August 1, 2025
Bible Month 2025 has recently concluded across the South Pacific, uniting Christians in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu in a powerful season of Bible engagement, public reading of the Bible, and community discipleship. Facilitated by the Bible Society of the South Pacific (BSSP), the month-long campaign between June 29 and July 27 is energising churches and communities with a renewed focus on the transformative power of God’s Word.
This year’s theme is “Substance Use and the Word of God” – an important and relevant discussion needed across the South Pacific. To launch Bible Month 2025 and introduce this year’s theme, BSSP General Secretary, Geoffry Miller recorded a short video. His message calls on churches, communities, and individuals to engage deeply with the Word of God and celebrate its life-changing impact.
A core element of Bible Month, which explores this year’s theme, is the five-day devotion series. The series is available in English and local languages, including iTaukei, Bislama, and Solomon Island Pijin. It is intended for use in churches and Bible study groups, families, and youth groups. You can find this series here.
Alongside the five-day devotion series, devotionals from key church leaders, such as Rev. Sepiuta Hala’api’api (General Secretary of the Fiji Council of Churches) and Rev. Aporosa Rageci (General Secretary of the Fiji Baptist Convention of Churches), have been shared on BSSP’s YouTube channel.
Throughout Bible Month, BSSP Missions teams in Solomon Islands and Fiji are engaging local churches through Sunday School teacher training, family Bible training, and trauma healing workshops by the Trauma Healing Institute using ‘Healing the Wounds of Trauma – How the Church Can Help?’. These initiatives are equipping communities to apply biblical hope to real-life struggles while strengthening spiritual foundations across all generations.
Across the region, Bible Month has featured a wide range of impactful activities:
- Bible Month 2025 began in Fiji with the Witness March and Opening Service in Suva. A local news outlet covered this event here.
- A social media campaign featuring prominent Christian athletes like Afu Ofeina, Jone Naikabula, Seta Tamanivalu, and Josefa Lilidamu, as well as faith leaders, including the team from Grace Symphony Ministries, sharing their favourite Bible verses.
- In Vanuatu, the team launched the ‘Identity: Identified’ New Testament Bibles during the Vanuatu Collaboration Meeting. Following this launch, the local BSSP team visited the Catholic Head Office in Port Vila to present these Bibles to Bishop Jean Bosco Baremes. During the presentation, the team highlighted the significant connection between biblical identity and cultural heritage.
- In the Solomon Islands, Bible Month has included children’s programs, Sunday School educator training, and a visit to the Literacy Project in Malaita—a collaboration between BSSP and the Literacy Association of the Solomon Islands (LASI). This initiative is transforming lives in Foltana and Anowasa villages, where around 70% of the 65 learners are women, learning to read in their heart language. The team also launched the Identity: Identified New Testament Bibles at a handover ceremony at the Solomon Islands Catholic Head Office, where Archbishop Christopher Cardone received the gifts.
- In Fiji, there are various public Bible readings across the country, drawing people to read aloud from the pulpit and participate in Scripture proclamation in their communities. Additionally, the Fiji Missions Team visited the Island of Koro to conduct Trauma Healing training and scriptural distributions within schools and churches in 14 villages. Finally, the BSSP team launched just the second New Testament in a Fijian dialect — the Ba New Testament.
Bible Week in Vanuatu during Bible Month
Within the Bible Month, the BSSP team launched the Bible Week in Vanuatu, which included the distribution of Bible Week Devotionals at the Vanuatu Collaboration Meeting.
The Collaboration Meeting occurred at the Melanesian Hotel in Port Vila and spanned one week, fostering collaboration among Bible agencies and churches. Open discussions were conducted regarding Vanuatu’s needs and remaining local languages which still do not have access to any Scripture.
Bible Week convened six Bible translation agencies, leaders and representatives from seven church denominations, representatives from para-church organizations, and members of the Vanuatu Christian Council.
The week concluded with the launch and dedication of the Vanuatu Christian Council Translation Desk, which is set to serve a national coordinating role for Bible translation efforts throughout Vanuatu.
His Excellency Nikenike Vurobaravu, the President of Vanuatu, formally closed the Bible Week by hosting a Prayer Breakfast at the Melanesian Hotel Conference Centre.
From urban centres to rural villages, Bible Month is creating a lasting impact across the South Pacific—strengthening church partnerships, raising biblical literacy, and rooting hope in the Word of God. For the global Bible ministry community, this celebration is a model of regional cooperation, cultural relevance, and holistic Bible engagement.
