The Seventh-day Adventists’ New Life Company in Sandy Hill Anguilla, was promoted to the status of an official church body last Saturday morning, April 11th 2026, during the Sabbath service.
According to the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, a group of believers must be designated as a “company” before becoming a fully organized church to ensure that they are spiritually mature, administratively prepared, and properly aligned with the worldwide denomination. The company status acts as a probationary or developmental period authorized by the local conference or mission.
The church’s North Caribbean Conference, under the leadership of President Wilmoth James, had deemed the New Life Company worthy of having the “church” status bestowed upon them, after existing as a “company” for some 13 years.
The current pastor of the church is Pastor Ray Edwards of St. Kitts, while Pastor Howard Simon of Antigua served as former pastor (his pastoral term recently ended). Pastor Simon is now the designated Secretary of the Northern Caribbean Conference. In officially declaring the church’s inauguration and presenting Pastor Edwards with the Certificate of Organization, Secretary Simon declared:
“Today, we commend the members and leaders of the New Life congregation for their dedication to the gospel commission of Jesus Christ. We encourage them to continue shining as a beacon of hope to the community of Sandy Hill, The Quarter and Anguilla at large.”
A special Holy Bible was presented by Conference Treasurer, Sister Sanida McKenzie, to the Pastor, Ray Edwards; the first Elder, Brother Gregory Lewis; and the Clerk Shakibah Fanus. In delivering the Bible, Sister McKenzie stated: “This Bible is presented to you as the foundation of all teaching, preaching and practices in the church. May it guide every decision and illuminate every path as you continue to make disciples for Christ.”
The ceremony continued with the presentation of the Church Manual delivered by Pastor Simon on behalf of the North Caribbean Conference. In presenting this gift, Pastor Simon explained:
“The Church Manual plays an instrumental part in the governance of the church. As Seventh-day Adventists we believe that the Bible is our main textbook, but we also believe that the Manual is the church’s interpretation of the Holy Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. The Church Manual guides us, being the collective wisdom of the church as it relates to the church’s operation.”
President of the Conference, Pastor Wilmoth James, then stood to convey congratulatory remarks to the new church body on behalf of the Caribbean Union President, Dr. Kern Tobias:
“The Caribbean Union President, Dr. Kern Tobias, wishes to express to you his congratulations in this achievement,” he said. “He is fully aware that at this moment your company would be moving toward the church status category. He applauds you for now becoming a part of the Caribbean Union of Seventh-day Adventist churches.”
Pastor Edwards gave a brief commendation to the newly found church. “I wish at this time to recognize all duty authorized charter members of the New Life Seventh-day Adventist Church,” he said. “I thank God for the privilege that He has given me to work with you as your humble servant at this time in your history.”
In addition, participating in the ceremony and expressing notes of gratitude and congratulations was Pastor Henry Peters, Ministerial Secretary for the Northern Caribbean Conference. Pastor Peters serves in the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. He had come to conduct sessions of nighttime training for the new church members, and had offered the first Congregational Prayer for the new church body.
The New Life Church anticipates the prospect of establishing a new edifice in The Quarter area in the not too distant future. To this end, the then “New Life Company” had invited to the ceremony the Honourable Parliamentary Secretary, Cordell Richardson, the Government Representative of District 4 constituency, in which the new building will be constructed.
Mr. Richardson, a heavy equipment company proprietor, spoke to the congregation in congratulatory tones, and promised to contribute the use of his excavating machine and equipment when work on the new church site begins.
Also sharing words of congratulations was Pastor Wynfield Ambrose, Conference Stewardship Director, who said the Offertory Prayer. Reflecting upon his own experience, he encouraged the congregation, stating that their prospects to build for the glory of God can become a certain reality as long as they devote themselves to the task.
“The Belle Vue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tortola was built in just three years,” he said. “So the erection of your building is quite possible, in short order. It can be done.”
Finally, by way of encouragement and counsel, President Wilmoth James spoke to the congregation in a sermon entitled “From Seed to Sanctuary”, admonishing the new church about the importance of being consecrated to the service of God. His wife, Linda, then sang the 1874 Frances Havergal hymn, “Take My Life and Let it Be”, as President James offered a special prayer of dedication for the New Life Church congregants.
By James Harrigan
