Bank of Nevis celebrates 23rd Anniversary with Church Service
Pastor says Bank has kept strong over the years

General Manager Bank of Nevis Everette Martin and Shiloh Baptist Pastor Eric Maynard.

The service was part of a series of anniversary celebration activities planned by the Bank.  Speaking during the service, Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church Eric Maynard said the Bank of Nevis had remained stable over the years despite challenges. He said the stability of the bank had proved to the world what Nevisians are made of. 

The Bank of Nevis is the major financier of the newly-completed state-of-the-art Shiloh Baptist Church’s Sanctuary. “Here at Shiloh, we are very proud of you,” Pastor Maynard said. He noted that the bank had trusted the church with a substantial loan despite the prevailing hard economic times affecting financial institutions globally.

On a light touch, Pastor Maynard said, “You do not have the privilege to get a bail-out.”
Calling on the faithful to learn to live within their means, he said, “I urge you to turn to God in these hard times.”

Pastor Maynard encouraged worshippers to focus their minds on positive things. “In good times we tend to boast of our accomplishments. Paul [Apostle] said, ‘Rejoice always and greatly in the Lord.’ It takes great faith when the times are not so good. Faith in Christ enables us to be positive in a negative world,” Pastor Maynard said in his sermon which he titled ‘Rejoice in the Lord Greatly’.

He told the worshippers to desist from having the attitude of the children of Israel who continued to complain even after God had performed a miracle and parted the Red Sea so they could have gotten to the ‘Promised Land’.

The Pastor said when they ran out of drinking water they continued to complain and were not thankful even when God sent heavenly baked food daily.

Pastor Maynard called on employees on the island to adopt an attitude of patience and understanding should bonuses not be forthcoming due to the “melt-down” of the economy. He said Nevis’ economy would experience a “melt-down” due to the temporary closure of Four Seasons, but noted that during the prevailing challenging times God presents His people with an opportunity to trust Him.

The Pastor called for greater concern and greater love during the harsh economic times.  He told the worshippers to keep strong and trust God as He never changes. “The Lord is unchanging…He keeps His promises.”

He said that due to news coming out of media houses on the “melt down” of the global economy it was possible to lose hope. He however advised that Phillipians 4:6,7,8 should encourage worshippers and the public at large to be focused on God who would sustain their hope in difficult times.

In his remarks, Everette Martin, General Manager of the Bank of Nevis, thanked the bank’s customers and welcomed them to a customers’ appreciation day that will be held at the bank’s premises on Friday, December 12.

Martin said the Shiloh Baptist Church should not shy away from seeking refinancing to purchase air conditioning equipment for that institution. To this, Pastor Maynard said, “Bank of Nevis has shown great confidence in us. We must not disappoint them. We are going to faithfully meet our commitment.”

Meanwhile, members of the Nevis Ministry of Youth and Sports Under-15 Cricket Programme and their coaches also joined worshippers at the Shiloh Baptist Church yesterday. ~~Adz:Right~~

Carl Tuckett, one of the coaches, said that apart from training the youths to excel in cricket, the coaches’ goal was to build well-rounded individuals. “It is important to put God first in all we do. Only what is done for Christ will last. If these boys were not in church today, where would they be?” he asked.

He said the Bank of Nevis was a major sponsor of the Under-15 Summer Cricket Programme and it was by divine providence that its staff and the cricket team were at a joint church service that they did not plan.

Tuckett said the Under-15 Summer Cricket Programme was a timely gesture, as the Federation was hit by a wave of crime and the organisers were hopeful that such a programme would help tremendously in keeping the youths away from criminal activities.

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com