Sabbath School: The heart of the church
In response to the Seventh-day Adventist world church's program "I Will Go", the Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (CARU) hosted an historic Sabbath School Congress at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad on July 21-22, 2023.
Reading time | 4 mins
President of the Caribbean Union Conference Dr. Kern Tobias, Assistant Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director of the General Conference Dr. Joe Reeves and Dr. Samuel Telemaque, Director of Sabbath School, Adventist Mission, Prayer Ministries and Possibilities Ministries of the Inter American Division of SDA participated in the opening session of the Congress on Friday, July 22, 2023. Image by Zwade Studio for CARU
In response to the Seventh-day Adventist world church's program "I Will Go", the Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh day Adventists (CARU) hosted an historic Sabbath School Congress at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad on July 21-22, 2023.
The congress with its theme “I will go, transforming lives from the inside out” was attended by sabbath school directors, superintendents and other sabbath school officers from the 10 territories of the Caribbean Union.
The delegates who were both in person and on-line were recipients of exciting and transforming presentations by the directors of Sabbath School from the General Conference, Inter American Division and Caribbean Union heartening them to make changes in their sabbath schools to reach people for Christ.
On Friday evening , Dr. Joe Reeves - the assistant Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director of the General Conference, stressed the importance of focusing on and investing in every member of the congregation, particularly the young adults ages 16-35. He expressed the need to be intentional in the programing and approaches to transform lives through the Sabbath School.
Debra Felix, Sabbath School Director of the Caribbean Union Conference addressed the delegates to the Congress on Friday evening. She encouraged them to use the Sabbath School as a converting and transforming power to prepare members to live in readiness for Christ’s soon return. Image by Zwade Studio for CARU
“Our sabbath schools are to teach sound doctrine, provide fellowship and go out and teach and preach the word from house to house. ”
Reflecting on the work of Christ and his disciples as described in the book of Acts, Dr. Reeves urged the delegates to emulate the method of Christ and the early church to get personal with people.
“Every member is a preacher, every member a disciple going house to house visiting, labouring and sharing. Jesus modelled this type of ministry in his approach and the ones who follow the methods of Jesus most closely are those who do the most personal work so There should be less preaching and more bible study. We need to be less program centered and more people centred.”
“Let your sabbath school be one that lives the word of God. Give it an opportunity to do its work.” This was the final appeal of Dr. Reeves to the delegates that evening.
The call to be transformed by God in order to be a vehicle of transformation came from Dr. Samuel Telemaque, Director of Sabbath School, Adventist Mission, Prayer Ministries and Possibilities Ministries of the Inter American Division of SDA.
The keynote speaker for the congress was Assistant Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director of the General Conference Dr. Joe Reeves Image by Zwade Studio for CARU
“The world can change the church or the church can change the world. When you are transformed by the world, you lack the ability to transform the world. Be transformed by God so he can use you to transform others,” he stated.
This was further emphasised by the President of the Caribbean Union Conference, Dr. Kern Tobias as he reminded the delegates of the importance of the sabbath school in the church.
“The Sabbath School is still the heart of the church. It is the part of the church's experience that impacts the members most significantly.
Further insight into the role of the Sabbath School as a vehicle of transformation and conversion was shared by Debra Felix, Sabbath School Director of the Caribbean Union, in her address to the delegates.
“Let’s see our sabbath school as a converting and transforming power as we prepare members to live in readiness for Christ’s soon return,” she encouraged.
Over 800 Sabbath School leaders from across the territory participated in the congress. Several of the traveled to Trinidad for the event while others joined virtually. Image by Zwade Studio for CARU
Delegates across the territories expressed their gratitude for the insight and encouragement offered at the congress.
Juliette David from the North Caribbean Conference shared that it was a great opportunity for reinforcement and additional training.“The program was truly a blessing. It has reinforced the structure of sabbath school for me and encouraged me to keep on doing the work to win souls for Christ.”
Over 800 participants registered for the congress with a mixture of virtual and in person attendees.