Volume 19, Issue 04
St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church, Cor. Agostini & Bellesmythe Sts. Curepe
Editorial
An Unfortunate Trade
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” (Mat 27:6 NIV)
In a fair-trade arrangement, we expect honour, transparency and conditions that benefit all parties involved. But as the Trini’ saying goes, “Fren’ does carry yuh but doh bring yuh back.” This means, be careful of your alliances because they can lead you astray.
Judas was already a greedy person, thinking that he could somehow benefit from betraying Jesus. But his evil alliance with the chief priests led to his destruction and their condemnation. There were, in fact, two categories of people in this insane, demonic transaction – a follower and teachers of God’s law. This caused me to think that professing followers of Jesus and teachers of the Scripture, could become blind, greedy and deceived.
Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32) It was unfortunate that Judas estimated he did not need this call and instead traded this privilege. What an unfortunate trade. In trading his life for thirty pieces of silver, Judas underestimated his value to a loving saviour.
Interestingly, when Judas confessed his sin and betrayal of an innocent man, his co-conspirators accepted no blame in the matter. They said to Judas, “What is that to us?” … “That’s your responsibility.” (Mat 27:4 NIV) The high priests, of course, continued in their plot to kill Jesus, knowing He was innocent. More egregious than this, however, was their utter moral emptiness and hypocrisy to not accept blood money into the temple’s treasury, yet they conceived, financed and devised the cruel public crucifixion of the Messiah.
Thank God, all these events did not end with the death of the Messiah. During this time of the year we specially remember, His death, His burial and His resurrection. Easter seems a perfect time to share the love of Christ with others who do not know Him. And yes, it is. Because all people have a right to know what we know — God loves them. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17 NIV) As Christians, it is this gospel that we are encouraged by Paul to both preach and to live by. (1Co 9:27)
Therefore, this is as good a time as any to reflect on our personal walk with Christ:
Am I closely following Jesus, in public and in private?
Am I following Jesus because I agree with Him or because of what I can gain in association with Him?
Is my walk with Jesus leading others into genuine, loving communion with Him?
Pray now and ask God to help you to be sincere in your faith and to follow Him more closely every day.
By Lindon Mitchel
Missions
Streams of Prayer
Wycliffe Global Alliance | February 19-25, 2023
Rise Up
Urbana, North America’s largest student missions conference, has been guiding students in discerning their place in God's mission since 1946. Around 6,000 college students, alumni, and ministry partners from the United States, Canada and beyond came to Indianapolis for Urbana 22 - four incredible days of multi-lingual worship, engaging speakers, in-depth Scripture study, and compelling conversations about God's heart for all people.
On the very first night of Urbana, Ruth Hubbard (president of Urbana) encouraged us that finding our place in God's global mission is something that happens over a lifetime, a process of asking ourselves and asking God how the identities, passions, opportunities, and communities God has given us are a part of His mission and can bring Him glory.
Drawing on the book of Acts, the theme of Urbana 22 was "Rise Up" - to understand that God can move through our obstacles to bring his transforming hope to all people.
Discerning God's Call
One of the major goals of Urbana 22 was to help a generation of students discern God's voice. On the last day of Urbana, our main speaker Bishop Claude Alexander exhorted students that just like with the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10, "sometimes God's Word and directives challenge us at the level of comfort and appropriateness. And in those instances -- in either word or deed -- we are tempted to say: oh no, Lord!" He encouraged students to be willing to follow God's voice even when it feels risky or challenges our assumptions. to see the rest of this wisdom-filled message.
Participants explored prayer, missions, witness, and faith through a variety of learning experiences: seminars, reflection rooms, next steps coaching, and guided prayer activities. Students truly had a "feast" of ways to engage and learn.
In the main sessions, students and alumni shared powerful stories of God's movement in their lives. In one particularly moving testimony, a collegiate athlete shared about how God led him to plant a small group for his baseball team despite unusual obstacles.
We have new siblings in faith! Halfway through the conference, Urbana speaker and InterVarsity staff James Choung invited students to make first-time commitments to Christ. The Lord moved over 300 students to make an adult decision for Jesus. They stood and raised a white flag in honor of their commitments, and afterward James himself met with them to encourage them and help them with their next steps as new believers.
Amazing Way God Moved
Thank you for your prayers to help students become life-long followers of Jesus and faithful witnesses to His kingdom!
Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ
We are so grateful for the years of partnering with us and the ministry among the Tandas. We continue to covet your prayers as our ministry continues. In this letter we wish to bring before you Three needs that are before us that we would appreciate your prayers for.
Ron got back from Guinea a little over a week ago. His time was extremely profitable. He got comprehension checks done on two books that will be checked by a consultant in September. These are Philippians and Ephesians. Repairs were done to our house in Capichank, Guinea Bissau and repairs are on-going. Folks there seem eager for our return. He was able to fellowship with missionaries and give some experiencial advice as they are early in their journey as missionaries.
He was able to get a project off the ground that we have been working on for a few years now. It is an empowerment project; we are working with some local pastors with this training facility offering vocational skills along with spiritual discipleship. The first two apprenticeship programmes being offered are Carpentry and Welding. It is geared towards helping those persecuted for their faith have a place to come to and even be trained with a skill to help sustain them. One more machine is needing to be fixed before the Carpentry shop be fully operational. This project should be eventually self-sustaining. But this early in the process assistance is needed to keep it afloat. Please pray with us as we help to keep this project going.
While Ron was away Heather helped significantly with the WayumiTT project. The Wayumi Experience 2023 is Ethnos360 Caribbean’s major project for the first half of the year.
We are inviting you to pray with us as we prepare to have this at the Victory Heights Campsite on Wednesday, April 12 and then on the weekend of Friday, April 14 to Sunday, April 16.
The Wayumi Experience is meant to replicate indigenous village life among both an Amerindian people group in Venezuela and the Tanda and Wey people in West Africa. Experienced missionaries who for many years have served or are currently serving among people groups in remote places overseas will also be on hand to share testimonies and to give talks on various aspects of cross-cultural evangelism. The hope is that attendees are encouraged to answer the call to go to unreached places with the Gospel and/or to support those who are going prayerfully and financially.
The word Wayumi comes from The Yanomamo people in Venezuela and means to leave their woods or home, to go to another place, for a specific purpose. Please partner in prayer with us as we use the Wayumi Experience to encourage believers to consider leaving Trinidad and Tobago to go to unreached people groups with the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission.
After this project we will be experiencing a move from one rental location to another. From a familiar part of Trinidad in the North East to the central part with many unknowns. Our daughter will still be at this location and we will spend our home assignment times there. In May, we wish to make our way back to West Africa. Please be praying for the needed airfares.
If anyone desires to know more or how you can help please do not hesitate to ask.
In His Service,
Ronnie & Heather Yearwood.
What's On
This Month
As announced at SAEBC’s October 2022 Business Meeting, the Pastors and Elders are preparing a Leadership Development Program that will begin in February 2023. The goal of the program is to identify and prepare members who are willing to fill leadership posts in the future within SAEBC: Ministry Leaders, Deacons, Deaconesses, Elders, Pastors or Beyond SAEBC: AEBC, Missions, Para-Church Organisations
In the past, SAEBC has found Pastors from within its Eldership and Elders from among its Deacons. The church membership has endorsed this approach to growth and development. This requires that members make themselves available for training and appointment or election to leadership positions.
We invite those who feel the call to Church leadership involvement to prayerfully consider the application below. Please complete and submit this application to the church office (in written form via Email or WhatsApp) by January 8th 2023 and you will obtain an interview for inclusion in the program.
The head of the Church, Our Lord Jesus Christ, both calls and equips leaders for His body. Pray/work with us as we seek to find His provisions for SAEBC.
Please download and fill out the interest form below
Fun Corner
Some Student Wisdom
Q1. Name the 4 Seasons.
A1. Salt, Pepper, Mustard and Vinegar
Q2. How is dew formed?
A2. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire
Q3. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A3. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery
Q4. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A4. Premature death
Q5. How are the main parts of the body categorised? (e.g., abdomen)
A5. The body is consisted into three parts – the brainium, the borax and abdominal cavity.
The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O and U
Notice
Important Things to Note
Reviving SAEBC Homework Centre
The Homework centre has been dormant since shortly before the Covid 19 pandemic began in 2023. Prior to this, a body of 10-15 volunteers plus a part-time Coordinator served 20+ students each Wednesday afternoon. They provided:
Help with homework assignments
Spiritual instructions
Tips for studying and personal time management
Instructions/guidance on academic topics as required
Internet access for school projects
Both primary and Secondary School students were involved and came from the Church and surrounding community. With increased freedom now with Covid 19 on the wane we would like to revive the SAEBC Homework Centre. To do this we need volunteer teachers and students. We encourage members to consider donating at least one Wednesday afternoon per month to this project. Those who volunteer can be rostered to achieve the required coverage. The final term of the 2022/23 school year will be used for vetting volunteers and doing some sessions with students so that we can open with a bang in September 2023.
“Each One Teach One” is the motto of our Evangelism Committee but it fits so nicely into this initiative that we will be asking Deacon Lindsay Gibbings to borrow the motto.
If you are interested in helping, please contact the church office and register as a volunteer teacher or student.
Benevolent Committee
Living in Community, Caring for Community
Do you………
Have a special skill, talent or expertise?
The Benevolent Committee needs you.
To hear more or offer your talent:
Contact: Sean Lorde: 322-8434
Know of a person(s) in need of assistance?
The Benevolent Committee would like to hear from you.
Have 1 or 2 hours each month to donate to a ministry?
The Benevolent Committee is looking for persons like you.
To hear more or provide more information:
Contact: Angela Gibbings: 776-6805
Contact: Rosalie Campbell: 753-1892
Have a cash or cheque contribution for the Benevolent Committee?
We would like you to give using these options:
BC Cash or Cheque Donations
1. Add your gift to the Sunday Church Offering using the envelopes provided.
2. Send your gift via SAEBC online banking option – information in this Tablet.
3. Drop your cheque in the SAEBC drobox available.
NOTE: Do not forget to label your gift “Benevolent Committee”
Thank you for your support of the ministry of benevolence!
This Month's
Prayer & Praises
Let’s Pray Without Ceasing
WAYUMI | The Wayumi Experience is meant help Missionaries acclimatise to unfamiliar territories & cultures by replicating indigenous village life in a controlled setting.
Pray the village is constructed by April 10th.
For the planning committee and presenters that they are not overwhelmed and succeed in bringing the project to fruition.
That there is a good turnout.
Those attending will be challenged to go or be challenged to pray for and financially support those who are going.
The Yearwood's | Tanda Update
For the checking of the books of Philippians and Ephesians as it is getting ready to be checked in September by a consultant.
For the funds needed for tickets for returning to West Africa at the end of May.
Continue to pray for Sanasi and Philomen that they be a light in their village in Guinea Bissau.
The revival of our Church Homework Centre
That we get sufficient volunteers and students for May June and September
Let’s Give Thanks
WAYUMI
For the opportunity to share this amazing experience and encourage others to go into indigenous regions.
The Yearwood's Tanda Update
Ron returned to Trinidad from West Africa after being gone for 6 weeks.
Needed repairs for their home in Guinea Bissau has begun.
The folks in Bissau are still anticipating their return which is good.
The revival efforts of the SAYBOB committee, for there continued works and dedication towards the SAEBC Youth Group
Upcoming
Preaching Schedule
Theme
Love in Action
Memory Verse:
"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." - 1 John 3:18
DATES | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
APR 02 | Elder Lindon Mitchel | Marriage in the Spotlight | Communion Service |
APR 09 | Pastor Francis Warner | Easter Sunday Service |
APR 16 | Sis. Sonnel Patrick | Love in Action-Spotlight on the Family |
APR 23 | Bro. Martin Hughes | Love in Action-Spotlight on the Community |
APR 30 | Bro. Noel Rose | Love in Action-Spotlight on the Workplace |
MAY 07 | Pastor Kelvin Mapp | TBD | Communion Service |
TIMES | SERVICE |
9:00 AM | Sunday Service |
10:00 AM | Sunday Junior Church |
11:30 AM | Sunday School |
6:00 PM | Wednesday CBSI |
7:15 PM | Wednesday Prayer Meeting |