June 12, 2020|St. John’s, Antigua | SLC Communication Team
Due to the disruptive nature of the COVID-19 disease, the South Leeward Conference (SLC) of Seventh-day Adventists had made a very special effort to adapt to the closure of the borders of our countries and the closure of the doors of our congregations. This pandemic ensured that the administrators and directors could no longer travel across the five islands of our field, while the pastors and members were also forbidden to visit their congregations.
At this time, the primary responsibility of the Conference was to find and support ways that would help the church to creatively and effectively communicate the gospel to as many persons as possible. The SLC leadership was steadfast in its determination to never allow the light of the gospel to flicker or dim.
In the month of January 2020, as the world was discovering the dangers of this rapidly spreading disease, the South Leeward Conference had just received its first shipment of audio/video equipment. Several months before, in 2019, the Executive Committee of SLC had voted to purchase two video production cameras, a video switcher, portable lights, additional computers and an audio mixing board to assist with setting up a video recording studio. It was as though they knew that the pandemic was on its way.
This video production studio was intended to supplement the Second Advent Radio Ministries with its many listeners and supporters across several Leeward Islands and beyond. The SLC leaders believed that diversifying their ministry platforms would help to reach many souls for the Kingdom of God, especially the youth who generally spend many hours interacting on social media.
By the end of March 2020, the schools across the South Leeward Conference territory were beginning to close their doors, and travel restrictions were being implemented across the world. This meant that communication in various formats to our church members and the community had reached a near critical stage. It was then that the Communication department of SLC sprang into action by setting up a technology committee (which included George Long, Leon Forde and Eugene Benjamin) and a Sabbath service programming committee led by Pastor Orville Joseph.
After a few days of hard work and late nights, with the help of some non-SDA professionals in the technological field, the South Leeward Conference had its first, temporary recording studio outfitted in the SLC conference room. This video production studio was ready to spread the light of the gospel around the world.
The video production was only made possible with the addition of some critical pieces of equipment that had not been purchased as yet. These additional pieces were loaned to the Conference, free of cost, by the same non-SDA professionals (Jerome and Courtney).
The big day for the first live church service came on Sabbath, March 28, 2020. It was an exciting moment as the curfew restrictions were being implemented by the government of Antigua and Barbuda and social distancing regulations were being mandated. Most business places and institutions were closing their doors but the hearts of many persons in our church and community were wide open to the gospel.
This first production was carried live on the South Leeward Conference’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/slcadventist) and its radio station (Second Advent Radio). Dr. Wayne Knowles, the Communication Director of South Leeward Conference, presented the sermon on Luke 13: 1-5. The message that he presented admonished everyone to respond to the challenges of life by repenting and turning their lives over to Christ. The message was well-received, and South Leeward Conference was on the way towards having weekly divine hour Sabbath services on these new platforms.
Over the next three weeks, the divine hour services became the main feature of the week for many listeners, as over 4,000 persons followed the weekly services on Facebook Live and many more tuned in to Second Advent Radio. These programs were like an oasis in the desert for Adventist members and their friends since many persons were searching for inspirational content to water their souls during the lockdowns across the SLC territory.
According to the feedback from many listeners, the sermons were more than a blessing to their hungry souls. On the second week, Dr. Braithwaite’s sermon, about the Bible character, Job, fed them with pointers on how to navigate life’s challenges. By the third week, Pastor Kay White nourished the virtual audience with a message that encouraged them to anchor their faith in the God who was always present with the children of Israel as they crossed the Red Sea. Then, on the fourth week, Dr. Greene provided a feast as he served the audience a delightful delicacy on how to find hope and live without fear in the midst of the pandemic.
These first four weeks of sermons were mere snapshots of what was happening across the South Leeward Conference territories to uplift the faithful members. At the same time, many of our congregations were doing their best to minister to the social, physical and spiritual needs of those around them. As God would have it, the sabbath services were just mere precursors of greater things to come. To be continued next week….