Volume 17, Issue 8 St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church, Cor. Agostini & Bellesmythe Sts. Curepe
Editorial
Perspectives On The Vaccine...
There is a raging debate even in Christian circles as to whether persons should take the COVID-19 vaccine. To add some expertise to the discussion, we have asked some of our SAEBC family in the medical profession. As one of them put it, if my computer crashes I take it to an expert in computers. Lets hear what our medical folks have to say:
As a doctor working with COVID- 19 positive patients, I have seen terrible effects of the virus such as worsened mental and physical health and even death. Our nation is fortunate to have vaccines that have undergone many trials and tests available to our high risk population groups. These vaccines ensure that the chances of contracting and transmitting the virus are smaller and provide a large amount of protection against serious complications for those who have tested positive. I would recommend eligible persons to get vaccinated to create a safer and more ‘normal’ tomorrow - Dr. Arvinder Sookhoo
The COVID-19 virus has resulted in sickness, suffering and death that most of us have never seen before. The COVID-19 Vaccines have all been proven to reduce the likelihood of serious illness (and death) from COVID-19 in those that have received it. Vaccines have helped to prevent unnecessary illnesses in other diseases and it is no different with COVID-19. Any opportunity to protect yourself and loved ones from this terrible disease should be taken and thus I recommend taking the COVID-19 vaccine if you get the opportunity to do so - Dr. Jeremy Smith
I AM AFRAID OF NEEDLES!
I bet you’re thinking, “He’s a doctor and he’s afraid of getting injections?”
“Well, YEAH!”
I’ve always been afraid of them. If I manage to take it calm and cool and not whining, I’m doing really well. I remember the jabs I got on my right shoulder. The nurse gave me the option of which shoulder. “Geez!” As if it wasn’t hard enough someone making holes in me, I have to choose which shoulder I want to grieve over. So you get my point (no pun intended). Cue Uncle Francis. When you’re presented with whether to take the vaccine,
“Do you have a good enough reason not to?”
If your answer is, “No,” then here are two considerations:
How difficult it may be to take normal breaths through a drinking straw and not being able to cough when you have to. And, becoming tired of breathing. Yeah! You can get tired of breathing. Effectively that’s what it’s like getting the lung disease associated with the coronavirus VS
You can get immune protection and protect yourself. LIVE ON and help protect your loved ones who may not be able to have the vaccine administered to them.
Get the facts. Get informed, because it’s an informed decision and all decisions of your life ought to be an informed one, because all decisions have consequences.
Final Thought: contracting the coronavirus disease means more needle sticks. I’ll say nothing more.
As an avid member of my family WhatsApp chat, I have easy access to all the current ideas, opinions and conspiracy theories about the COVID19 vaccine. This chat, a mixture of ages, races and backgrounds serves as a subset of the wider society. When my uncle posts that the vaccine has a chip in it for example, debates ensue, with people chipping in from various perspectives. Some cousins agree, being tracked by the government seems like a terrible idea, while other cousins call it ridiculous, why would they bother to track people like us?
Though these theories may seem outlandish, many concerns surrounding the vaccine are real and valid. Was it done too quickly? If I’m still going to get it, why should I take it? I don’t like being forced to do anything? My body, my choice, and I choose no.
In the midst of all the theories however, three things stand out to me.
1. Vaccines can save our lives, and are currently protecting all of us from measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and tetanus. Though we took them as children, we’ve been given the advantage at life without certain disabilities and other ailments related to these diseases. We owe it to ourselves to take anything that can give us the best shot of having a better quality of life.
2. What if it wasn’t about us? As someone below 30, I can perhaps get COVID-19 and survive. However, mother dearest? She may not. My aunts and great aunts may not make it at all. My friends who have conditions that don’t allow them to get the vaccine might die, because I decided it didn't matter. Other people matter, and people without symptoms can still pass it on to other people who can’t afford to get it.
3. Medicine can be scary. The unknown always is. The truth is that we are never going to be experts in everything. I have never been to hospitality school, so my meals will never go beyond salad and chicken, or salad and lamb, or salad and beef (you get the idea). I’ve also never done IT, so if my computer crashes right now, I’m not sure how I’m going to submit these words. Ultimately life requires us to trust people in certain fields, hoping that they have our best interest at heart. I am one of those professionals, and you know me. So when I suggest you take the vaccine, you can trust me.
Carlene Williams is a Nurse Manager who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Oncology and a Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration both from the University of the West Indies, School of Nursing. She has had the pleasure of working in the Main Operating Theatre and managing and coordinating of staff during this pandemic.
Patients and my colleagues, trust me, a nurse, to be looked after in a professional way. They trust me that I will follow my code of conduct and the guidelines and use my clinical expertise to be able to provide patient safety. Therefore, my colleagues from both nursing and medical research have my trust that their achievements to create the new vaccine will guide us in combatting this deadly virus.
The world has provided pertinent and relevant information on COVID-19 and the vaccine in as such vaccines are still awaited and prevention is the most lucrative option at this moment. As such, the vaccine has been considered a game changer and an easy solution to this pandemic. However, discovering and producing a novel viral vaccine is somewhat not an easy job in a short span of time, due to its efficacy and safety concerns. Since the onset of this pandemic, researchers have been working diligently globally for a viable vaccine and many are purported to be in the pipeline to bring back normalcy to the world.
During this pandemic and always let us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Greetings brothers and sisters at home and abroad. Grace and peace to you!
This simple yet powerful salutation is ever so necessary in this world filled with fear and anxiety due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Covid and its sudden effects may have jolted us mere mortals but it didn't surprise our sovereign God! Whatever His reasons for allowing this to happen may or may not be revealed in due time but we continue to have hope.
My wife and I choose to remain positive and as such, believe that the development of COVID 19 vaccines relatively quickly can be viewed as an answer to the prayers of the saints. Why do we believe this? Firstly, we believe that God answers the prayers of His people in accordance with His will (1 John 5: 14-15). He has demonstrated His mercy by granting scientists in different countries (USA, UK, China, Cuba) the wisdom to develop several vaccines.
Secondly, several independent studies have shown the vaccines to be safe and efficacious. Neatcha and I were fully vaccinated since the end of June. The process was quick and well-organized with the actual jabs causing only minimal injection site pain. In the nearly two months since our first jab, there has been no discernible adverse reactions! Praise God!
In conclusion, I would recommend all who read this to get vaccinated and encourage those you know to do so. The Sinopharm vaccine which we received is now readily available across health centres across the country. It is also the only one in T&T that utilized the 'old' vaccine production method which is time-tested. So brethren, let us do our part to contribute to the restoration of a semblance of normalcy in our daily lives. GET VACCINATED!
Missions
Garrick Beckles
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
Status Update
The training that I was involved in came to an end in May. It truly was a blessing to serve on the technical team and the content itself was very insightful. As a result of the meeting, we have decided to begin meeting online within the Roma Gyspy team on a weekly basis in order to keep each other informed and pray with one another. It has been very encouraging to be able to interact with my peers and for us to start putting things in place so that when we do begin ministry that we can hit the ground running.
In June, I was able to serve along with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship here in Trinidad, assisting with their technical team for their recent Leadership conference. There I witnessed many promising, talented young student leaders receive training and guidance on how they can begin and continue serving in their campuses in making Christ known and making a difference in the midst of a pandemic. I was also able to share and encourage a few individuals while assisting.
I was also approached by a group called Beaconing Ministry, that seeks to inspire, engage and call individuals toward a Christ-like life through their online content. They aim to have a virtual career day in August, targeted towards young children and adolescents, with the desire of giving them insight into careers they may want to pursue, while having an understanding of how they can glorify God through their vocations. I was asked to share on the vocation of being a missionary, and have accepted their offer.
Support Raising
Progress with support raising has been slow, as I have been focused on trying to sort out the documents I need in order to settle in Albania. At present, I have 89.5% of my monthly support raised, as well as 84.3% of my Startup fees raised. I still require pledges of approximately $700.00 TT per month and $4700 worth of start up fees.
Application For Residence Visa
With regard to my application for my residence visa mentioned previously, it has proven to be very challenging to get sufficient information in order to apply for the documents I need from the United States of America from here in Trinidad. With vaccination drives happening and countries being a bit more lenient with regards to travel, I plan to get vaccinated and hopefully travel to the US in order to have it done in person. As mentioned in my last newsletter, my American passport is in a Governmental agency right now going through a process for me to get one of the necessary documents, and so I sent an email to the respective Government agency requesting an update, and I am hoping that they will get back to me in a timely manner so that I can make appropriate arrangements.
Happenings In The Field
Christine has recently celebrated her birthday, and was blessed with the opportunity to go paragliding with some of the members of the team in Albania. She is still looking around for housing for those of us who are joining them soon, and has seen some promising apartments. She believes that God desires for us to have an office in Vlore, and so has been looking around for a suitable building for this purpose as well. She was also able to locate another Roma Community in what is known as the hospital area, and so far has just done a walk through and chatted with some of the residents there.
Eliete, a member of the team from Brazil, was able to leave to go to Albania and arrived safely. Because of COVID and other reasons, she was away from the country for a long time and her residence permit has expired. Because of this, she has to work on a couple of things before she can fully settle. Once she does settle, she plans to work with Christine to gather information about the community so that we can investigate how we can impact them as a whole.
Sean and Michelle Ingram, a married couple from South Africa, are also in preparation to leave for Albania. They have recently contracted COVID-19, and are currently under quarantine and recovering. Before they leave, they have to finish raising their support as well as get the birth certificate for their recently adopted son. They are currently challenged as there have been many riots and incidents of civil unrest in their country. Supplies such as food and toiletries are scarce because of looting and while they both feel a strong desire to assist their neighboring communities however they can, they have to remain isolated due to quarantine. Support can also be difficult to raise in this sort of economic climate, but they are trusting God that He will supply their needs as they forge on ahead towards where they believe He has called them.
Covid-19 In Albania
The situation in Albania has greatly improved with regard to the coronavirus. Vaccinations are ongoing and the number of daily new cases are very small. While they still restrict gathering to an extent, mask wearing is no longer required while outdoors in Albania and vaccinated persons are no longer required to quarantine or get tested prior to travelling to the country, unless otherwise guided by the airline used.
Praise God with us for:
The ability to work with members of my team from across the world
Eliete getting to Albania safely
Progress with support raising
Being able to spend time with friends and family
Pray for:
Direction to the right people to partner with for support, as well as the willingness of persons to support financially
Being able to find a suitable teacher for Language Learning
God’s direction and assistance in information gathering about the communities we’d like to impact
God’s grace, healing and wisdom for Sean and Michelle
God’s favor in having the documents from the USA prepared in His perfect timing and without any issues or complications
More persons to be ready and available to join the mission in Albania, and fill the current positions outstanding
Your prayers and support are highly appreciated and integral to the continuance of my ministry. Prayerfully consider whether you may be willing to invest in what God is doing through me and those who have chosen to answer His call in making disciples of all nations
Contact me:
Tel: (868) 392-3485 [Will be subject to change upon leaving T&T]
OM Office: (868) 777-6055, (868) 385-6875
Email: garrick.beckles@om.org
How You Can Give
Bank Deposits to Personal Account:
First Citizens Bank Ltd
Garrick Alex Beckles
Acct# 2676710
OM Trinidad and Tobago:
RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Ltd
JTA Complex, Couva
Acct# 100022110043423
Swift Code RBTTTTPX
Online by Credit Card:
Cheques
Payable to Operation Mobilization Trinidad and Tobago
PO Box 986, Couva. TrinidadWhat's On
What's On
This Month
During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Offering Collection
We will continue to facilitate deposits at the church office and online. Deposits can be made at the church office Monday–Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Those wishing to transfer funds online please note that we cannot verify the receipt of funds until our bank statement is received. Our account information is as follows:
NAME: ST AUGUSTINE EVANGELICAL BIBLE CHURCH (Use Capitals without punctuation marks and enter as many characters as the field allows)
NUMBER: 100081011847061 (15 digits are required by RBC. If your app does not accept 15 digits, omit some of the leading digits i.e. 1000)
ACCOUNT TYPE: Chequing
Please notify us of the Date / Sum / Purpose or Distribution of your transfer and let us know of any needed adjustments to the above instructions.
Each local bank has its own online transfer app/system and we have been advised of problems affecting transfers from other (Non-RBC) banks.
This Month's
Prayer & Praises
Let's pray without ceasing for:
Pastor Kelvin Mapp's full recovery
Our country's economic situation, management of our resources and business recovery
Our health care system and workers as they continue to work assiduously
Ronnie and Heather Yearwood as they begin preparations to head back out in the mission field
The Pastor Search Committee and the way moving forward
The execution of various online camps during this period such as VBS & ISCF
Let's give thanks for:
The country as it continues to prepare for full reopening
God's continued provision for our membership in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
Reports of God's healing by our membership namely Charmaine and Sarah Acosta.
The CSEC students who wrote exams during this examination season
The life of our brother Roger Lai Leung and the valuable contributions he made whilst in ministry
The Niles family as they gave birth to a healthy baby girl Hope Kylie Mei Niles
Upcoming
Speaking & Worship Schedule
DATES | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
|---|---|---|
AUG 01 | Elder Joe Caterson | Communion Service-The Return from Captivity |
AUG 08 | Pastor Francis Warner | Truth-Tools For Tough Times From The Old Testament |
AUG 15 | Elder Joe Caterson | Introduction to the Book of Romans |
AUG 22 | Pastor Francis Warner | Romans 1:1-17 |
AUG 29 | Pastor Francis Warner | Romans 1:18-32 |
SEPT 05 | Jewelle Mapp | Communion Service-Romans 2:1-29 |
TIMES | SERVICE |
|---|---|
9:00 AM | Sunday Service |
11:00 AM | Junior Sunday School |
11:30 AM | Adult Sunday School |
6:00 PM | Wednesday CBSI |
6:30 PM | Friday SAYBOB Young People's |
7:15 PM | Wednesday Prayer Meeting |
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