A TOTAL of $445, 335.76 in funding support under the Church Grant is being paid out to 42 churches within the Central Honiara Constituency (CHC).
Some of the churches received their share over the weekend at a ceremony held at the Holy Cross Cathedral.
Others will receive their share through out this week.
Tax-payers through the constituency office ensures churches are given the support to continue with their operations.
Under the payout Some of the bigger churches like; St. Barnabas Cathedral, Central SSEC, Wesley United, and Holy Cross Cathedral received a total of $15, 395.34, while the other smaller churches received the amount of $10, 098.80.
About 17 churches have already received their share on Saturday 17th May. The other 25 churches are expected to collect their cheques throughout this week.
The fund comes from the constituency’s last year’s budget on its Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGPEA).
Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Rexford Paul said despite the constituency’s large number of voters during election, it is very important for CHC to support the churches for the continuation of the Lord’s work in Solomon Islands.
He quoted the constituency’s Member of Parliament (MP), Gordon Darcy Lilo’s Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement’s (SIPRA) theme: “Rise up and Regain Our Country”.
“We need to work together as a not only as a constituency, but the country as a whole to Rise Up and Regain Solomon Islands,” Mr. Paul said.
Most of the church leaders were really happy as this is a first of its kind from the constituency.
And they thanked the MP through his leadership and his team for recognizing the local churches.
“One church leader illustrated this with the scenario of the 10 lepers in Luke 17, when Jesus healed 10 men with leprosy and only one came back to thank Jesus.
“CHC is like the one who came back to thank Jesus. CHC came back to give back help to its constituents,” Paul quoted the church leader.
The CDO added that all church leaders responded with meaningful words expressing their heartfelt gratitude and acknowledging CHC Office and the MP for their wise decision.
Early this month CHC also donated two buses for Mataniko Pikinini Clinic and Mbokonavera Clinic to provide services to both health workers and patients within the constituency.
Mr. Paul said the constituency office is very happy to give back to its people.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
