Hundreds Gathered at Church Service to Bless a New School Year

~~Adz:Left~~ Roadtown, Tortola- Hundreds gathered at the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre on Sunday to bless the 2008/2009 school year in one accord at the Back to School Church Service.

 The church service which focused on blessing the Territory’s youth and the education system, was held under the theme “Moving from Good to Great”. 

Minister of Education and Culture the Honourable Andrew Fahie told the Department of Information and Public Relations he appreciates the hard work and dedication of all of the persons who participated in the service.  “The overwhelming response from our education team, our students and community is clear evidence that together we can move our education system from good to great,” he said.

“However, this can only be done by putting God first in all we do.  Our students are the pillars which this country needs in order to build but God must be the foundation in order for what we are building to stand and stand firm,” Minister Fahie said.

He added that our youth need constant prayers and guidance from the entire community, but especially from the parents.  The Education Minister is encouraging all those who attended the service to heed the message delivered in the sermon, noting that “together we can make a difference in the lives of our children and move our educational system and Territory forward from good to great.”

The guest speaker, Pastor Claude O. Cline, in his sermon urged the parents, teachers, principals, Government and community “to move one extra degree”.  “With one extra degree you can move an entire system.  All some of you need to do is to move your life in one extra degree and it will make all the difference,” he said.

He also challenged the parents and urged them to spend more time with their children and to give them proper training.   The pastor also challenged the churches to get more involved in the community.  “This is no time to quit, give up or throw in the towel, just push a little harder for that one extra degree,” he said.

 The gathering was blessed as the many pastors at the ceremony representing a cross-section of denominations prayed for the educational system and the challenges within the community.  

The New Life Baptist Church led the praise and worship.  There were selections by St. George’s Anglican Church Liturgical Dancers; Elmore Stoutt High School Drama Society and Jazz Ensemble; and the primary schools’ mass choir.

Bishop Ishmael Charles of New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre also led the prayer of consecration. The service ended with a pledge read by the congregation.  Pastor Henderson Tittle chaired the proceedings. The first Back to School Church Service was held on September 16, 2007 under the theme “Positive Choices Anchored in Godly Living”.

The mission of the Ministry of Education and Culture is to provide high quality education and rehabilitative services, as well as, to facilitate access to and participation in sports, recreation and culture, in order to enrich the lives of all residents of the Virgin Islands.