Samlalsingh Leads Outside-the-Box Stewardship Week, Encourages Members to Return to In-Person Worship.
Dr. Gandalal Samlalsingh surprised his audience during the recently concluded Stewardship Impact week presentations when instead of tackling the customary Ts of stewardship — time, talent and treasure — he introduced the seven Ps: praise, proclamation, productivity, preservation, prayer, pride and prosperity.
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Dr. Gandalal Samlalsingh ministering to the church on the final sabbath of the stewardship program. During the week he introduced the seven Ps: praise, proclamation, productivity, preservation, prayer, pride and prosperity. Image by Central SDA Church Media
The Caribbean Union Conference’s (CARU) Stewardship and Trust Services Director Dr. Gandalal Samlalsingh surprised his audience during the recently concluded Stewardship Impact week presentations when instead of tackling the customary Ts of stewardship — time, talent and treasure — he introduced the seven Ps: praise, proclamation, productivity, preservation, prayer, pride and prosperity.
From April 15 to 22, Samlalsingh expounded the virtues of offering profuse praise to a worthy God; of proclaiming the gospel of peace with intentionality; of being a productive Christian since God has no room for idlers; of preserving the love and interrelationships that allow us to survive and thrive; of experiencing the privilege and power of prayer with a God who loves us; of sidestepping the perils of pride; and of discerning the purpose of prosperity in the overflow of blessings.
“I view stewardship from a different perspective,” Samlalsingh said. “I’m tired of the 4T's and the 5T's. I have discovered that stewardship has more to do with lifestyle, and when the lifestyle is transformed, then we will see faithful stewards in the church — ones who have accepted the lordship of Jesus Christ and are walking in partnership with God and acting as God's agents to manage his affairs on earth,” he said. “There’s no greater authority in the life of a Christian than to know that we are in a perpetual relationship with the true and living God,” Samlalsingh said. “And that we can know God and have Him with us.”
President of the North Caribbean Conference Pastor Desmond F. James was present to participate in the service. He gave the consecration prayer to conclude the Sabbath morning worship service.
“This fresh perspective coming from a different perspective was powerful and impacting,” President of the North Caribbean Conference Desmond James said of the livestreamed meetings viewed nightly by an average of 600 persons, and more than 800 on the final Sabbath.
Martha Nelson, a member of Central church, expressed her appreciation for the messages: “Wonderful job. Sir. Thank you for coming to Central SDA,” she posted. “Thank you Lord for this wonderful Stewardship Week. Thank you Lord for the speaker. Help us to be good stewards and good Christian members.”
Another online viewer, Myrtle Edwards, posted: “I will never be the same again with God’s help.”
While Samlalsingh welcomed the strong online attendance, he was adamant that church members should be present in the house of worship. “I can't understand how a human being in their right mind will keep away from this place,” he said. “There is no online worship in heaven. Amen. So come to the place of worship. Those of you online, that is for persons who are not members of the church, so we share the link with them. But those of you who are members, God expects you to come to this place of worship,” he urged, gently reminding the audience in inimitable Trinidadian vernacular that “iz you who ask me to come.”
The NCC stewardship impact series coordinated by Stewardship Director Pastor Danny Phillip was the first of its kind to be staged in all four districts on the island of St. Croix.
Scores of members responded to the appeal to rededicate themselves for service to God and to His church. The prayer was done by Pastor Desmond James, President of the Conference.
“Many of our church members are going through difficult times through the global crisis of the pandemic,” Philip said. “There’s so many who have lost their jobs, are struggling with the loss of their loved ones, and many of them may feel like distancing themselves from God and the church, while others during moments of crisis cling to God. So, we believe this is the right time to encourage them spiritually with God’s promises of protection and blessings.”
In addition to the nightly meetings, Philip hosted two advisories: one for stewardship leaders, their assistants, head deacons, and the finance committee chairman, and another for pastors and Bible workers.
As part of the closing ceremony on Sabbath afternoon, members rededicated themselves to being God’s faithful stewards, as articulated in NCC Treasurer Sanida McKenzie’s charge: “As stewards we are blessed to be a blessing. We vow to use all of our gifts or the gifts we have been given to serve our church and others to be faithful stewards to the honor of God.”