Volume 18, Issue 04
St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church, Cor. Agostini & Bellesmythe Sts. Curepe
Editorial
Missions is All of Our Business
This May is Mission Month at SAEBC when we highlight some of the missionaries/missions organisations that we support. However, as individuals and as a Church, missions should always be on the front burner.
Our Commitment and Involvement in Local and Foreign Missions
All of us must get out of the rut of just talking about missions and witnessing, but doing nothing about it. The need of reaching the lost is too urgent for us to just talk about it.
A talented young Christian artist painted a picture of a sad woman and child out in a storm. Moved deeply, he laid down his palette and brush, declaring, “I must go to the lost, instead of painting them.” He soon began working in the city slums and studying for the ministry. Alfred Robert Tucker (1849-1914) served as a missionary in Uganda and eastern Africa for 20 years.
Ronnie and Heather Yearwood, Debbie Dowlath, Garrick Beckles and Denise Thompson are SAEBC members who are missionaries.
Who among us are expected to pray, encourage, and give to missions or to go ourselves:
Those of us who believe the world is lost and needs a Saviour.
Those of us who are thankful that missionaries came to our shores.
Those of us who believe that it is not ‘every man for himself’ in this world, and who do not ask like Cain: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’
Those of us who believe we are accountable to God for the money entrusted to us.
Those of us who believe that our prayers for missionaries and missions organisations do not fall on deaf ears.
We as SAEBC and as individuals are called to:
Either support those who are foreign or local missionaries and the missionary organisations that support them in taking the Gospel to different parts of the world;
Or obey the call of the Lord to go ourselves!
Our Commitment to Seeing Ourselves as Missionaries Wherever We are Placed
We are also called to see the place(s) of influence where we are located as our mission field.
God saves us one by one. If we have access to one, that is our mission field. As the slogan says: Every soul with Christ is a missionary; every soul without Christ is a mission field. One person cannot reach the entire world, but we can love our neighbour.
The Spirit brought Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Scriptures and needed someone to explain them to him (Acts 8:26-35). The Spirit gave Philip the right words to say, and the eunuch confessed his faith in Christ (v.37).
It may not be as dramatic as Phillips’ experience but we can ask the Lord to bring us to the ‘Ethiopian eunuchs’ that He has prepared in our homes, families, compounds, communities, workplaces, schools, etc. He will speak through our lives, words, work and love to fulfil in us the great purpose of His will.
Remember, we are a success in God’s kingdom if we are faithful where He has placed us. Let us be a missions-minded Church!
COMMITMENT DAY
Sunday 24th April was commitment day. If you missed it, here is a copy of the commitment form that you can review and prayerfully consider. If there is an area in which you would like to serve just contact the church office (221-6012).
'HAPPY MOTHERS DAY’
to our dear moms and moms-to-be.
Here are a few reflections that should help you to start your special day with a smile.
Let’s help our moms to get their acronyms straight when texting:
Mom: “Your great aunt just passed away. LOL!”
Son: “Why is that funny?”
Mom: “I was not trying to be funny. I was sending Lots Of Love!
Son: “No Mom. LOL means Laugh Out Loud!”
Mom: “Oh dear. I will have to call back all those people to whom I sent LOL.
So tell me then, what do IDK, LY and TTYL mean?”
Son: “I don’t Know, Love You and Talk to You Later!”
Mom: “Ok then, Bye! I will ask your sister.”
On mistakes and misunderstandings:
“Laughing at your own mistakes can lengthen your life.” - William Shakespeare:
“Laughing at your wife’s mistakes can shorten your life.” - Shakespeare’s wife:
“I learn so much from my mistakes that I plan to make a few more.” A modern philosopher
My mom asked me if I had seen the dog bowl.
I said, “To be honest, I didn’t even know he could play cricket.”
Missions
Let the little children come!
With the easing of restrictions for public gatherings, for the first time in 2 years we were able to have in-person outreach activities for children over the Easter vacation and they thoroughly enjoyed it! The first activity was held in a community in Morvant called 9 Storey, where ITNAC has been building relationships and meeting needs over the past 2 months. We identified young persons in the community who had business ideas, but lacked the basic capital necessary to move forward, and were able to assist at least 10 individuals with the materials and tools they needed to start their own small businesses. One of our members envisioned having a Fun Day for the children, and came up with the theme of "Outrageous Love". There would be Bible stories, games, science activities, art and craft. I was in charge of the Bible component, and felt led to focus on Matthew 5:44 - "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Little did we know that, 6 days before the event was scheduled to take place, Orlando, one of the young men we had helped to start a business selling drinks, would be innocently murdered...
The community was plunged into mourning after Orlando's death, but we didn't let this deter us from having the Fun Day as scheduled. When we arrived to set up, we could feel the heaviness as we spoke to the grandmother of Orlando's 5 month old baby, who was having problems sleeping since his father died. We prayed with them, and then proceeded to set up for the days' activities. As the children started coming out and the music started playing, the atmosphere started lifting. We started with some games for the children, then taught them some songs about God's love and loving others. Two of the youth leaders from St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church, along with one of their friends, came to assist with the Bible component. Antonio and Safiya helped with the songs, organized the skit introducing the Bible lesson, and led a small group discussions after the Bible lesson, helping the children apply the principles which had been taught, and giving them practical advice about how to love those who treat us badly. The timing of that lesson could not have been better.
Four days later we held a Resurrection Party for the children of the families who stay at ITNAC's transition homes. Children of ITNAC members were also invited, as well as children from some of the families that we have been supporting during the pandemic. It was a wonderful opportunity to challenge the children about the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection to their lives - that they were to die to sin and live to righteousness. The children sat attentively for the Bible lesson, and eagerly answered all the questions which were asked. They were then divided into small groups according to their age group, and ITNAC members lead discussions with the children about areas in their lives where they needed to die to sin. They made craft to remind them that the same victory Jesus had over death is available to empower them to have the victory over sin in their lives. A meal was served, and they sang and danced until it was time to go home.
What was incredible to me about that event was how God allowed everything to fall in place just when it needed to. Despite my efforts to plan in advance, I didn't actually sit down to plan the lesson until just a few days before the party. Half of the persons who had initially offered to help on the day in question were unable to do so at the last minute for one reason or the other. Yet with the help of some dedicated ITNAC members and my brother and sister-in-law, we were able to ensure that all the children who attended were well taken care of. The decor was exquisitely done, the food was amazing, and the support provided by all who attended was well appreciated. I especially thank God for Gabby, as I didn't think about organizing the use of the sound system in advance, and she was able to organize everything so I didn't have to be straining my voice to talk to over 30 children in a wide-open space. God in His wisdom also led us to change the venue 6 days before, as He knew that the original venue would have been exposed to someone who was covid positive 3 days before the party was scheduled. I continue to be in awe at how God takes care of the details we are not even aware of.
by Deborah Dowlath
What's On
This Month
Here's a preview of the topics.
Session 1 - May 02 | The Seven Starting Blocks! Session 2 - May 09 | Male, Man, Husband & Female, Woman, Wife. Session 3 - May 16 | The Main Purpose and Attitudes of Marriage. Session 4 - May 23 | The Excitement of Possession Session 5 - May 30 | The Reality of Submission Session 6 - June 06 | The Quest for FUSION Session 7 - June 13 | The Goal of Shalom or Wholesomeness
This Month's
Prayer & Praises
Let’s Pray Without Ceasing
Our Children Back out to School
Student doing Exams – CXC, CAPE, University
Orlando’s Family
For the Covid death rates to remain low
The War in Ukraine
Let’s Give Thanks For
Our Mother’s-for all the thankless jobs they do (seen and unseen)
Missionaries both home and abroad
The reopening of businesses and the jobs that result. Special thanks for Victory Heights Bible Camp as they work at returning to normal operations
Upcoming
Preaching Schedule
Theme: Missions Emphasis
Memory Verse:
"11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." - Luke 2 11; 17-20
DATES | SPEAKER | TOPIC | WORSHIP LEADERS |
MAY 01 | Pastor Kelvin Mapp | Communion & Missions | Charmaine |
MAY 08 | Sarah Dowlath, Ann Marie Mitchel & Andera Abel | Mothers Day | Emerald |
MAY 15 | Pastor Kelvin Mapp | Missions | Jewelle |
MAY 22 | Mark & Celica Douglas | Missions | Theo |
MAY 29 | Duane Weekes/Campus Crusade for Christ | Missions | Lorraine |
TIMES | SERVICE |
9:00 AM | Sunday Service |
11:30 AM | Sunday School |
6:00 PM | Webesday CBSI |
7:15 PM | Wednesday Prayer Meeting |
6:30 PM | Friday SAYBOB Young People |