Festivals of the Laity Begin in TCIM
Pastor Roy Lindsay,
Communication Director TCIM



various Festivals of the Laity throughout the Atlantic Caribbean Union (ATCU) got off to a dynamic start when the Turks and Caicos Islands Mission (TCIM) held its Festival of the Laity from September 6-7, 2013. Under the theme “Fired Up, Reaching Out, Bringing In,” the Mission was honored to have Pastor Melchor Ferreyra, Personal Ministries Director of the Inter-American Division (IAD) as guest speaker for the event along with Pastor Al Powell, Personal Ministries Director of the Atlantic Caribbean Union. The event began on Friday evening September 6, 2013 at the Blue Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church on the island of Providenciales and then shifted to the Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church on the Island of Grand Turk Island for Sabbath morning, September 7, 2013.

It was the very first Festival of the Laity held in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and so the excitement and anticipation were high as Pastor Ferreyra challenged and charged the members with his message. Expounding on Isaiah’s vision of God sitting on His throne, in Isaiah chapter 6, Pastor Ferreyra told members that when God forgives us of our sins, He gives us vision, mission, strategy, values, and a road map to live by. These points resonated with the membership and were the buzz words on their lips during the weekend. Encouraging the laity to continue to press forward, and to march onward in God’s grace, Ferrreya added that “I have never seen an army marching backwards; armies march forward.”

During the meetings, each district shared with the congregation what was being done in the community and the many souls that were won to the kingdom of God as God blessed the work of the laity. A number of lay persons were recognized and awarded for their work in their respective churches and the communities. Elder Osias Joseph of the Five Cays Seventh-day Adventist Church who was recognized for his outstanding work in evangelism, church leadership and growth as well as community development, was selected as the most outstanding lay person in the mission. Other awardees were: Marjorie Bassett, who was chosen as the first runner -up lay person; Tracy-Ann Blythe - female preacher; Jerry Cadeus - youth preacher; Joshua Daniel - child preacher; Hilly Ewing - pioneer layperson; and Reinford Trail - non-ministerial worker.
The convention style event which highlighted the work of the laity in evangelism, community service, and leadership culminated at the Maranatha High School Auditorium in Providenciales on Sabbath afternoon, September 7, 2013.

The Festivals of the Laity will continue throughout the union in the both the North and South Bahamas Conferences from September 27-29, 2013. One of the featured events for Sabbath September 28, 2013 throughout IAD and ATCU is the baptismal ceremony that will be conducted by elders who have prepared candidates for baptism. The final Festival of the Laity for ATCU will be held in the Cayman Islands Conference from October 4-5, 2013. During this occasion the Atlantic Caribbean Union will recognize various laypersons from throughout its territory, as we continue to celebrate year of the laity.

Article By: John Wesley, Stewardship Director,
Cayman Island Conference

The Atlantic Caribbean Union concluded its stewardship congress on Sabbath afternoon, August 31, 2013 at the Grant's Town Seventh-day Adventist Church with guest presenters Dr. Erika Puni and Pastor Javier Mejia, stewardship ministries directors of the General Conference and the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, respectively.

Under the theme, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," the congress began on Wednesday, August 28, with a worship service at the Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nassau, Bahamas. In his opening presentation entitled "Living as Stewards," Pastor Puni focused on the life of Job as an example of what it means to be a dynamic steward.

On Thursday, August 29, a workshop was held for pastors and local field stewardship directors, at the union's headquarters. At the sessions, Pastor Puni challenged the pastors and leaders of the church to rethink the way stewardship is presented. "We have to adapt new ways of packaging our stewardship ministry in our changing world," he said. Also presenting, was Pastor Javier Mejia, who explained the CGI or Comprehensive Growth Initiative, which is the stewardship plan for the Inter-American Division. The main purpose, explained pastor Mejia, is to encourage members to grow their faith through the forging of spiritual habits of faithful living.

The seminar concluded on Sabbath afternoon with two timely presentations by Pastor Puni: the "Theology of Tithe and Practice of Tithing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church," and the "Theology of Offerings and Giving in the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Pastor Edward St. Fluer, of the South Bahamas Conference, remarked that the seminar was much needed. "I am delighted to have participated in the meetings as it will help me in my personal relationship with God and in sharing the dynamics of stewardship to the members."

The congress was held for the benefit of all the members, pastors, and stewardship directors of the Atlantic Caribbean Union as well as members of the public. The South Bahamas Conference was the host conference.

Tags: Stewardship Director

Communication Department, ATCU

Dr. Erika Puni, stewardship director for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, presented a dynamic message on God’s faithfulness during the opening of the Atlantic Caribbean Union’s stewardship congress. The congress began on Wednesday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church, Old Trail Road, Nassau, Bahamas. Using the title “Living as a Steward,” Elder Puni presented a case study on the life of Job. He extricated seven stewardship principles from the Biblical account of the patriarch’s life:

• Being right with God is more important than being rich.
• The giving of offerings is a normal part of one’s relationship with God.
• In this world, even the righteous will experience loss, pain, and death.
• God permits certain things to happen; but God is not responsible for death.
• There is a powerful God who is in control of the affairs of His people.
• God owns everything; and human beings are stewards of His resources.
• Even in the midst of personal loss, God is still worthy of worship.

Pastor Javier Mejia, stewardship director of the Inter-American Division brought greetings during the opening night. The meetings continue on Thursday, August 29, 2013, at 8:15 a.m. with workshops for pastors at the union’s headquarters on Gladstone Road, New Providence, Bahamas. On Sabbath, August 31, Elders Puni and Javier will be speaking at the 11:00 a.m. service at the Grants’ Town and Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Churches respectively.

The meetings conclude on Sabbath, August 31 at 5:00 p.m. at the Grant’s Town Church. The theme for the congress is “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Tags: Stewardship Director

By: ATCU Communication Department

During February 2013, the Cayman Islands Conference conducted the “Family Enrichment Series” with Pastor Alonzo Smith, guest evangelist from New York. The crusade witnessed some 239 persons being baptized and the establishment of a new church, the Berea SDA church, located in West Bay, Grand Cayman. Read More...

Tags: New Church

By: ATCU Communication Department

December 1, 2012, was recognized as World Stewardship Day in the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (IAD). In the Atlantic Caribbean Union (ATCU), Sabbath services at the various churches across the four fields highlighted the various principles of stewardship. Read More...

Tags: IAD, Stewardship Director, ATCU