Adventist PKs in Guyana Come together for historic Convention
Pastors’ Kids from across the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist gathered for the first-ever PK's convention at Umana Yana, Georgetown, Guyana on July 8,2023.
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Ministerial secretary of the Guyana Conference Pastor Osley Edwards, Shepherdess coordinator Sonia Bollers, Associate Ministerial secretary of the Caribbean Union Mrs. Linda Tobias, President of the Guyana Conference, Pastor Exton Clarke stands with a cohort of pastors children at the end of the convention at the Umana Yana, Georgetown, Guyana on July 6, 2023. Image by Guyana conference media
Pastors’ Kids from across the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist gathered for the first-ever PK's convention at Umana Yana, Georgetown, Guyana on July 8,2023. Hosted by the Shepherdess Association and the PK's Association, the event drew more than 50 pastors children and young people accompanied by parents and church leaders for a day of presentations, networking and activities.
Themed “Forever Friends-PKs Developing Stronger Friendship with Jesus And Each Other", the event featured talks on leadership, health, social media, how to deal with criticism, mental health, and more. The Associate Ministerial Secretary of the Caribbean Union Conference, Sister Linda Tobias told the gathering: “Although the PK cannot be shielded from all the pressures and negative experiences inherent in pastoring, these can be minimized and the positives accentuated.”
Pastor Osley Edwards, Ministerial Secretary of the Guyana Conference noted that pastor's children, often referred to as “PK's”, have a much different experience growing up than anybody else. “One of the hardest parts of being a pastor’s kid is the way that everybody treats you; you are a normal kid until they finds out that your dad is the pastor and then everything changes." Now known only as the “pastor’s kid” everybody starts treating them differently and there are so many weighty expectations placed over them, and when they don’t achieve them, it bring forth many emotional issues because they are lead to think that they let their dad down.
Several of the pastors children took part in interactive sessions that helped build relationships and foster togetherness among them. Image by Guyana conference media
Pastor Edwards and Sis. Linda Tobias were joined by Sister Sonia Bollers, President of the GUYC Shepherdess Association. Together they welcomed the young people, who represent pastoral families in the more than 31 pastoral districts in three counties across the conference, ministering to more than 62,000 members every week.
Convention speaker Dr. Kerly-Ann Tobias-Joseph, reminded the PKs that “This perpetual sense of pressure to live up to arbitrary and excessive expectations is brutal emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Worst of all, it can drive a wedge between a PK and Jesus.”
Many PKs who left the church often mentioned the extra expectations placed upon them by their parents and the congregation. This expectation was usually coupled with an overly strict home in which religion was forced and in which there was very little freedom. The family was built around outward behavior.
President of the Guyana Conference, Pastor Exton Clarke supported the event saying “today we are making history as we honor the children of pastoral families. More than ever, we need to incorporate, integrate, and invigorate this group of special children not because they are better than the rest, but because they are part of a role that is better than the rest. In fact, it should be recognized and registered today that the parents of PKs are involved in the most significant calling ever known to the world.”
Several of the pastors children were given the opportunity to participate and lead out in the sessions. Image by Guyana conference media
Clarke believes that as the ministerial Director for the field the theme was well chosen as it challenges PKs to be purposeful, inspired, faithful, godly and most of all servants.
Many of the PKs are actively involved in their individual church taking part in missionary activities and the Adventist Youth Ministries. Adrian Branford and André Meusa, are both PKs and serve as Elders in their Church. They have held many open-air meetings and are members of their Church’s Choir.
The PK Club in the Guyana Conference was birthed at a Guyana Conference ministerial retreat in Suriname in 2018 to serve the needs of pastors' children. The movement has a functioning executive committee consisting of 15 PKs and three Shepherdesses. President of the Shepherdess Association Sonia Bollers assisted in coordinating their ministry activities. In 2021 the pks hosted a virtual meeting for the Guyana Conference Ministerial Association and recently, April 5, 2023 joined the Shepherdess in hosting a virtual Half-Night Prayer Meeting.
The day ended with many of the pastors children leaving being inspired by the activities of the day. Several of them made new friends. mage by Guyana conference media
PK Adrian Branford attended the program and stated that “the Convention was so needed! I was inspired! The PKs are often forgotten; and on the flip side, so much is expected of them. The world tries to forget that we're normal human beings as well. I made new friends and have a new family - brothers and sisters."
“The PK Association in Guyana is on the move for God” said Shepherdess coordinator Sonia Bollers. As we support the Pks you will see them involved in outreach ministries - hosting programs at churches, hospitals, juvenile prison facilities and more.”
The Ministerial Secretary for the church in the Caribbean Union Pastor Ammaran Williams lauded that “It’s not their parents’ church. It is theirs too. They have an important role to play in expanding the gospel right where they are. I am excited for the thrust in the Guyana Conference.”