Delegates from 34 congregations across the North Caribbean Conference (NCC) of Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) gathered from August 16 to 19, 2016, at the Peter’s Rest SDA Church on St. Croix to conduct the 13th Session.
Along with numerous reports received, Conference delegates elected Pastor Desmond James as President, Pastor Wilmoth James as Secretary and re-elected Sister Sanida McKenzie as Treasurer.
“I am humbled,” Pastor Desmond James said to the delegates after the announcement was made. “God has called. My motto, and my family’s motto, is The Lord calls, we follow. Wherever the Church calls, we believe that God is calling us.” He reminded the congregation that, “The last four years had its fair share of success, achievements and challenges. We are able to look back and praise our Father in Heaven for His mercies, for we saw tangible evidence that the Lord of hosts is with us – the God of Jacob is our refuge. We look forward with confidence that the same God who was with us in our challenges is still with us and He is still able to pilot us through the challenges that this new quadrennium will bring. This is an awesome responsibility to lead the team at this stage with over 15,000 members in over 35 churches with diverse cultures. The path that was planned for the church will be continued and increased. We want every member to catch the vision to share the gospel. The church will be a lighthouse to those around the North Caribbean Conference and the other islands of our Union.”
Pastor Desmond James commended his predecessor Pastor Silton Browne for his visionary and dedicated leadership over the past twelve years, which has guided the Conference during difficult times.
Pastor James served as the first President of the South Leeward Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, which was commissioned in March, 2011, and has served faithfully for the last six (6) years.
Here is the list of officers voted during the constituency meeting:
President/ PARL
Pastor Desmond James
Executive Secretary/ADRA
Pastor Wilmoth James
Treasurer
Sister Sanida McKenzie
Personal Ministries/Sabbath School
Dr. Henry Peters
Ministerial Secretary/Communication
Pastor Royston Philbert
Youth/ Chaplaincy
Dr. Vincent A. David
Women / Children’s Ministries
Sister Linda Ambrose
Stewardship
Pastor Hesketh Matthew
Auditing/ Education/ Family Ministries/ Health / Publishing
To be determined by the Executive Committee
| See the President’s letter for more information. |