Anguilla observed its first of what will be an annual event: Anguilla’s Christian Heritage Week. From October 28th to November 4th activities designed to highlight our nation’s Christian roots ranged from school assemblies to gospel concerts. The theme was the above captioned.
We all love this thirty-five square miles of tears, dreams and faith. Thus we cannot but groan as each social malady scores a deep wound in the soul of our community. The erosion of social graces, widespread apathy towards education, abandonment of church attendance in favour of conscience-searing entertainment, white collar violence in politics and the business world that is echoed in gunshots as our young men murder each other – all these and more plead for redress. Our land needs national healing.
This, then, is the reason, the rationale for Anguilla’s Christian Heritage Week. The hardly known chapters of our history from the late 1700’s to the early 1900’s tell a tale of suffering, abandonment and tragedy. Yet in this tale, this chronicle grey with grimness, sounds the unfaltering footsteps of a people resilient, daring, united and strong. What enabled them to rise after each fatal blow? Forged in the flames of adversity what shaped their character and identity? Several factors, the most crucial of being their rugged Christian faith – their faith in God. These people, these early Anguillians, our ancestors, left us a legacy rich and resonant, a legacy we languidly left behind, lured by materialism and its cousins. To rescue and restore this land we call home there is much we must do, the most important of which, I believe, is a genuine embrace of our Christian faith.
The information shared at assemblies and Personal, Social, Health & Education classes took students on a journey into a past they never knew existed. Two exciting events at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre – Anguilla’s Got Talent and Celebration of Gospel – on Friday and Saturday night provided the needed opportunity for persons of all ages to display their God-given talents in a wholesome environment.
Sunday afternoon featured an ecumenical service at the Church of God (Holiness). Selections included Anguilla My Home and vibrant and well-attended event climaxed with the inspiring song written by Bankie Banks, Cherish The Rock. The service was chaired by Mr Bren Romney, Director of Youth & Culture and featured various speakers including the Right Reverend Bishop Errol Brooks, Reverend Wycherly Gumbs, Chairman of the Anguilla Christian Council, Pastor Lucien MacDonna, President of the Anguilla Evangelical Association, Reverend Candice Niles, Director of Tourism, Mr David Carty, Dr Katherine Albrecht, nationally syndicated radio host, Dr Michael G Micahel, Honourary Fellow at Wollongong University, Australia, and Pastor Philip Gumbs, Coordinator of the Anguilla Heritage Week Committee.
Friday, Monday and Tuesday were intense, significant and rewarding as Dr Albrecht launched her book “I Won’t Take The Mark” and distributed thirty-seven hundred copies of the same and Bibles to all students ages five and up. As the leading voice in the US for pro-privacy legislation her extensive knowledge of technology led her to alert students to the high risks of technology. The Anguilla Christian Heritage Week is a remarkable instance of dreams and passion merging as Dr Albrecht’s two-day event was expanded by Mr David Carty’s gripping portrayal of how the Christian faith shaped our nation’s history.
The vision, creative energies and commitment of the Anguillian Heritage Week Committee was inspiring and speak of great things to come. Members include Dr Wycherly Gumbs, Chairman of Anguilla Christian Council, Pastor Philip Gumbs of the Anguilla Evangelical Association, Mr Bren Romney, Director of Youth & Culture, Mrs Hyacinth Bradley, Mrs Candice Niles, Director of Tourism, Dr Ronya Foy Connor, Director of Gender Affairs, Ms Sandra Fahie and Mrs Susan Smith, Education Department and Mr Claudel Romney.
The committee hereby expresses thanks to the community for its support.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
