SLU Leaders Are Exhorted to Take God at His Word
11 Dec 2022 | CARU Staff
With a backdrop of hundreds of accessions and other spiritual victories gained under God, officers of the St. Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists resolutely faced another quinquennium as they responded to an exhortation delivered by Dr. Kern Tobias, President of the Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Accompanying Dr. Tobias were Pastor Johnson Frederick, Executive Secretary of the Caribbean Union Conference, and Pastor Bertie Henry, Treasurer of the Caribbean Union Conference. Dr. Balvin Braham, Vice President of the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, also officiated during the installation service.
Dr. Tobias reminded the new executive committee, administrators, and directors that God is willing to use human effort. Using the mission’s session theme, Going with God, Striving for Excellence, as the title of his entreaty, he told leaders that he had seen the worst and the best of the Church. He said, ‘Without God, you are nothing. God wants the best of us. He is prepared to do for any human who will take Him at His word’.
As chief shepherd of the Church in the Caribbean Union Conference, Dr. Tobias cautioned that in the pursuit of mission and despite human limitations, leaders must accept the responsibility of soaring to heights with God. He reiterated the counsel of Ellen G. White, ‘You are installed to lift humanity . . . and understand that “higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children” ’.
Citing lessons from the life of Moses, Dr. Tobias added, ‘… as leaders to whom much is given, much is expected. . . The goal of the Church is to change and transform lives. In that context the Church is like a hospital with sin-sick people from [all] strata of society. Our goal is to lead everyone, barring none, to Jesus’.
Dr. Tobias drew an analogy from the experiences of Moses and Joshua to remind executive committee members that God is always with His people but, as a Church, we must learn to have favor with man, adding that transitions are one of the inescapable realities. As such, the executive committee must be courageous, not fearful, and look to the face of God. He referenced Pastor Exton Clarke's devotional which affirmed God’s behind-the-scenes operations in people’s lives. Dr. Tobias emphasized that to make God's grace our own, we must act our part. ‘Human effort is nothing without divine power. God is willing to make the Church great. In God's strength, we can conquer every difficulty’, he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders, Pastor Roger Stephen, President of the St. Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, responded, ‘[We] purpose to lead under God, serve under God and not unto men. We will lead with humility and understanding [since] it is not a human agenda, but it is God's will for his people in St. Lucia’.
Dr. Balvin Braham gave the charge to the officers and executive committee. Pastor Johnson Frederick offered the installation prayer and Pastor Bertie Henry led the litany.
These officers will serve the St. Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists:
- Pastor Roger Stephen - President & Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL)
- Pastor Lucius Philip - Executive Secretary
- Sister Rose Mary Desir - Treasurer
- Brother Richard Randolph - Youth Director, Chaplaincy & Public Campus Ministry
- Dr. Caius Alfred - Sabbath School & Family Ministries
- Pastor Leeroy David - Personal Ministries, Community Services, Health Ministries & Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
- Pastor Alfred Joseph - Ministerial, Stewardship, Planned Giving and Trust Services & Adventist Laymen Services and Industries (ASI)
- Pastor Daryl St. Clair – Communication & Music Ministry
