On Saturday, 27th August, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mount Fortune held its annual distribution of back-to-school items for the community’s children. Some teachers were also privileged to receive useful items to ease their work in the classrooms.
The programme for the morning’s service catered exclusively to admonishing the students to stand for what is right in school. The theme for the event was “Stand Still and Watch God Move”, and many of the songs that were sung and exhortations that were presented bore a reflection of that theme.
A sermon was preached by Sister Michelle Simon, on the topic “Stand, Be Still, and Obey”. Her text was taken from Exodus 14 where the Egyptians were pursuing after the Israelites. “The responsibility of the Israelites was to obey the instructions of the Lord when he told them to stand still so that He could fight for them, Mrs. Simon said.
“When God told the Israelites to be still and obedient, he meant that he would take care of their situation and give them the victory over their Egyptian enemies. Today, God wants you to be obedient. Stand still, trust in Him and see him work in your lives. Stand by faith, believe in God, and you too, like the Israelites, will be victorious.”
Director of the Education Department, Charmaine Rogers, expressed thanks to all who had contributed to the back-to school supplies “bank” that had been on-going for the past months. Church members were encouraged to deposit their school supplies in that “bank”, which comprised of a large barrel in the church’s foyer.
“Every time we give, we open the door of our hearts for more blessings from above,” she said. “I wish to thank you very much for giving. I want to say a hearty ‘thank you’, especially to our platinum sponsors, Mr. Kerry Harrigan and Mr. Raymond Victorine of the Best Taxi Company in St. Thomas. I would also like to extend thanks to Pastor Orville Fleming and his team in Atlanta, Georgia.
“To all of the Pathfinders of the church,” she continued, “and to all our well-wishers and friends, I say thank you for your on-going tangible support. Today, because of your collective sacrifice, we are able to make a difference in the lives of these students. Thanks once again!”
Over 40 students, along with teachers, were able to benefit from this year’s back-to-school supplies distribution programme.
