KYB ministry in Melanesia in the 2000s…
Know Your Bible (KYB) began in Melanesia after CWCI Australia Safari speakers were invited to several countries in the region during the 1970s to speak with and worship alongside local Christian women. The ministry has evolved and changed over the years to this present day. Women from CWCI now visit three countries with KYB material – Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. New Zealand supports CWCIs ministry in Fiji.
CWCI Melanesia Country Advisors from Australia visit each country, with a local executive in country, running KYB groups. The local executive order the studies that resonate with them, sometimes in the local pijin, but often in English depending on where the study happens to be. Over the last six years there have been several meetings with our personnel in Melanesia, and it is a joy to know them.
Melanesia is our closest neighbour nestling in the sparkling Pacific Ocean, only hours away from Australia. PNG is close, across the Torres Strait in our north, spilling around the northeast coast towards the Solomon Islands which stretch along our northeastern coastline, then Vanuatu a little further south.
Papua New Guinea
PNG has a strong local executive who all live in Port Moresby. Gima has been working with KYB for 20 years, and there are new members from different churches. Ayap is now the secretary.
They have encouragement days to introduce KYB studies to the women who come.
The Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands local executive travels the length and breadth of Guadalcanal from Honiara and back, often on foot in part, and in open boats with outdoor motors. The churches of the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) and the Church of Melanesia (Anglican) have KYB groups for their women. There are KYB groups on Isabel Island to the north in remote areas where women cannot read.
Mega voice devices are used in these areas. These devices are about the size of a mobile phone with small solar panels. They have 5 KYB studies read onto them in Solomon Pijin, which can be listened to in short bursts. This allows the women to stop and discuss the questions. Only the leader receives a mega voice device.
Vanuatu
KYB in Vanuatu operates through the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union (PWMU) in the Presbyterian Church in Port Vila. They have groups of leaders come to town, do a workshop with our Vanuatu Country Advisor, then travel home to start KYB studies in their villages. The Church of Melanesia (Anglican) has also begun to use KYB studies.
Vanuatu studies are translated into Bislama, their local pijin language.
Thank you
Thank you, CWCI women of Australia for your generosity in giving to this ministry. It means we can travel to Melanesia, provide KYB study books, MegaVoice devices, workshops, and fellowship without any cost to the local women.
Our 2026 Melanesia team
Colleen Oates
Melanesia Director
Karina Mills
Country Advisor to Vanuatu
Heather Campbell
Country Advisor to PNG
Machi Rietveld
Country Advisor to the Solomon Islands and Melanesia Translation Advisor
Donate to Melanesia
Contribute to the gospel work happening in Melanesia and support many illiterate women having access and the ability to engage with God’s word — perhaps for the first time!