A new Pidgin language bible will be launched in the Solomon Islands on July 6. The launch of the Solomon Islands Pidgin Bible will be the biggest event in the 2008 Year of the Bible, declared by the Solomon's government. Also the launch of the new bible coincides with the nation's 30th independence celebrations.

The14 year long work carried out by the Solomon Islands Translation Advisory (SITA) group involved translating hundreds of pages from the books of the Old Testament, as well as revising a 1980's translation of the New Testament. The committee responsible for the translation was a combination of representatives from all churches in the Solomon Islands.

Promoter of the whole Bible translation project into Pidgin is the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA).

According to Georgina Sogote, SITA-member, the 6 July launch "demonstrates the commitment churches in the country have to work together and also shows that Solomon Islands is truly a Christian country," she said. Different church groups will put up activities as part of the launch and counselling will be available for any interested people who need help, explains Sogote.

Spoken by around 350,000 people, or 72 per cent of the population, Solomon’s Pidgin is one of the largest of the 69 languages used in the 16 scattered island communities that make up the Solomon Islands. However, it is not an official language and its speakers have only had access to the New Testament since 1993.

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In Brief:
Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA)

The Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA), founded in 1967, is a fellowship of churches and organizations which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Their mission statement declares: "We as a national body commit ourselves to promoting the spirit of unity and solidarity both with SICA and non-SICA member Christian churches."

Members Churches include: Church of Melanesia (Anglican), Church of Nazarene, Roman Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, South Sea Evangelical Church and United Church in the Solomon Islands. Associate members include: Bible Society, Campus Crusade for Christ, Child Evangelism, Family Planning Australia, Language Recording, Scripture Union, Short Workshop in Mission, Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group and World Vision.