August 14, 2020 | St. John’s, Antigua | Vaughn Joseph
The propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the thrust and mainstay of the Christian religion and by extension the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In fact, the Adventist Church, as a worldwide movement, was founded on the Word of God and continues to proclaim His message in all seasons.
On Sunday, August 9, 2020, at 6:00 pm, the Antigua and Barbuda Lay Preachers/Lay Bible Workers Federation launched its activities for the duration of the year and beyond with a service of consecration at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, St. John’s. In attendance were lay members from the length and breadth of the island including preachers, Bible workers, Bible instructors and prayer warriors. All health protocols pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic were observed.
Sunday’s consecration service was captioned “I will Go”. This theme of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is supported by nine points of the constitution of the federation. These include training, mobilizing and deploying lay members to become more effective preachers and Bible instructors to win men and women to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The president of the federation, Sister Clara Heskey-Jarvis, gave her opening remarks and welcome, while the South Leeward Conference (SLC) director for Personal Ministries, Pastor Kay White, introduced the executive members of the federation. The members are as follows:
President Clara Heskey-Jarvis
Vice President Janice Michael
Secretary/Treasurer Sheriline Martin
PRO and Assistant Treasurer Vaughn Joseph
Asst. PRO Simon Chatham
Chaplain Wayne Bell
Ex Officio Member Eugene Benjamin
Elder Eugene Benjamin presented the plans and objectives of the federation for the remainder of the year, with the highlights of the laity organizing and executing Sunday night evangelistic services on the SLC media platforms, commencing on August 23, 2020. This would be followed by a few weeks of nightly virtual evangelistic meetings later in the year. In these events, lay preachers will be expounding the word of God with the dynamic support of the various zones in the constituency of Antigua. These promises to be powerful and dynamic evangelistic initiatives.
In her charge to the laity, Pastor Kay White encouraged the laity to:
- recognize and embrace their need of the Holy Spirit.
- be grounded in the Word of God and in the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- preach the word of God with power, and with the authority given to them by the Holy Spirit.
- support the pastors, the elders, and the leaders within their congregations.
Finally, Pastor Kay White prayed that God would grant each of them fruitful ministries as men and women respond to the call of God through their preaching, Bible studies and other evangelistic approaches.
Dr Carson Greene, president of the SLC, led the laity with the litany and then consecrated them with a most apt and powerful prayer.
Earlier, we were honored to have Pastor Cindie Lee, the Island Coordinator of Antigua, read the Scripture, Pastor Kendol Doyle pray to begin, while Elder Edgar Michael sang beautifully to encourage the brethren with the song, “Praise the Lord”. Additionally, Elder Wayne Bell brought a spiritual nugget and Elder Simon Chatham led the congregation with the aim, motto, and theme song of the federation
The members of federation certainly give much thanks and appreciation to the St. John’s Adventist church for affording them the opportunity to use their sanctuary for this most solemn service. Elder Janice Michael graciously conveyed this message on Sunday in her vote of thanks.
The signs of the times are everywhere, and the laity in Antigua is looking up, knowing that their redemption draws closer and closer. As the church looks to the return of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, every soul is offered an opportunity to be in the number when the Saints go marching into the gates of Heaven.
Maranatha! The Lord is coming.
Photographs by Vaughn Joseph