NIA hosts Thanksgiving Service to mark end of Hurricane Season
Pastor advises political leaders to promote peace

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – THE Nevis Island Administration (NIA) yesterday (Dec. 14) led Nevisians at an inter-denominational Thanksgiving Service held at Shiloh Baptist Church to mark the end of the 2008 Hurricane Season.

Those who turned out sang choruses and songs and prayed in appreciation of how God has spared the island from hurricanes’ devastation compared to other parts of the region.  Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Hensley Daniel told worshippers that there are many people who died during the hurricane season.

Daniel cited persons who died in Haiti and noted the thanksgiving service should act as a reminder that it is by God’s mercies that the island of Nevis was spared from the kind of devastation faced by other islands.

“We need to reconnect with our God. We do not deserve God’s mercies…the richer we have become materially the poorer we have become spiritually,” he said and added that material possessions could be destroyed at any given time. “This is the time the things of earth should grow strangely dim,” he said.

The Deputy Premier urged Nevisians to be obsessed by the things of God. He said disasters should help residents rekindle their capacity to care and be compassionate towards others. “Disasters,” he said, “should enable us to recognise our vulnerability and henceforth trust in God.”

Shiloh Baptist Pastor Eric Maynard called on Nevisians to express gratitude and appreciation for being spared from hurricanes.
 
He said human beings were good at petitioning and rarely gave thanks to God for His blessings, noting even in adverse challenges biblical David had learnt to praise God.

He said David, a political leader of his time, had thanked God even when Saul, his predecessor and his own son, sought to take his life. Pastor Maynard said Abraham Lincoln had set aside a thanksgiving day in America when things were not going well.

He said angry and hostile political leaders cannot express thanks to God and called on them to work harmoniously. “It is difficult to give thanks when we are angry. We are filled with anger and animosity…no one could be arrogant and thankful,” Pastor Maynard told the political leaders.

He said biblical Joseph was ostracised by his own siblings because of boasting about his multi-color coat, but he learnt a lesson. While in Egypt, where he was sold as a slave, he adapted a humble and thankful spirit even while in prison. 

As a result, Pastor Maynard stressed, he was elevated to a high political office due to his integrity and excellent execution of duties given to him by his authorities. Joseph, he had worked hard and honestly while in prison and was out to please God by obeying his masters.

Pastor Maynard told Nevisians that it is God who ordains and changes governments, and noted it was a biblical requirement that nations respect and pray for governments during their tenure in office.

He said the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), when in power in the 1980s did its best and so did the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) as well as the current NRP-led NIA.

Pastor Maynard said the CCM’s tenure in office was ordained by God and so is the party’s current Member of Parliament. He declared that he supports any elected government of the day “regardless of political persuasions”, and asked, “How will I benefit if I oppose any elected government?”