As part of its ongoing ministry to the St. Thomas community, the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church hosted neighbor-to-neighbor time on Sabbath September 14, 2019. Members of the community received health and wellness tips, spiritual support, school supplies and other personal items.
The church’s Personal Ministries Director, Elder Candace Sprauve, indicated that these events offer an opportunity for the church to express gratitude for the community’s selflessness. The church spent the day ministering to the community and members were delighted with the positive impact on attendees. Elder Sprauve shared: “I was especially pleased to see two ladies who came to be served. They just sat around for a while. As I looked around, conversing with people who were there, I said yes – they feel comfortable! That is what we want – that our community feels comfortable among us.”
The church distributed over 200 bags of school supplies and water to scores of families with school-age children – the supplies were donated by church members. “We want to ensure that our young people are equipped for a lifetime of learning,” said Pastor Noel James, Senior Pastor of the Shiloh SDA Church. “Without our consistent effort and involvement, our children’s success cannot be guaranteed.”
Elder Sprauve added, “It’s a part of a national initiative to minister to the social needs of the community in a more significant way because the SDA Church is not just about the spiritual; we cater for all needs, including education and health. The church sees it as a way to reach the community and to engage its members in embracing evangelistic opportunities. These are people we can invite to our next event.”
Pastor Noel James concluded, “There is a willingness among members to continue the mission of the church. They see it as a great opportunity to connect with the community and to make disciples for Christ. The church is a part of the community and through programs like this we are moving closer to them and doing what God has asked us to do. We are happy that this initiative comes as a result of the church’s recent strategic initiative.”
Each year the church prioritizes projects through which it can give impacting ministry to the community. Earlier in the year, the church participated in a Prayer Caravan geared toward reaching the communities across the island. The church and the community enjoyed the well-spent day which included health checks, meals, and providing useful church ministry information to attendees. For a pictorial review of the event visit here.