Adventist mission arrived at Biche were shared.
It was also heard that some of the young men from Biche received their education at Batuna to become missionaries.
They later served in other parts of Western province, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Reports said, it was an emotional program listening to the sacrifice that some of the missionaries have gone through to bring the Adventist gospel to Gatokae Island and at Biche.
The celebration heard about the leading hand of God in transforming the lives of the heathen chiefs to accept the establishment of the gospel.
Today, a good majority of the younger generations, descendants and people from the Gatokae Island are Adventists.
The weekend program allowed some of the descendants of the pioneer missionaries from Biche to be reunited with their loved ones to witness the event.
Some of them traveled in from around Gatokae, Western province, Honiara and even overseas.
Donaldson Saepio who spent the weekend at Biche and also witnessed the celebration said, “this weekend we remember and commemorate the arrival of the Seventh Day Adventist mission 100 years ago on this chiefly village on Gatokae island.”
Travis Ronnie also from Gatokae along with his family were able to witness the occasion.
He also acknowledged celebration and God for the arrival of the gospel mission to the community.
“Give thanks to God for 100 years Anniversary of Biche Seventh-day Adventist Church Since 1924,” he said.
A group of family members from Rannoggah whose father and grandfather is from Biche and was a pioneer missionary also traveled to the vilalge to witness the program.
They expressed excitement to be part of the program which allowed them to hear how their great-grandfather was a missionary and contributed to spreading of the gospel. They were able to be reunited with their loved ones during the program.
The program was successfully concluded on Sabbath evening and everyone were excited to witness the historical program.
