From the Superintendent's DESK

Bob Downey, Director of North America Work, and his wife, Cheryl, arrived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, September 20, to visit churches on the island. Their schedule includes seven of the eleven churches on the island of St. Vincent, and a church on the island of Bequia.

Their first service was Friday evening in Paul Over, located in the capital, Kingstown. Around fifty people from Paul Over and Lowman’s hill attended. The congregation enthusiastically sang praise choruses and hymns, and several shared their testimonies. Before the message, a young man beautifully sang “Wonderful, Merciful Savior.” The text was taken from Jude 1-3, and the congregation was encouraged to uphold the faith of the apostles, and earnestly strive to make Heaven their eternal home.

A ministers and workers meeting was held on Saturday morning at the Campden Park church, with around thirty-nine ministers and workers in attendance. Elizabeth Medford, the pastor in Paul Over, welcomed everyone, and brought out that the Apostolic Faith Church in St. Vincent just celebrated its ninety-fifth anniversary. Christopher King, District Superintendent in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, stated that he has been blessed to be overseer of the work for thirty-eight years, and it was a privilege to install a couple new pastors recently. Brother Bob covered several topics in the Ministers’ Manual and encouraged the ministers and workers to uphold the Gospel that had been handed to them down through the years.

On Sunday morning, the Downeys took a one-hour ferry ride to the island of Bequia, along with several from Paul Over and Lowman’s Hill. The church in Bequia has been under construction for a number of years, but they are making progress, and their sanctuary is near completion. The pastor, Lincoln Ragguette, recalled the first time the Downeys visited Bequia fifteen years ago, when the church construction had just begun, and on each subsequent visit, they have been able to see the building progress. The service included enthusiastic singing and testimonies from the congregation, and before the sermon, a soloist sang “Sometimes It Takes a Mountain.” The message text was taken from Matthew 24:37-39, and it was brought out that just as sure as the Flood came in Noah’s day, Jesus will return and rapture His Church. He encouraged the congregation to walk with God on a daily basis and make sure they are ready at all times.

On Monday evening, a service was held in Dorsetshire Hill, located around fifteen minutes from Kingstown. The church is built into the side of a hill with a beautiful view, and there was a nice breeze during the service. The assistant, Frank Harry, led the congregational singing, and the sanctuary rang with praises as the congregation sang with all their hearts. Once again, people traveled from branch churches to offer their support, and the sanctuary was full. During the testimony portion of the service, the congregation sang a popular chorus on the island, “I Want to Do Thy Will, O Lord.” Before the message, a soloist sang “We Shall Behold Him,” followed by the congregation enthusiastically singing “Holy and Righteous.” After reading Luke 2:8-20 and Matthew 2:9-11 for the texts and referencing the accounts of the shepherds and wisemen, the congregation was encouraged to seek for the “gift that keeps on giving” and receive whatever they need from God.

The Downeys are scheduled to visit four more churches this week, and return to Portland early next week.