Caribbean Field

First Global Mission Coordinators’ Retreat Held in Barbados

Inform. Strengthen. Expand.

These were the general objectives set for the coming year by the leaders who met December 1-3, 2017 in St. Phillips, Barbados for the first Global Mission Coordinators’ retreat in the Caribbean Field.  Led by Revs. Dario & Lynda Richards (from Barbados and Guyana), Global Mission refers to the ministry in the Mesoamerica Region that seeks to discover, develop and deploy new missionaries to the nations.

After Regional Coordinator Rev. Scott Armstrong outlined the history of Global Mission in the denomination and the region, Lynda Richards highlighted the history and dynamics of this ministry specifically in the Caribbean context.  Statistics tell us that 106 people have participated in three-week “Called to Serve” missions trips since 2013, and a multitude of Youth in Mission and Work and Witness teams have also been sent within the field during that time.  Lynda also offered potential cultural challenges in the Caribbean and cultural resources that can help combat or address those challenges.

IMG_2912.JPG

Dario Richards then led the group in a valuable time of dreaming, brainstorming, and charting the vision and strategy for the upcoming years.

Attendees included Kayann Walker (Jamaica), Talesha Plumber (Jamaica), Danielle Miller (Barbados), Rev. Shawn Parris (Barbados), Sheena Small (Barbados), and Jonette Williams (Antigua & Barbuda).  Each of these individuals is passionate about developing missions and missionaries from the Caribbean, and together they will form a field team that agreed on accomplishing the following goals in 2018:

  1. Discover 150 Nazarenes interested in missions, in part by conducting 2 Cross-Cultural Orientations in St. Lucia and Bahamas.
  2. Develop 10 coordinators who will promote the sending and supporting of volunteer missionaries in their districts, including potential longer-term candidates to the regional GENESIS initiative.
  3. Deploy 50 missionaries through Called to Serve trips to Turks & Caicos and St. Lucia, as well as 4 GENESIS missionaries to other cities of the region.

It was also a great privilege for this team to be a part of the installation of the Richards as Co-Pastors in the Hope Road Church of the Nazarene.  Many pastors and leaders from the Barbados District attended and prayed for this couple as they continue their field ministry and begin their local church pastorate in this congregation.

IMG_2914.JPG

IMG_2913.JPG

Please pray for these leaders and this ministry in the coming months.  Pray that each one of these goals would be met and surpassed! Pray also that Caribbean Nazarenes would continue to cultivate an environment where the call to missions is heard, accepted, and supported overwhelming by a Church that is passionate about reaching a broken and hurting world.

IMG_2915.JPG

Global Mission Mesoamerica – 2017

From October 19 to 24, 2017, the Mesoamerica Global Mission regional coordinators, Scott and Emily Armstrong, gathered together with the field coordinators of this ministry: Maria Eugenia Rodriguez (Mexico), Marc Versil (Haiti), Luz Jimenez (Northcentral), Dario Richards (Caribbean), Freya Galindo (Central); and the NYI regional coordinator, Milton Gay, to have meetings and attend the “Movement Day” conference in New York City, USA. Claudia Cruz (Mexico), participated in some meetings through videoconference, from Oaxaca.

22788881_10155562226861351_7449196067267514567_n.jpg

During these meetings, there was a great focus on how to continue discovering, developing and deploying more missionaries in the Mesoamerica region, emphasizing the Genesis initiative and urban mission.  Also, during the Movement Day sessions, they engaged in various presentations and discussions about leadership, urban issues and their connection with the power of the Gospel in the city.

IMG_0411.JPG

The challenges to keep mobilizing missionaries are great, but our God is greater. On the final day, the team went up to the roof of the New York School of Urban Ministry, where they were gathered, and they prayed for the cities. It was a powerful moment for each coordinator, and Marc Versil expressed this desire to change the world well: “As God invested His heart in me, I want to invest my heart in others.”

22549502_10155552365756351_3267346588810655774_n.jpg

This report was written by Freya Galindo.

Play & Witness – A Relevant And Effective Initiative

The first-ever “Play & Witness” Caribbean missions trip took place in Jamaica from July 4 to 29, 2017. This trip was divided into three major components: training, outreach and camp, and it was designed to accomplish two major objectives: to significantly impact Jamaica for Jesus Christ through sport and play, and to significantly impact the participants so that they would be catalysts for the mission at home.

Ready Set Go Training .jpg

21 participants and facilitators from the Caribbean Field formed the Play and Witness team and they were from 6 different countries: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad. Their time in Jamaica began with an intensive training in sports ministry. The purpose of this time was to expose each participant to the power and potential of sport, and to explore ways sports can be used to transform their community, nation and region. Sports were presented as relevant and effective ways to both invite people to Christ and disciple them.

Denbigh Church of the Nazarene.jpg

After this, they moved onto the second phase of the mission: the implementation of the information they had learned. They partnered with the Green Acres Church of the Nazarene in the Old Harbour community to start a new church plant using various forms of ministry (games for children and teens, etc.). Through the sporting activities, they forged a strong bond with the community in a very short time. The team also participated in the launching of the Denbigh Church of the Nazarene’s sports ministry program and, according to the senior pastor of this church, the sports ministry initiative created a new spiritual sensation in Denbigh as the attendance the following week at service had remarkably improved and there were further commitments for Christ.

Old Harbaor Testimony.jpg
The team was also involved in a youth camp and in a children’s camp as well.  They were able to use the knowledge and experiences they had received earlier and transfer it to the campers during this time.

football in denbigh.jpg

In total, 40 persons came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through the outreach and participation in camp. This is not only a testimony of the goodness of God, but also of the impact that they were able to make in Jamaica, accomplishing the first goal of the mission trip.

Youth Camp.jpg

The second major goal of impacting the team so that they could continue the mission when they return home was also achieved. It has been amazing to see how participants have immediately implemented the information they have learned in their context, and how others are planning to do the same.

Childrens camp.jpg

The next step is to see experiences of Play and Witness multiplied across the Caribbean. The intention is to present sports ministry as a relevant and effective tool for evangelism and discipleship within the Caribbean field. From all reports and testimonies, the first Play & Witness trip was a huge success!

–This information has been provided by Dario Richards, Global Mission Caribbean Field