In 1962, Jerome, an ex-navy cadet working for the government in Noumea, New Caledonia, first heard the gospel and was baptised as an Adventist. The truth he had learned inspired him greatly, and together with his wife Wakeo, they sought to pass on the thrilling message they had received at every opportunity.
A burden for his own kinsfolk back on the island of Mare deepened in Jerome’s heart until he decided he must return. This decision was not without some deliberation, because between them Jerome and Wakeo were earning a good amount of money where they were located. To leave this income would be a great sacrifice, however, they were convicted of their calling. They sent some money to Wabao, Jerome’s home village, for the construction of a small home and shopfront to be stocked with goods to sell when they arrived.
After travelling to the village and settling in, Jerome and Wakeo immediately began to minister to those around them. It was at this point that Jerome’s uncle, his guardian since his father’s death, told the young couple plainly that he was not going to have the place turned into a church and they must either stop their evangelism work or leave.
Pain tore through Jerome’s heart at the ultimatum given to him and the hardness of his uncle towards his faith after loving and raising him as his own. With great sorrow and determination not to let anything hinder their gospel work, the young couple with their two babies packed up their things in an old utility truck and left Wabao. They headed towards the middle of the island where there was a new garden plot which Jerome had been tending. There they built a rough bush hut for their family to settle. The soil was scarce and poor and surrounded by rubbishy bush which needed clearing before they could grow yams, bananas, beans and a few other plants to survive on.
Resigned to their simple life, Jerome and Wakeo continued in their mission of evangelising and working for others. Jerome established a few contacts in Noumea, three of whom were baptised. Soon, three more contacts came over to Mare from Noumea and were baptised alongside another woman from Mare.
Jerome’s uncle had taken over their home and shop, and was selling their stock and keeping the profits for himself instead of sending the profits through to Jerome. This was especially painful after Jerome had also paid a large proportion of the cost of a car for his uncle to drive. The village chief where Jerome and Wakeo were living was sympathetic with Jerome’s situation and offered to call the elders of the village together to reinstate Jerome in his home and store, or at least get the money from his uncle for the proceeds of sale from his store. But Jerome refused the offer, choosing grace instead so as not to deepen the rift between his uncle and himself, hoping instead to one day win his uncle over to Christ.
Jerome constructed a little chapel next to his home on the garden plot so that the growing group of believers from his village could meet on Sabbaths. When the construction work was nearly completed, Jerome arrived home one day to fire-blackened remains of his newly built little church. It is not known whether the flames were caused by accident or human intent, but Jerome’s joy was shattered. All his hard work seemed lost in an instant, with even his tools being burned alongside the chapel.
But the little church community around Jerome continued to meet and inspired him with hope that not all was lost in the fire—only temporary things of this earth. Especially touching was being able to reach Jerome’s own brother and family with the gospel, who joined their group of believers.
At this time, there is still one church on Mare for the 5000 inhabitants of the island.
This story has been adapted and derived from the Australasian Record, February 27, 1967.
Olivia Fairfax is a producer at Adventist Media.
