Volume 18, Issue 02
St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church, Cor. Agostini & Bellesmythe Sts. Curepe
Editorial
God is in the Details
We recently said a fond farewell to our dear brother, Lennox Powder. But he is not gone. He lives on in the pages of the TABLET, having provided editorials for so many editions. It is only fitting, therefore, to feature one of his contributions (from July 2015) in this edition. As is typical of him, the article promotes the robust faith in God that characterised his own life. ‘God was in the details’ of his writing as in his life and example.
Even believers of long-standing sometimes err in their conceptualisation of God’s mode of operation. Many suppose that God leaves day-to-day governance of the universal order on some kind of divine ‘auto-pilot, while He attends to less-routine matters. But God is revealed in His Word to be a caring father desirous of an intimate, passionate, all-consuming personal relationship with every individual. Our God is actively involved in the deliberate control of every minute detail of the universe. Nothing happens unknown to God or in spite of Him… nothing escapes His attention or consciousness. Thus, no initiative or reaction is purely spontaneous, all is premeditated by God and He is in the details. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).
We don’t randomly catch the latest virus or accidentally experience cataract or Parkinson disease. The timing, severity, duration and the permanent scars etc. are all under God’s control. God causes or allows every detail as He micromanages the universe so that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from His will and even the hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:29,30). Notwithstanding the existence of universal principles, nothing is absolutely predetermined nor predictable, except for God’s explicit promises and assurances. Yet the hand of God can still be moved by prayer and human behaviour.
God sometimes uses combinations of rewards and penalties to teach us valuable lessons, to prompt us in appropriate directions and to restrain us from danger. God deals with us as a caring, compassionate father who is sensitive to our peculiarities and needs. Keen observation on a personalized basis sometimes suggest that sin incurs recognizable consequences and that consistently refraining from sin produces protection from some aspects of ‘natural decay’ of mind, body and possessions. Our experiences are God’s exercises in character moulding.
In project management jargon it is often said that ‘the devil is in the details”, acknowledging that the major challenges in a project may only become evident at the ‘nuts and bolts’ stage. But in quite a different sense, it is God who is in the details. Mindful of God’s predetermined role in our every experience, there is no shortage of things to pray for, even when we “pray without ceasing” I Thessalonians 5:17.
Let us then pray fervently that God may bless us in every detail of our lives, keeping us at all times totally immersed in the abundance of His love
Editorial by Br. Lennox Powder (Deceased)
Arguments for Creation (And Against Evolution)
How we got the Coca-Cola Can?
Billions of years ago, a big bang produced a large rock. As the rock cooled, sweet brown liquid formed on its surface. As time passed aluminum formed itself into a can with a lid and a tab to contain the liquid. Millions of years later, red and white paint fell from the sky and formed itself into the words, “Coca Cola Classic…12 fluid ounces.”
Of course, the story above is an insult to your intelligence. You know that the Coca-Cola can was made… so there must be a maker. Its complex design points to the existence of a designer. To think that all of this happened by chance over time is to move into an intelligence-free zone.
When you consider that the human eye has 40,000,000 nerve endings, the focusing muscles move an estimated 100,000 times a day and the retina contains 137,000,000 light sensitive cells – it is even more ridiculous to conclude that all of this developed by chance over time.
Missions
A Challenge from ETHNOS (New Tribe Missions)
Years ago one of our teenage missionary boys went hunting in the jungle and did not return. We immediately gathered all the manpower we could muster, went to the bank and withdrew all the money we had and left for the jungle in search of Randy. When my wife , Katy, asked how long we would be gone, I replied, “As long as it takes to find Randy.”
All the manpower, all the money and all the time was worth the effort to find him. For six days we searched. The tribal people who lived there told us it was highly unlikely anyone would find their way out. We did not let that deter us. Then, on the seventh day, we could hear the search party begin to hoot and soon they were shouting the news from one group to the next through the jungle. Randy’s father Oren, dropped to his knees, thanked the Lord and we took off running in the direction of the shouting. There was Randy, legs bleeding, ticks stuck to his body, thin from hunger but alive.
This is what I thought about while flying over Papua, Indonesia. I looked down as we passed remote hamlets on scattered hilltops and wondered if those people have had a chance to hear. Most are lost in the jungle. What are we doing to find them? With 2000+ people groups still waiting to hear the gospel, I have to wonder: Have God’s people lost hope, or decided it’s not worth the effort to reach them? These are people without a chance to hear or the opportunity to choose, and it breaks my heart.
What’s it going to take? It is going to take all the manpower the church can muster. It’s going to take a lot more funds than what are available to missions today, and we are going to have to put in a huge amount of time. It’s going to take every believer getting involved.
by Marcon G Hare (Editor NTM@Work)
A Reminder of the Missions/Missionaries that we support
Having made a powerful case for missions we invite your response. Here is a list of the missions and missionaries currently supported by St. Augustine EBC. We encourage you to support them as well with your prayer and finances:
Foreign Missions/Missionaries:
Garrick Beckles: Preparing to serve with OM in Albania
Harold Boxill: Serving as AEBC Administrator
Mark and Celicia Douglas: Back in T&T for furlough/reassignment
Deborah Dowlath: Serving in T&T and abroad with ‘Is There Not A Cause’
Deryk and Adieta Juteram: Serving in T&T with Wycliffe Caribbean
Jonathan and Kimberly Garth: Serving in T&T with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU)
Rev. Ronald Heerah: Pastor of Hope Community Church in Sangre Grande
Chris & Nichola Hewitt: Recently returned to Germany; Church planting in Stuttgart
Mario & Aleeca King: Serving in Barbados with IS/IVCF and Wycliffe
Khemraj Lakhan: Serving with OM on board the Logos
Rev. Earl Lee: Serving in T&T with Wycliffe Caribbean
Sunil Lutchmedial: Serving in T&T/Guyana with Samaritan Outreach Ministries Int’l
Ronald & Jennifer Neptune: Back in USA on furlough
Marlene S: Serving abroad
Denise Thompson: Serving in USA with IVCF Black Campus Ministries
Ronald & Heather Yearwood: Serving with ETHNOS in West Africa e.g. Guinea, Guinea Bissau
Ojague Church/The Disciples: Ministering and preparing to minister in Guinea/West Africa
Missions/Ministry Organisations based in T&T:
Scripture Union, IS/IVCF, KESWICK, Hospital Christian Fellowship, ETHNOS Caribbean, GIDEONS, Victory Heights Bible Camp, Street Pastors T&T, Prisons Fellowship T&T.
What's On
This Month
CHURCH AGM UPDATE
50 persons were present on Wednesday 27th January when the church met for AGM2022.
We extend a warm welcome to Bro. Lindon Mitchel who was elected to the post of Elder and to Bros. Noel Roach and Lindsay Gibbings plus Sis. Jasmine Benjamin who were returned as Deacons/Deaconess.
Bros. Jeffrey Smith and Manohar Sookhoo were returned as Treasurer and Assistant and the entire Benevolent Committee was returned for yet another year of service – Sis. Annette Alexander-Andrews, Roshida Alexis, Akeela Beckles, Annette Garcia, Angela Gibbings, Natasha Isaac with Sis. Sanmatie Ramnath de Martinez joining them.
Reports of the various ministries and committees were well received since they showed diligent and serious efforts to get on with the business of the church in spite of issues arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic. The efforts of the SoundRoom/Audio-visual /Digital Teams, the Choir and the Treasurers were especially appreciated and warmly applauded.
Concerns were expressed about the Pastor Search Process but members were assured that the Church Board would carefully consider their comments and respond in the near future.
The theme of “Truth-Tools for Tough Times” will be continued for another year as we complete of study of Romans and Old plus New Testament Survey.
Biography
Lindon Mitchel is married to his love, Annmarie. Celebrating 21 years of marriage, they continue to grow in their love, understanding and commitment to each other. They feel very grateful for their two precious children, Anya and Josiah, who add adventure, excitement and challenge to the family dynamic.
Lindon has been a disciple of Jesus Christ for over forty years. He has served as a youth leader, secondary school teacher, missionary, pastor, consultant to children’s homes, business and non-profit executive, business owner, artist, marriage and family coach, general all-round helper and a friend and mentor to a few great men. Lindon and Annmarie own an executive coaching, business development, publishing and branding consultancy.
Lindon holds a diploma in missiology and a bachelor’s degree in bible and theology from the West Indies School of Theology. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Anglia Ruskin University.
Lindon believes that the Word of God is the final authority in every area of his life. He is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ by winning the lost, discipling men, helping to build strong families and a faith community that impacts the world for Christ.
AGM - Get informed and involved in the work of the AEBC and its active ministries/ committees: Missions, Christian Education, Victory Height Bible Campsite, Men/Ladies/Youth Ministries. As well as the replant of a Church in Campoo (near Munro Road, Cunupia)
During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Offering Collection
In addition to the collection of offering during our Sunday morning service, 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-3.00 pm. For those making online transfers please note that we cannot verify the receipt of funds until our bank statement arrives. 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. Email: st.aebc@gmail.com. Each local bank has its own system/app for online transfers and we have been advised of problems affecting transfers from other (Non-RBC) banks.
This Month's
Prayer & Praises
Let's give thanks for:
• A successful Virtual Annual General Meeting and those taking up offices for the new year.
• The Resumption of our physical services after a short break for quarantine and sanitizing.
• God’s continued mercies in the midst of the COVID- 19 crisis
Let's pray without ceasing for:
• A reduction in the impact of COVID-19 on our society • The successful resumption of classes for 1st-3rd Form students and those preparing for SEA. • Families in the nation who have lost loved ones due to Covid-19 and domestic/external violence.
Upcoming
Speaking & Worship Schedule
DATES | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
FEB 06 | Elder Joseph Caterson | Communion Service / Our Sovereign God – Romans 11 |
FEB 13 | Sister Jewelle Mapp | Romans 12:1-8 |
FEB 20 | Deaconess Jacqueline Bridge | Roman 12:9-21 |
FEB 27 | Pastor Francis Warner & Pernel Roberts Jr. | Romans 13:1-14 |
MAR 06 | Sister Sonnel Patrick | Romans 14:1-23 |
Memory Verse:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves." - Romans 12:9,10
TIMES | SERVICE |
9:00 AM | Sunday Service |
11:30 AM | Sunday School |
6:00 PM | Wednesday CBSI |
7:15 PM | Wednesday Prayer Meeting |
6:30 PM | Friday SAYBOB Young People's |
With the exception of the Sunday Morning service, all services and group activities will be held online until further notice.