Pastor Andrew Farrel, Ministerial Secretary of the Caribbean Union, and Pastor Royston Philbert, Ministerial Secretary of the North Caribbean Conference (NCC), hosted an informative and inspiring Elders’ Workshop on St. Maarten, from April 21 to 22, 2017.  Other program facilitators included Pastor Ashton O’Neil, Director for Personal Ministries and Sabbath School at the Caribbean Union, and Pastor Charles Heskey, Ministerial and Stewardship Director of the South Leeward Mission.

This was the fourth Elders’ Workshop held by the NCC’s Ministerial Secretary in an ongoing plan of certification directed at equipping, strengthening and enabling elders to function effectively.  The plan’s modules included resources for church administration, history, and doctrine.

In his presentations, Pastor Heskey focused on elders’ sacred responsibility to make certain that they have a personal relationship with the Lord.  While they may spend time preparing sermons for members, they must make certain to reserve time for themselves, in order to get to know the Lord personally.

During the workshop, Pastor Farrel emphasized the importance of elders’ serving the local congregation and the community.  Pastor Farrel highlighted the elder’s role in:  Coordinating worship and the works of various church departments; working closely with the pastor on the monthly preaching schedule; having oversight of the congregation; sharing leadership with the pastor; and being directly involved with visitation to members and the community.

The workshop was well received by the elders on St. Maarten. Forty six (46) certificates and elders’ pins were distributed to elders during closing activities.