During the year-end Executive Committee meetings for 2018, the North Caribbean Conference (NCC) President, Pastor Desmond James, stated, “This year is a very significant year for us. As we reflect on where we were last year, we were at this time navigating our way out of the rubble and ruins of the aftermath of the two monstrous hurricanes: Irma and Maria. God has been good to us.” The members of the Committee had gathered to review the work of the Conference during 2018. Officers from the Caribbean Union Conference (CARU), who attended the meeting to lend support, included: Dr. Kern Tobias, President; his wife, Mrs. Linda Tobias, Associate Ministerial Director of the Caribbean Union; and, Dr. Claudius Morgan, Evangelist and Special Assistant to the CARU President for Evangelism.
During his devotional discourse, Dr. Tobias urged the Committee members to strive for excellence, always, “It’s my challenge to field leaders, as we face 2019, and I am excited that here in the North Caribbean Conference it has become part of their meetings.”
The Executive Committee reviewed the Financial Statements for 2018 and voted the operating budget for 2019. The Committee also authorized via vote: The strategic plan 2017-2022; a call for a pastor who will lead District #2, St. Croix, as of January, 2019 and authorized the 2019 NCC Calendar of Special Days and Events as well as the detailed plan for the 2019 LTM Evangelistic Explosion.
The Conference administrators applauded the efforts of church leaders and members for their faithfulness and commitment to the Conference: “2018 was a great year as we continue to rebound from the destruction,” said Pastor Desmond James. “Most of the churches that were dislocated have been relocated and our schools in the North Caribbean Conference have experienced an increase in enrollment, in spite of the damages resulting from the hurricanes of 2017; we give thanks to God for the high quality of graduates, the yearly increase in baptisms and the fiscal management of our schools in their attempt to achieve financial sustainability.”
The annual Ministerial Workers’ Meeting was convened immediately after the Committee Meeting and the pastoral staff was reminded to strive for excellence while moving from good to great. Ministerial workers viewed reports from the pastoral districts around the NCC. The reports indicated that from the many church-sponsored activities, membership increased by 156 during 2018.
Evangelism and church governance were the main themes as administrators sought to challenge ministerial workers to move from good to great. Dr. Claudius Morgan and Pastor Hesketh Matthew were the devotional speakers. Dr. Morgan motivated workers to get ready for the 2019 NCC LTM Evangelistic Explosion, which will begin February 15, 2019.
“It was a great meeting,” commented Pastor Wilmoth James, Executive Secretary of the Conference. “The workers were challenged and we believe they have accepted the challenge.” One pastor commented, “I express my gratitude to God and the Administration and other employees of the North Caribbean Conference for the excellent days. Our meeting was a blessing. We come out more willing to continue the struggle in the place assigned to us by the Lord.”