Tobago Conference – The Journey of Good Courage and Passionate Leaders
On November 20, 2023 at 4:15 pm, in a moment that was filled with anticipation, the President of the Inter American Division (IAD), Dr. Eli Henry made the long awaited announcement declaring the Tobago Mission a conference.
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On November 20, 2023, Pastor Kern Tobias, President of the Caribbean Union (left), Pastor Vishnu Persad, President of the Tobago Conference, and Dr. Eli Henry, President of the Inter-American Division (IAD), revealed the commemorative marker signifying Tobago's transition from Mission to Conference status. Image courtesy of CARU Media.
On November 20, 2023 at 4:15 pm, in a moment that was filled with anticipation, the President of the Inter American Division (IAD), Dr. Eli Henry made the long awaited announcement declaring the Tobago Mission a conference.
“The Tobago Mission in the Caribbean Union Conference has satisfied all the requirements to be recognized as a conference with all the privileges and responsibilities of the status. Therefore, the Inter American Division committee grants the status of Conference to this organization. It is now known as the Tobago Conference of Seventh day Adventists.” announced President Dr. Elie Henry.
Jubilation and excitement filled the Scarborough Seventh day Adventist Church as current and past leaders of the Caribbean Union Conference and then Tobago Mission joined delegates, field leaders and church members to celebrate the transition of status coming twenty years after becoming a Mission.
“We want to make sure that we put this day in the hands of the Lord,” President Dr. Eli Henry remarked as he invited former president to the Mission Pastor Tony Mapp and lay leader on the island Elder Milton to pray for God’s blessing on the new Conference and on its constituents.
Dr. Kern Tobias, President of the Caribbean Union Conference, joins the Tobago Conference administration in showcasing the special transition certificate, marking Tobago's elevation to conference status. The administration comprises President Pastor Vishnu Persad, Executive Secretary Pastor Martin Cunningham, and Treasurer Mrs. Kerene Horsford-Nero.
To seal the transition, President of the Caribbean Union Conference Dr. Kern Tobias and the new Conference President, Pastor Vishnu Persad joined the Inter American Division President Dr. Eli Henry to unveil the plaque that rendered that transition of the field from Mission to Conference.
Dr. Kern Tobias, the President of the Caribbean Union of Seventh-day Adventists in his congratulatory remarks and reflections stated, “We celebrate this historic occasion in the life of the church here in Tobago. You are ready to transition to the Tobago Conference.”
The Church leader explained that the motion brought to the IAD Executive committee reflects the Caribbean region’s steady growth and financial stability. “To become a conference a field must demonstrate adequate spiritual leadership at the administrative level, directors’ level and pastoral level” said an elated Dr. Kern Tobias. “There must also be strong leadership on the educational institutions, evidence of strong leadership on infrastructural level and evidence of financial viability and the capacity to carry the mission of the church.” He continued.
Dr. Tobias shared that the Caribbean Union Conference made the recommendation to the Inter American Division that Tobago be granted conference status. Thereafter, in keeping with General Conference policies, a survey commission was appointed to study the readiness of the mission to be granted conference status. On all counts, the Tobago Mission has fulfilled all the requirements.
Pastor Kern Tobias (right), president of the Caribbean Union and his wife Linda, raise their hands and celebrate the vote taken to upgrade the Tobago Mission to conference status, on Oct. 31, 2023, during the year-end meetings. Both are natives of Tobago. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
The Conference president, President Vishnu Persad commended the faithfulness of members, “This was a journey that we pursued together, and after God, I want to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of all of our faithful members. You responded well to the challenge of sharing the gospel story with your neighbors and friends and. Your sacrificial giving has enabled us to achieve the level of financial stability that is required by the larger organization. I am pleased to report that our members have given faithful support in the area of their financial stewardship.”
Many years prior to this historic date, on April 29, 2001, a special constituency session was called at Caribbean Union College to deliberate on a proposal for mission status for Tobago and an agreement was reached to forward the request to the Inter-American Division. Delegates from all the churches, the church organizations of Trinidad and Tobago, and the administrative representatives of the Caribbean Union Conference were present.
This special session followed a consultation held in Tobago on April 8, 2001, where the proposal for mission status was presented by Martin Cunningham, chairman of the Tobago Mission Committee. Mission status was approved by a majority vote by secret ballot.
In 2004, the Tobago Mission was organized with its office at Bad Hill in Plymouth. Clyde Thomas became the first president.
The Tobago Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is now the umbrella body of the Seventh-day Adventist organization in the islands of Tobago.