Premier applauds SDA Church & Pathfinders for seeking to make VI ‘a much better place’
The VI/USVI Pathfinder Congressoree, a youth event of the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, was held from May 24-26, 2024, under the theme ‘ENTER’.
111 pathfinders from St Croix and 121 from St Thomas joined over 200 pathfinders from the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) for the 3-day event, which included friendly competitions and a March of Witness.
It was also the first face-to-face Pathfinder Congressoree since the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Declaring the Congressoree open at the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre in Baughers Bay, Premier Wheatley commended the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Churches and the leadership of the Pathfinder Ministry.
‘Impressive gathering’
Calling it an “impressive gathering”, after 5 years, Premier Wheatley said, “We have braved many storms, we have made it through pandemics, but by God’s grace and mercies we are here gathered together to do God’s work.”
Recognising the Theme for the Congressoree, ENTER, as a “powerful” theme, Dr Wheatley said it reminded him of the hymn, ‘I will enter His gates’, which he said he sang as a child.
Premier Wheatley said the theme also reminded him of Matthew Chapter 7, Verses 13 and 14 and said the youth at the Congressoree have made a choice to enter the straight and narrow path.
“And certainly, I would say to you young people and all others, let us walk that path with boldness, let us walk that path with confidence, let us walk that path with conviction, because if you just look at what is happening around us today, you will see the result of the opposite path, and it is not a nice path at all.
“And let me acknowledge the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pathfinder Movement, who are seeking to make the Virgin Islands a much better place by sticking to that righteous path,” Premier Wheatley declared.
Among those joining Hon Wheatley at the opening ceremony for the Congressoree were Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon Corine N. George-Massicote, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr the Hon Karl Dawson (R1), Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), Representative for the 8th District Hon Marlon A. Penn and Representative for the 2nd District Hon Melvin M. Turnbull.
Highlights of Congressoree
Among the highlights of the Congressoree were the Preacher’s Proclamation, Bible Swords and Bible Memory.
Young pathfinder Denecia D.A. Nelson of St Croix wowed the gathering with her memory when she flawlessly recited Genesis Chapters 2, 3 and 4.
Nelson, of the Christiansted Pathfinder Club, also easily won Bible Swords against her competition from St Thomas and the VI. In Bible swords, a contestant has to try to find the given Bible verse before the other contestants can.
The pathfinder representing the VI, Mary Joseph beat out strong competition from St Croix (Gianna Adeen) and St Thomas (Dajari Hicks) in winning the Preacher’s Proclamation. Pathfinders were given 5 to 7 minutes to present a short sermon on the theme ENTER.
The theme for the 48th Pathfinder Congressoree, ENTER, is an acronym, which means E- Embrace God’s Instructions, N- Navigate the Challenges, T- Trust in his Faithfulness, E- Exercise Obedience, R- Remain Patient and Persistent.
The sermon on Sabbath (Saturday) was delivered by the Caribbean Union Conference (CARU) Youth Director, Pastor Marvyn O. Smith.
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10 Responses to “Premier applauds SDA Church & Pathfinders for seeking to make VI ‘a much better place’”
These folks have it all wrong, with their Sabbatical foofoos, and their dont- eat-this, or that-, types of dogmas!
And many of those folks over forty, LOOK, just as old, or older, than Methusela!!
WHO, exactly, are they trying to fool?