Working within government guidelines for effective relief administration, the North Caribbean Conference (NCC) started providing supplies, as of September 12, 2017, to the islands of the NCC devastated by Hurricane Irma.
“That is just the start. It’s our initial response,” said President of the Conference, Pastor Desmond James, who participated in preparing the first shipment, destined for the British Virgin Islands. “We are going to continue to distribute food, water, hygiene kits and supplies to help those who are in need,” James said. “This is what Jesus asked us to do and we are committed.”
Vincent A. David, NCC Youth and Chaplaincy Director, accompanied the shipment of water and food to the port on Tortola. The NCC anticipates that this will help to ease the suffering of individuals across the entire British Virgin Islands. “It’s an opportunity to reach beyond the church and into the community and share that same love and passion and we are happy to do that,” said David.
The British Virgin Islands includes three islands (Anegada, Tortola, Virgin Gorda) of the ten served by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the NCC. Three of its eight congregations and the Seventh-day Adventist school were badly damaged during Hurricane Irma.