Education For Life: Christian Education a positive solution
More than 1,000 persons participated in a march through the capital city of Antigua on April 29, 2023 to promote the fundamental beliefs of the Adventist church and support Seventh-day Adventist education.
Reading time | 4 mins
Students from the Antigua and Barbuda Seventh-day Adventist Secondary school display their identity banner as they march through the streets of St. Johns Antigua. The march was held to promote the fundamental beliefs of the Adventist church and support Seventh-day Adventist Education. Image supplied by Dr. Eulalie Daly Semper
More than 1,000 persons participated in a march through the capital city of Antigua on April 29, 2023 to promote the fundamental beliefs of the Adventist church and support Seventh-day Adventist education.
Themed a Fundamental Beliefs March, the students from the four schools supported by pathfinders and Adventurers took to the streets of St. Johns shouting beautiful choruses while sharing memorized Ellen G. White Writings that captured the core fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
“Students worked on a fundamental belief banner that reflected the impression of an identified fundamental belief” said Education Director of the South Leeward Conference Dr. Eulalie Daly Semper. “This type of activity seeks to encourage students to celebrate the beliefs of the church, and to foster a sense of belonging to the students who study in our schools and attend our churches.”
The students and teachers from the two primary and secondary school were joined by church leaders in the three-hour march that led them down several streets in the city. While a band played, the students shouted and passed out flyers and books to onlookers.
Parents and students of the Antigua Seventh-day Adventist Primary school were out in their numbers to support christian education during the march. More then 1000 individuals took part in the march through the streets of St. Johns Antigua. Image supplied by Dr. Eulalie Daly Semper
“This march demonstrated the Christian values held high, showing that our school is based on the philosophy of the Bible,” said Dr. Semper. “Students worked hard, creating banners and posters and illustrations with their own hands and proclaimed with dignity core beliefs of the church”
This march was one of the many activities planned to highlight Christian education across the Conference, according to Dr. Semper.
“The schools were supported by Pathfinders, Adventurers, church leaders, parents and supporters of the school,” she added. “Teachers and students worked together on banners that displayed the fundamental Beliefs of the church. These banners captured the beliefs of the church in Colorful and fun ways and people on the streets eagerly asked questions about the beliefs and some even join just to be a part of the celebrations.
The preschoolers were excited to travel in the truck as they shared their Bible verses. Proud parents marched alongside them dressed in t-shirts that had the open Bible as the logo. The displayed Bible verses captured the attention of many. It was an absolute pleasure to see all the non-Seventh-Day Adventist parents marching along with their children to share the Seventh- day Adventist Beliefs,” said Dr Semper
A student from the school said he was glad to be participating in the march. “I am not a Seventh-day Adventist yet, but I’m very proud to be in a school where God is placed number one,” he said.
Top leaders from the South Leeward Conference were among those who supported the initiative the sabbath afternoon. Executive Secretary Dr. Wayne Knowles, Treasurer Dr. Krista Moore and Community Services Director of the Conference Pastor Fredrick Alfred are identified in this image. Several other pastors and church attended the march. Image supplied by Dr. Eulalie Daly Semper
According to church leaders, Adventist education in Antigua (South Leeward Conference) is now an eighty-nine-year journey. Every activity planned by the office of education will help to promote the value of the Christian education to the community. This activity has brought them a long way forward.
“The best publicity that an Adventist school can do is to show its community the distinctive characteristic of the Adventist education,” said President of the South Leeward Conference, Dr. Carson Green. “The Bible claims a dominant place in our schools and we have to proclaim it. It is the essence of our fundamental beliefs. The smiling faces of the children and young people accompanied with musical bands and creative banners impressed even the most insensitive of hearts.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Leeward Conference has over 10, 660 church members worshiping in 44 churches and congregations. It also operates educational institutions in Antigua and St. Kitts. Second Advent Radio station located on Antigua helps to support the ministry of the church to the community.