DEDICATION SERVICE AT GOOD NEWS BAPTIST CHURCH, ST. PETERS, ST. MAARTEN

L-R: Dr. & Mrs. Cannings, Prime Minister Sarah Wescott-Williams and Mr. & Mrs. Roderick Webster

They joined St. Maarten Government dignitaries, other worshippers from Good News Baptist Church, and other congregations in French St. Martin as well as Dutch St. Maarten in the joyful celebration under the theme “Faith To Believe”. At a simultaneous ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pastor Webster’s wife (Mrs. Dora Webster) and daughter (Mrs. Aunika Lake) cut the ribbon to one entrance while members of the Building Committee cut the ribbon to the other entrance. The contractor, a member of the church, then handed the keys to Pastor Webster and the congregation proceeded to fill the building well beyond its designed seating capacity of 650 persons.

The Dedication Service in progress

The very beautiful church building replaces the former building which was demolished some three years ago, and is, in the words of Pastor Webster, “… a work of God and God alone. The people of God believed in advance for something that would only make sense in reverse. But that is what faith in God does. It makes you do things opposite to the natural expectation”. Pastor Webster’s message continued: “Realistically speaking, we should not be here sitting in this building today. I say this because it is no secret that the world is neck deep in a recession; experts today speak about the depth of the situation and improvement doesn’t look imminent. Despite the situation all around us, God has proven that he is recession-proof when man puts His trust in Him. The God we serve is not swayed by the changing times. He is a constant in the world that changes constantly. And today sitting in this building proves that.”
Pastor Webster informed the congregation that the church building had been constructed and outfitted without any loan from any financial institution, and that he was thinking ahead about the construction of dormitories in the adjacent building to meet identified needs.
The opening prayer was delivered by Pastor Cyril Gumbs, Chairman of the West Indies Baptist Fellowship. Instrumental items from the Central Baptist Church, (Anguilla), and Michael “Dumpa” Martin and his son, were among a number of impressive musical presentations. Pastor Webster, who has now served at the church for seven years and seven months, thanked his Building Committee and all the workers, and recognized all the former pastors whom he called “the foundation of the Good News Baptist Church” since its inception some 45 years ago. Remarks were delivered by the architect and by one of the many donors to the church building project.

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Remarks were also delivered by Parliamentarian George Pontiphlet on behalf of Leader of the Opposition William Marlin; by Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger; and by Prime Minister Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams who challenged the Pastor and congregation with the words: “Now that you’ve got this building, what are you going to do with it?”
Dr. Paul Cannings of Living Word Fellowship Church, Houston, Texas, delivered the Message. Dr. Cecil Richardson, Pastor of Central Baptist Church, led the congregation in the Act of Dedication, of the building to the following: the honour and glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; the carrying out of the Great Commission; the teaching of God’s word; the beauty of His holiness; the preaching of the Gospel; the service of mankind; and the preservation and proclamation of Divine Truth. Dr. Richardson then led in the Prayer of Dedication.
Following the Dedication Service, those present were treated to dinner on the premises of the new and resplendent Good News Baptist Church, St. Peters.