The Christian Fellowship Church,on the Blowing Point Road, was the venue for a mass colourful and praise celebration, the type of which was not seen in Anguilla in recent memory. The occasion, on Sunday evening, November 25, was the 45th Pastoral Anniversary of the Rev. Drs. Ambrose and Kathleen Richardson.
Pastor Ambrose, a dedicated Anguillian, returned to his homeland from St. Thomas with his wife in the dark days of the island’s Revolution in 1967 to start his ministry and to eke out a living in a much depressed economy. He began his religious work with a small group of persons; and today their church has grown into a vibrant membership of some four hundred among which are a high percentage of young people.
The husband and wife pastors were preceded into the crowded edifice by groups of religious dancers, members of the Praise and Worship Team, and the mass Choir – all attired in flowing and colourful robes – accompanied by rousing music and song. It was a spectacular scene witnessed by Clergy from various churches with membership in the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association.
Seated on the platform, Rev. Drs. Ambrose and Kathleen Richardson were congratulated for forty-five years of ministry. The congratulatory remarks were delivered by Mrs. Hyacinth Hughes, former Principal of the Road Primary School (now Adrian T. Hazell School) who recalled the assistance the teachers and students received from Pastor Ambrose; Pastor Gareth Hodge of Destiny Church who spoke in praise of the work of the two Christian Fellowship Church Pastors; and Methodist Supernumerary Minister, Rev. Cecil Weekes, who told of working with Pastor Kathleen in the past and expressed appreciation for her work and that of Pastor Ambrose.
Throughout the service the husband and wife pastors were celebrated for their long and joint ministry. Under their leadership they saw the early development of many young members who are now professionals in such fields as the legal fraternity, education, medicine, accounting, information technology, banking, architecture, real estate, insurance, hospitality and the construction industries. The pastors’ commitment to the development of the youth of the church was further emphasised by the launch of an Education Fund during the service. Many of the expressions of congratulations from individuals, inside and outside the church, are contained in a commemorative booklet which captures the life and work of the pastoral team and outlines the various departmental ministries of the church.
The keynote speaker was Pastor Carl Richardson, one of the sons of the two Pastors. He serves both as a Pastor and an Attorney-at-law in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. He lauded his parents for their dynamic ministry and contribution to the spiritual lives of their children, the church congregation, other persons in the community, and outside of Anguilla as well.
“My parents are driven and that drive has been imparted in their children,” he went on. “We can’t sit still. We are always up for a challenge. We take on mountains that nobody else wants to climb. That has been instilled in us because of the incredible faith that we have seen on display in our parents. My father and mom have lived out their faith in such a passion that it has taken them to the far reaches of the earth to places as Malawi in Africa, Vietnam and Egypt and that was to share the good news of God’s grace.”
Pastor Carl Richardson’s address was followed by presentations to a number of honourees. They included the Principal of the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School, Mrs. Mavis Fleming-Drakes, and students; and four stalwarts of the church, whom Pastors Ambrose and Kathleen Richardson joined with when they arrived in Anguilla forty-five years ago. The serving stalwarts are Rev. Iton Connor, the Assistant Pastor; Elder Monsell Hughes; and Brothers Wilson Reid and Stedmon Connor.
In his response, Pastor Ambrose expressed appreciation to the organising committee and all other persons who arranged the Anniversary Pastoral Service and those who were in attendance including various church leaders. “I am so thankful that the church has recognised not only us, but those whom I met,” he said. “Those four men were my stronghold…and I was able to develop the ministry that God had ordained for us.” He said he was looking forward to the future with much hope. In addition, he was quoted in the commemorative booklet as saying: “In celebration of forty-five years of Pastoral Ministry, it is incumbent upon us not only to spend time in retrospect, but to chart a spiritually viable and socially sustainable course ahead.”
The Pastoral Anniversary Services was followed by a reception at La Vue, Back Street, South Hill.
