An Evangelistic Crusade, dubbed “Gospel Explosion 2010”, commenced at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church at East End on Sunday night, February 28, under the leadership of the recently-appointed resident District Minister, Pastor Virgil M. Sams. He is being assisted by a three-member team comprising, Elders Glen Booth, Horace Cupid and Bible Worker, Evelyn Hodge, together with a number of ushers and others from the three SDA Churches at Long Bay, South Hill and Mount Fortune.

The Crusade Ushers

The Crusade was declared open by the newly-appointed Minister of Social Development in the Anguilla United Movement Government, the Hon. Edison Baird. “It is with profound pleasure that I stand at this pulpit to declare Gospel Explosion Crusade 2010 open,” he began. “I am, a Minister too, though it is of a different type, but our jobs overlap in many respects, especially in my job as Minister of Social Development. I know my job will be made easier with the assistance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”

Section of the congregation

Mr. Baird stated that his research showed that the SDA Church was also involved in social development, an important part of the Christian message. He went on: “How do I know that the SDA Church preaches social development? It is because I have come to realise that the 15 million SDA members world-wide, as well as people of other faiths, are reached and fed the word of God daily by the church in 892 different languages in the 201 out of the 230 countries recognised world-wide.

Another section of the congregation

“I know that the SDA Church is deeply involved in social development because of the work of organisations like the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) International, which was established in 1984 for the specific purposes of individual and community development and disaster relief. It is currently working in more that 120 countries and is one of the most efficient relief organisations operating in the world….ADRA directly relates to the pillars of social development, food security, economic development, primary health care, disaster preparedness and response and basic education without regard for ethnic, political or religious association.”

Hon. Edison Baird

Mr. Baird commended the church for its commitment to social development and constitutional freedoms by its work in supporting, protecting and defending religious liberty and human rights, and by its magnificent educational system developed world-wide over the past 150 years. “This educational system begins with pre-school, continues through primary and high school and challenges students world-wide through colleges, universities and research institutions. What is most impressive is that schooling, at all levels, is based on sound principles found in God’s word, the Bible,” Mr. Baird noted.

Evangelist Virgil Sams

After referring to the various other social development functions of the church, including health matters, Mr. Baird concluded his opening address as follows: “Pastor Sams, your job, and my job, are almost the same. You are called by God and I am called by the people of this country to deliver the same services that the church delivers world-wide. My intent is to work with churches like yours to assist in providing services for our social development. So it is with great pleasure that I hereby declare your Crusade officially open as you serve the people of this island.”

Visiting Pastor Claudius Morgan

Pastor Sams’ opening Crusade sermon was entitled “Amazing Hope for Challenging Times.” This first week climaxes with a grand Gospel Concert on Saturday night. The Crusade, which continues next week and beyond, follows on the heels of a special revival service conducted by Evangelist Elder Claudius Morgan which attracted hundreds of persons from all religious faiths across the island.

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