It was a very lively and potent atmosphere at the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle on Wednesday, 28th June, 2017, when the Sandy Point Community Churches held its annual Prayer Service seeking God’s protection during the 2017 Trans-Atlantic Hurricane Season. In the elegant ambiance of the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle, its founding pastor, Rev. Dr. Calvin Hazel, Chairperson for the service, welcomed the worshippers from the various churches across the Sandy Point Community and set the tone for the night’s service. After the National Anthem was rendered by a member of Unique Touch Christian Centre, Rev. Cecele Browne of the Sandy Point Wesleyan Holiness Church prayed inviting God’s presence and direction for the service.
The melodious Worship Team of the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle led the congregation in to a very spirited time of praise and worship before the Scripture readings were done by Pastor Prisca Hyligar of the Evangelistic Faith Church and Pastor Kenneth Francis of the Abundant Life Pentecostal Church. The Scripture readings were punctuated by the prayer for our nation and the men of our land by Fr. Jegan of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Delivering the night’s message, Pastor Calvert Glenroy Dixon, a junior pastor of the Lighthouse Baptist Church, focused on Psalm 91 for his sermonette entitled, “Deliver us from the storm or take us through.” Reminding the believers to keep trusting God regardless to what may come during the hurricane season, Pastor Dixon underscored the Psalmist confidence in the Lord’s protection and the Lord’s faithfulness to His word/promises. After Pastor Dixon’s energetic and solid preaching, the congregation joined the worship team in singing “In times like these we need a Saviour”. Very fittingly, this song was followed by a series of intercessory prayer by members of churches. Pastor Otis Browne of Zion Seventh Day Adventist Church prayer for the National Emergency Management Agency (N.E.M.A) and all other emergency support agencies, Sister Panthea Woodley of the Apostolic Faith Mission prayed for the National Protective Services and Land & Sea Patrols, Sis. Joycelyn Versailles of the Abundant Life Pentecostal Church prayed for the timely provision of supply by support agencies whenever they are need, Pastor Kenneth Francis prayed for the protection of the Caribbean region and beyond, and Rev. Yvette Bagnall of St. Anne’s Anglican Church prayed for the Protection of our Federation during this hurricane Season.
The time of prayer was interjected by prayerful songs led by the Calvary Baptist Worship Team. During the taking of the offering, the Congregation sang the chorus “In Jesus name we are one family”. This was followed by the Notices, Vote of Thanks, the Closing Prayer and the Closing Song, “Hear my Cry oh Lord”. As the worshippers exited the sanctuary, they greeted each other.
Reflecting on the service and commenting on its timeliness a few days after, one person shared that those prayers unto God on that Wednesday must have been instrumental in there being now loss in our land during the heavy rain and thunderstorm of the following Thursday and Friday.
The Sandy Point Community Churches is a group of leaders of the Churches of Sandy Point Community who undertake ecumenical events for the good of the community. The group’s motto is “Putting aside our differences to help and heal our community”.
