BASSETERRE St. Kitts, November 9th, 2012 -- This, the Golden Jubilee of the Apostolic Faith congregation here in Sandy Point, offers me the opportunity to extend my congratulations and prayerful good wishes to you.
I thank the Lord for the many blessings he has bestowed on Sandy Point through your ministry, and I am especially grateful for your commitment to promoting constructive dialogue, fruitful cooperation and growing friendship between our churches here in Sandy Point.
I also want to thank the foundation members of the church, whose dedication and hard work saw the construction of this church just 3 years after the arrival of the two young female missionaries who established the apostolic faith in St. Kitts.
In the 50 years that have intervened, the achievements of this assembly have been diverse as evidenced through the series of important milestones like the building of the church mission, the many children’s programmes through the years, the ordination of a bishop and pastors last year, which was the first in St. Kitts.
The journey has not always been easy, but what achievement worth having is without pain and challenge? As we know sometimes, "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way" (Matthew 7.14). And it is heartening and inspiring how you continued to be a shining light in Sandy Point through the years when you had no resident pastor.
In the Book of Jude and the 3rd verse, it says: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
Paul said, “If one--if you all speak with tongues, and one comes in, uneducated, he will say you're all mad. The unbeliever doesn't understand. But he says if one is a prophet, and will reveal the thing, then they'll fall down and say, 'God is with you’.”
Paul delivered this exhortation to the church, thirty-three years after the death of Jesus, that the church must continually contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. He was asking them to recognise and keep to the fundamental principles of peace and love and community spirit that was the hallmark of Jesus’ ministry here on earth.
It is fitting that this is your motto, since your church has done so much to bring that same spirit to this community. Over your fifty years here, ministries like the Children’s Bible Club, Hospital and Cottage meeting ministry, and the Elderly Care and Hospitality ministry have contributed immeasurably to our community, as you proved by your example that the church is not a building, but a society of people. People who do not just worship together, but are there to comfort each other in adversity, support each other through the normal day to day activities of life and celebrate victories together.
Your participation in the establishment of Sandy Point Community Churches is an example to the rest of St. Kitts Nevis how earnest application of real Christian principles can transform a community.
In closing, on behalf of myself, the people of Constituency #5 and the entire People’s Action Movement, I wish to wholeheartedly congratulate you on the joyous occasion of this 50th anniversary celebration. May God bless you all.
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