By Jamali Jack (Kingstown Church of Christ)
Kingstown Church of Christ hosted at their meeting place on Saturday October 25, a Leadership and Evangelism Workshop. The purpose of the workshop, was to bring together members of the churches of Christ in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to discuss matters related to leadership and evangelism.
Including the two keynote presenters from the United States, Ron Maynard and James Andrews, there were 45 attendants (31 brothers and 14 sisters) from 9 congregations in 3 countries. At only 9 years old, Lleyton Samuel (Sandy Bay) was the youngest brother in attendance in terms of age and being born again. He was baptized into Christ just a few weeks prior. The local congregations represented were Arnos Vale, Biabou, Georgetown, Kingstown, Retreat, Richland Park, Sandy Bay and Spring Village. Kenneth Peters (Brighton Church of Christ in East Sussex), was visiting SVG at the time and was the sole representative from the United Kingdom.
The workshop began shortly after 10AM with opening remarks and a few choruses led by Joel H. Jack (Kingstown) and an opening prayer by Jack Gellizeau (Spring Village). Jimmy Bracken (Sandy Bay), who planted the seeds that resulted in the workshop, introduced both speakers - Ron Maynard (Mankato Church of Christ, Minnesota) and James Andrews (West Huntsville Church of Christ, Alabama).
Kingstown Church of Christ hosted at their meeting place on Saturday October 25, a Leadership and Evangelism Workshop. The purpose of the workshop, was to bring together members of the churches of Christ in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to discuss matters related to leadership and evangelism.
Including the two keynote presenters from the United States, Ron Maynard and James Andrews, there were 45 attendants (31 brothers and 14 sisters) from 9 congregations in 3 countries. At only 9 years old, Lleyton Samuel (Sandy Bay) was the youngest brother in attendance in terms of age and being born again. He was baptized into Christ just a few weeks prior. The local congregations represented were Arnos Vale, Biabou, Georgetown, Kingstown, Retreat, Richland Park, Sandy Bay and Spring Village. Kenneth Peters (Brighton Church of Christ in East Sussex), was visiting SVG at the time and was the sole representative from the United Kingdom.
The workshop began shortly after 10AM with opening remarks and a few choruses led by Joel H. Jack (Kingstown) and an opening prayer by Jack Gellizeau (Spring Village). Jimmy Bracken (Sandy Bay), who planted the seeds that resulted in the workshop, introduced both speakers - Ron Maynard (Mankato Church of Christ, Minnesota) and James Andrews (West Huntsville Church of Christ, Alabama).
Ron Maynard has been an instructor of the Fishers of Men (FOM) course and has travelled throughout the globe training Christians in areas of effective evangelism. The idea of FOM is based on the statements made by Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17. In his presentation, Maynard introduced and explained the positive impact of the FOM course and outlined plans to teach the course at Kingstown early in 2015, along with additional locations at Richland Park, and Sandy Bay. He and his wife, Louise, visited St. Vincent earlier this year where he taught the FOM course at Biabou Church of Christ. During that initial visit he spoke at the midweek Bible study at Kingstown Church of Christ and encouraged the brethren there to "be inspired to become fishers of men".
James Andrews has travelled to over 25 countries preaching, teaching and equipping Christians in areas of evangelism and leadership. He is the owner and operator of Publishing Designs Inc. that publishes and markets for writers in the interest of churches of Christ. As a young man, his first missions trip out of the United States was to St. Vincent, held at Victoria Park in December 1967. Using the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4, he spoke on the topic, Leadership and the Woman at the Well. Highlighting the importance of planning, preparation and purpose in evangelistic efforts to reach the lost with the gospel of Christ, Andrews extended an offer by the brethren at West Huntsville to work together for a gospel campaign in St. Vincent during 2015.
James Andrews has travelled to over 25 countries preaching, teaching and equipping Christians in areas of evangelism and leadership. He is the owner and operator of Publishing Designs Inc. that publishes and markets for writers in the interest of churches of Christ. As a young man, his first missions trip out of the United States was to St. Vincent, held at Victoria Park in December 1967. Using the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4, he spoke on the topic, Leadership and the Woman at the Well. Highlighting the importance of planning, preparation and purpose in evangelistic efforts to reach the lost with the gospel of Christ, Andrews extended an offer by the brethren at West Huntsville to work together for a gospel campaign in St. Vincent during 2015.
Following both presentations, punctuated by a prayer by Edley Dunbar (Retreat), there was an extended discussion/Q&A session that was moderated by Rohan Hector (Richland Park). The session included questions on the Fishers of Men course, evangelistic missions, the greater need for congregational communication and cooperation, the important assistive role of women in ministry, and the bible's position on marriage, divorce and remarriage that continues to come under threat by voices within and without the body of Christ.
To close the workshop, Kelvin May (Sandy Bay) led the gathering in the spirited singing of "Allelujah!" and Keith Charles (Retreat) led the closing prayer. Jamali Jack (Kingstown) offered the prayer for the meal and give the vote-of-thanks. The continued fellowship that followed included a delicious meal organized by Anita Doyle (Kingstown) with the assistance of other sisters.
To close the workshop, Kelvin May (Sandy Bay) led the gathering in the spirited singing of "Allelujah!" and Keith Charles (Retreat) led the closing prayer. Jamali Jack (Kingstown) offered the prayer for the meal and give the vote-of-thanks. The continued fellowship that followed included a delicious meal organized by Anita Doyle (Kingstown) with the assistance of other sisters.
