Forty-four English and Spanish-speaking Ministers of Religion, or their representatives from various churches across Anguilla, have been honoured for their work on the island. The event, on Sunday, February 9, also attended by congregational members, was a special Service of Honour with the theme “Give Honour to whom Honour is due”.
The well-attended service was jointly hosted, at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church, by the newly-appointed Pastor Howard Simon and Pastor Lester Jules of the SDA Districts 1 and 2 respectively – as well as the Elders and an Organising Committee drawn from both districts.
The event, described as a resounding success, got off to a start with a rousing praise and worship session by a team of inter-denominational singers and musicians. Another singing group was the Starlight Singers of Island Harbour – the longest serving Gospel song performers in Anguilla. The event continued with several individual singers and the actual joint service later on, filling the expansive church building with an atmosphere of spiritual fellowship and camaraderie not seen at such a multi-pastoral gathering in recent times.
The churches included representatives from the Anguilla Christian Council, the Anguilla Evangelical Association and other religious groups – not necessarily members of both organisations but nevertheless united in the Christian ministry and outreach.
Towards the end of the service, Pastor Simon delivered a short presentation in which he extended greetings to the other Ministers, and called attention to the contents of his recent book: Excellent Preaching: The 5P’s Approach. Copies of the book, and a Certificate of Recognition, were presented to the other Ministers and Pastors who were later entertained with refreshments.
There were general expressions of appreciation and goodwill by the various preachers and their congregational members – all of whom found the Service of Honour to have been a most delightful and thoughtful undertaking.