The excitement of the ASi Missionaries was palpable as they shared their experiences from their most recent mission trip to Curacao at a Thanksgiving Service held at the Seaview Gardens SDA Church on August 20, 2022. The team was ablaze with passion for evangelism and expressed their praise and thanksgiving to God in testimony and song for the power of the gospel to transform, not only the lives of people in Curacao but even their own.
EJC ASI Missionaries during Thanksgiving Service on August 20, 2022. :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
President of the Conference, Pastor Meric Walker was overjoyed with what he saw and heard from the junior ASI Missionaries and was able to declare that the “ASI’ers are alive and well and they are burning with zeal for the Lord.”
The mantra for the Conference as we look at the days ahead is “ Mission first,” said Walker as he addressed the church on this day of thanksgiving. “Mission is not second or third. It is first. Anything we do we should have mission on our minds. I must have mission on my mind in the morning, mission on my heart at mid-day and mission on my soul in the evening, it is mission first.”
The Conference president commended Elder Claudette Genas for the tremendous work she has been doing with the ASI missionaries and commended the youths for preaching the word of God in East Jamaica Conference and in the uttermost parts of the world.
Dr. Meric Walker, president of the East Jamaica Conference. :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
Elder Claudette Genas, Women, Children and Adolescents Ministries Director of the East Jamaica Conference :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
Elder Claudette Genas, Women, Children and Adolescents Ministries Director under whose portfolio responsibility the ASI Missionaries fall, was proud to speak of the achievements of the children and youths over the years and on their recent trip to Curacoa. She was happy for the spiritual growth that she had seen in her team including their active participation in soul winning.
“We have been on the mission field since 2012 which makes it ten years this year and I still recall one of the missionaries who after talking to her friends, seven persons got baptized over there in St. Thomas, said Elder Claidette Genas.
The ASI Mission trip leader spoke highly of the support the missionaries received from their parents and a few individuals who have consistently supported the team financially over the years. She invited the parents who were with their children to stand and be recognized for the support they have given to their children and the ministry.
The Women, Children and Adolescents director was especially thankful for Matthew Bennett and Shyhiem Barnes who are both from the parish of St. Thomas and who shared their experiences in Curacao with the church through a short video report.
“Mission 2022 Curacao was a great one as we went to mobilize the youth and the church of the Dutch Caribbean Union to evangelism and humanitarian service,” Matthew Bennett said in his video report. “We mobilized the church and the children and the youth across the Inter-American Division to vocational evangelism in service to God and man to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the varied ministries of puppetry, sign language, singing, drama, vacation Bible School and the preaching of the word of God.”
Abigail Whittingham, President of the ASI Junior Chapter :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
For ASI Junior President, Abigail Whittingham, the mission trip to Curacao, dubbed ‘Impact Curacao’ was not a vacation or a joy ride but one that had a positive impact not only on the citizens of Curacoa, but on the missionaries themselves.
“Through the intimate and youth friendly devotion at camp to the spirit filled prayer sessions throughout the day and night, our young people were empowered and charged for mission,” Whittingham said as she gave her report to the church. “Just as how we hear that there are going to be surprises in heaven, there were surprises in Curacao because I saw young people like Pierre Charles Heppell and Sis. Shaniah Gibbs preaching the Word of God and they were preaching up a storm and giving heart felt appeals for people to be unshackled by the chains of sin and to draw closer to Jesus.”
ASI Missionary, Sayeed Bernard :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
Saheed Bernard, who was the host for the morning’s service and one of the senior ASI Missionary and preacher of the team, said the junior ASI missionaries are encouraged to balance their interest in the work of evangelism with their school work and team members go the extra mile to help each other to ensure no one falls behind. “ If your grades are not up to par we will say come, let us get your grades up, so this is how we work because when you sacrifice time for the Lord, he comes through for you,“ Saheed said.
Shania Gibbs and her grandmother, Gloria Gibbs :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
The positive impact of ministry on the young ASI members was shared with the church through a brief interview with Shania Gibbs and her grandmother, Gloria Gibbs.
For Gibbs, going to mission had a positive impact on her spiritual life. “At mission I learnt how to worship more with Christ. I got a closer connection with Him,” she confessed. “I remember while in Jamaica, I used to sleep everyday during worship but going to mission and seeing how people sit up and sing together as a family has caused me to make a change for the better.”
Shania’s grand mother, Gloria Gibbs confirmed that she has seen a marked change in her grand daughter especially in her attitude towards worship since she has been to mission and back.
Cassandra Heppell (left) speaks alongside son, Pierre Charles Heppell. :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
Cassandra Heppell, mother of Pierre Charles Heppell, disclosed that while her son was away on mission, she was praying for a transformation in his life. “When my son came back and was so excited about mission, I knew that my prayers were answered,” she told the church. Pierre’s transformation came in Curacao when he met a woman who encouraged him to read his Bible and spend time in the Word. According to Pierre, “ I met a woman and she changed my perspective on life. There were months when I would not pray at all and now, there is not a day that passes by that I don’t thank God for anything in my life.” His mother’s response to this was simply, “When you pray, God answers. Never give up on your child and when you are praying for your child, remember to pray for others.”
The young ASI Missionaries were supported in their service of thanksgiving by their senior counterpart as Elder Alfred Thomas, President, ASI, Kingston Chapter, was on hand to bring greetings and encourage the youths. The mission trip to Curacao included junior ASI missionaries from Jamaica, Belize, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbadoes who in addition to preaching the Word of God, were involved in several humanitarian projects.
Click here to see photos of ASI Missionaries Thanksgiving Service.