From Charles and Carmen FlemingFrom Charles and Carmen FlemingORLANDO, Florida—Jesus promised that those who received the Holy Spirit would be transformed, not only in what they do, but in who they become.
They would be his witnesses. As we observe what the Spirit is doing in our churches in the Caribbean, we see that they are on a trajectory reminiscent of Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8, where he said: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Among many of our members is a new sense that we live to share—and share sacrificially—the love and knowledge of Christ with others.
In preparing this report we asked our leaders to pay attention to the ways in which God is leading us to have more concern for people outside our church (non-Christians, backslidden Christians and needy people in the society around us). I hope you enjoy their reports.
Antigua
The Antigua congregation is a small group church that meets twice monthly on Sundays. The congregation consists of nine baptized adults and five children. On those Sundays when we have no scheduled meetings, some members worship with other denominations.
In many, sometimes small ways, our members have been on missions. Our eldest member has assisted the Girls’ Guides in her community for a number of years.
Two men are involved in relational evangelism. One of them visits elderly members of his community. He devotes time in intercessory prayer for them.
For the past two and a half years, even as the WCG is my home church, my family has also been worshiping at a Baptist church. During the past year, they acquired a building adjacent to their church to use to reach out to the community and share the gospel. As an architectural draftsman I volunteered to provide architectural drawings for an extension to the building.
My wife, Connie, was able to arrange the procurement of furniture. This center is used for various classes and also has a bookstore in which religious literature is sold. Frederick Ferris.
Guyana
Our locally produced Bible studies by Aubrey Williams have added eight new subscribers to the distribution list.
April saw the launch of a youth publication titled Youth Focus 2004. This publication educates young people with respect to renewing spiritual values and to be empowered to cope with moral and spiritual issues in society today.
The women’s ministry put a program of activities for 2004 into action. Besides meeting every month, they planned a two-day retreat in July, visits to elderly and children’s homes, a regular one-day monthly fast, leading in praise and worship services once a month and supervising youth activities.
On May 3 the women visited a senior citizens home and conducted praise and worship, explained Psalm 27 and shared a meal with residents. Goraiah Papayya.
Bahamas
Our congregation hosts community Crime Watch and Homeowners Association meetings monthly, which has attracted up to 60 neighbors. At one meeting, I handed out a survey asking neighbors what they felt the church could do to help people in the area. Many said we can get into the community and meet people and visit them in their homes; that we ought to be seen and not just heard.
Shortly thereafter, we began our community walk-about as part of our get-to-know-your-neighbor campaign. We let our neighbors know that God has placed us here to serve, and that we want to get to know them; that we offer two services weekly to help meet their spiritual needs. We invited those who do not have a church home to worship with us. A good number invited us into their homes and were excited to see that someone cares.
Several months ago, we also began conducting a weekly service outside in the parking lot. This has attracted several young men who come and play basketball.
Our soup kitchen feeds about 75 to 100 people weekly. In Freeport, we assist with the Meals on Wheels program. Robert W. T. McKinney.
Dominica
Over the past year, we have visited a prison, hospitals and a home for the aged, where we share Christ with residents and pray with them. We respond to people in distress. We gave a cash donation to a family left homeless by fire. One of our members provides daily transportation and helps fill other needs for a single parent with three young children.
Our midweek Bible study and prayer meetings are more open to the public. Cris Vidal.
Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago
Through the Emmaus Walk, God is deepening our appreciation of his grace, and the Holy Spirit transcends denominational distinctiveness. Walks are 72-hour weekend discipleship ministries for building more vibrant disciples of Christ. In Barbados we conducted five walks in the last two years involving Christians from several denominations. We conducted 11 walks in Trinidad.
We maintain a friendship with Campus Crusade for Christ through which God is strengthening some of our young believers as active Christians with hearts for evangelism and also building our marriages.
Patricia Scott reports: “At the beginning of the year, the youths were invited to attend the Leadership Training Institute (LTI), Campus Crusade’s annual camp. The theme of the camp was “Becoming Onesimus Serving at Home and Abroad.” We studied the book of Philemon, the life of Onesimus and applied them to our lives. We looked at ways we could be useful in our home, school, work, community and worldwide. We also discussed things that have us in bondage and how we can break the bonds and serve God freely.”
Wayne Rajaram reports on the marriage ministry involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ: “In January, a four-week Family Life Home Builders Couple Series was conducted at Arima, Trinidad, in which eight couples participated. The theme was “Keeping Your Covenant.”
Eighteen of our leaders have attended area seminars conducted by the Haggai Institute for Leadership Development, and two have attended in Hawaii and Singapore.
We have also begun assisting our Methodist brothers by preaching the word in several of their congregations in central and southern Trinidad. Our job there is to assist the resident pastor.
God is showing us that the harvest indeed is great but the laborers are few. We have a great need for faithful leaders who have abandoned themselves to Christ to build disciples who also abandon themselves to Christ.
Bermuda
This past year has been one of prayer and consolidation for the congregation. We have settled into a beautiful new building, which God as provided, and we have begun to use the facility for outreach and evangelism.
As our motto this year is “God Is Working,” our sermon themes have covered a variety of topics outlining the ways in which God wants us to reach out to join him in his work.
Prayers are offered for the unsaved each week during our intercessory prayer time.
The last Sunday of each month is Community Sunday, where members of the public are specifically invited, along with friends and relatives of church members.
We are eagerly anticipating how God will use us to expand his kingdom work here on the island. Senior Pulley.
Haiti
Our church in Haiti continues to lose members, yet it is enjoying its greatest period of ministry ever. We have an average attendance of 12, but God uses this small group in a truly impressive manner. The church sponsors a school for 240 students. It provides a quality education that includes Bible instruction and Christian living principles. The contact with the children’s parents is used to share the gospel with them, and some of them show some interest.
Our school is providing hope and a priceless opportunity to a group of children who are growing up in one of the most difficult countries to live in. They receive love, care and attention along with training that can give them a chance of doing more than just survive in the grinding poverty that is the lot of so many on the island. And that education includes an explanation of the good news that Jesus brought. Charles Fleming.
French West Indies
Here in the French Islands we began cooperation with other denominations a few years ago. It was not easy, but with the help of God, we have a few results.
We are involved in a cooperative venture with Child Evangelism Fellowship, through which some members were trained in how to proclaim the gospel to children. One of them, Roselyne Klock, a deaconess, is equipped as a trainer of trainers. Some parents are coming back to church because their children have been involved in this program.
Roselyne is to lead a team from Guadeloupe to train members in Martinique. We plan to do the same in Haiti next year for children at the church-sponsored school.
Another area of cooperation with other Christian denominations is in Martinique where my wife, Betty, and I were invited by some evangelical churches to lead seminars on family matters. Some of the women who have attended these sessions also attended a women’s retreat organized by our fellowship in Basse Pointe in May.
Another area of cooperation in Martinique is worship. Each month, we invite different vocal groups from the Christian community to share with us.
Charity is also another area of involvement of the French West Indies congregations. We join with choirs from different denominations singing together to collect money to help people in need. Each year, the Martinique congregation contributes to a food bank for the needy.
We still have a lot to do, and we make this a priority in our prayers, to know the plans the Lord has for the people of our islands. Jack Brunet.
St. Lucia
One Sunday each month, members run a lunch program at St. Lucy’s Home for the Poor in Castries.
Suriname
Members in Suriname take part in individual social projects such as buying medicine for the needy and paying for a hydro system for an orphanage.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The women’s ministry has an outreach program for the aged and disabled.
Members take part in a support program for abandoned children conducted by St. Benedict’s home.
Jamaica
Members in Jamaica participate in a food distribution program for the poor, and host funeral services for the general public.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2004