Members of other Christian denominations on Santa Isabel in the Solomon Islands are using Seventh-day Adventist Church-produced materials in their children's Sunday schools.

Deku Enoch introduced the new GraceLink Sabbath School curriculum at workshops organised by 200 Adventist women from Guadalcanal daily in the town of Buala and in villages along the coast during a visit to the island, June 7-12.

The mission of the GraceLink Sabbath School curriculum is to help children joyfully experience God’s grace and respond by showing love to God (worship), showing love to family and friends (community) and serving others in their world (service)

"The members of the denomination loved us coming," says Joy Butler, the director of women's ministries for the church in the South Pacific. "The pastors, priests and bishops were so responsive."

Mrs Butler reports that many of the priests and bishops and 100 of the denomination's female parishioners joined the Adventists to present the workshops, which covered topics such as children's ministry, dressmaking, finance, nutrition, prayer ministry, relationships, time management and women's ministry. They also visited primary schools where they spoke about dental care and gave away toothbrushes.

"I'm impressed with how the women integrated so well," says Mrs Butler. "They became friends. I've never seen so many tears at a farewell before."

Leaders of the church's Eastern Solomon Islands Mission have befriended a leader of the denomination, which has broken down the antagonism preventing Adventists from bringing their message to the island.