A number of students at the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies in Anguilla began their academic year by attending the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church and participating in its service on Saturday, September 7.
The scripture reading was delivered by the PRO for the local Guild of Students, Ms. Tiffany Moore. Special ministry in song: ‘Nara Ekele Mo’ by Travis Greene, was presented by Guild of Students Representatives: Chapter Chair, Ms Kemoloy Murphy, former Deputy Chair Mrs Charlene Roach, Community Liaison Officer, Ms Elissa Williams and PRO, Ms Tiffany Moore. The students were led by Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Head of the UWI Open Campus Anguilla and Manager of the UWI Open Campuses in the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.
Speaking at the podium, she told the pastors and the combined congregation: “It is such a blessing to be here. We thank our students who, at the beginning of every academic year, initiate this opportunity to gather and seek God’s guidance and direction for the rest of the year. In many academic circles that is not the case, so we are proud of our students and we are happy to be here.”
Dr. Banks continued: “The purpose of the University of the West Indies Open Campus is to open doors to life-changing learning wherever they are. Many of us, here in Anguilla, have made and are making use of this opportunity to achieve our academic goals without leaving our families, our jobs, our churches and our communities.
“As we embark on this new academic year, I want to remind all our students – and indeed all students – that, as the UWI mission indicates, we are mandated to use the knowledge and skills that we are acquiring for the positive transformation of our communities. I would also like to remind us of our core values which are not very unlike most of the values that are instilled in us in our homes, our churches and different organizations. They include integrity; performing in an honest, caring, ethical, trustworthy manner; and creating a culture of accountability, excellence – just doing our best in whatever area – whether in our studies, communities or churches promoting justice for all. Whether we are students or children of God, we look to promote and support justice.
“These values at the University of the West Indies, and the Open Campuses, are no different from those that we are taught in the Word of God. We pray God’s richest blessings, guidance and protection on all our students and our teachers, during this academic year, as we undertake our studies and assigned tasks with integrity, excellence and the pursuit of justice for all.”
Pastor Howard Simon, one of the two newly-appointed Seventh-day Adventist Ministers in Anguilla, thanked Dr. Banks and the students of the UWI Open Campus for choosing the SDA Church for worship and to begin their academic year. He took the opportunity to lead the congregation in prayer on behalf of the UWI Open Campus in Anguilla.
