Volume 20, Issue 06
St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church, Cor. Agostini & Bellesmythe Sts. Curepe
Editorial
Wonderful Wayumi Weekend
Continuing in Love
In its simplest form, transcendent loving is about who or what we love first; who or what we love above all and beyond all. Some, at this point, will quickly quote that “learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”. But in its purest form, transcendent loving is about having, living with, and loving a “centre outside and beyond yourself” – where you and your desires are no longer the primary focus point of your life. Is transcendent loving in relationships really possible or desirable?
The Scriptures speaks of transcendent loving in these terms: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27a). Here the Lord God Almighty is singled out as that “life centre” outside of ourselves. But the Scriptures go on to make an interesting addition - “and love your neighbour as yourself”(Luke 10:27b). In other words, this transcendent loving that is applied vertically, is also to be evident in our horizontal relationships with others. So how does this work out practically in our day-to-day living?
The first step is to expel selfishness and self-centredness. This is much more easily said than done. For the struggle to know, grow and mature yourself in the midst of corporate “oneness” remains a challenge for many of us – whether we are speaking of the individual child within the extended family, the spouse within the marriage or the church member within the church congregation. “Endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (cf. Ephesians 4:3) becomes more difficult when it is you or I who have to sacrifice something precious, for the collective good.
The next step is to increase our sensitivity to those around us. This starts by recognizing and respecting the “differences” that exist. Your friends, family members and fellow believers are similar human beings like you, but in many ways, they are “different” from you. Seek to know
and love them in harmony with the enriching differences they bring to mutually -benefiting relationships. A study of the “love-languages of individuals” by the author Gary Chapman would be useful here 1 . This also involves showing a healthy appreciation of our “difference” with our tongues - and yes, unwelcome words about our difference can, and do hurt deeply! Let us instead apply the admonition of Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
The third level moves us into fully embracing “others -focused living” as a way of life. Romans 15: 2-3 “Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
"This is in addition to your already-established Divine relationship; so that “my God and my focus on others” now form my life’s focal point. A focal point that not only influences my daily agenda, but in large measure determines it! I seek to build the activities of my outer life around the needs and requests of this innermost nucleus. To do otherwise is to have “another centre” to my life resulting in diverse resources, divided energies or distracting attentions. To achieve the desirable progression from unselfishness, to sensitivity, arriving at “others-focused” living, is no overnight endeavour for anyone of us. But this sequence forms the hidden escalator or upward thrust through which successful relationships – family, friendships and marriages, move from one level of loving commitment to the other. Where are we on our relationship escalator – self-centred, sensitive, others-focused or somewhere in-between? Let us take some time to honestly re-examine ourselves and our relationships 2 even today.
1 The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapmen -Paperback – January 1, 20152 Adapted from the former Newsday column “Making It In Marriage” by Kelvin Mapp – 2014-2017
Missions
Hello
Go Curaçao is a short-term mission trip designed to achieve leadership development and transformation, in and through, university students and young professionals. This mission will be hosted by Cru Curaçao at the University of Curaçao (UoC). A team of seventeen individuals comprising representatives from Cru Trinidad & Tobago and Cru St. Vincent, will embark on this mission from May 28th to June 7th, 2024. We will partner with Cru Curaçao to:
Share the gospel of Jesus Christ at UoC.
Co-ordinate workshops at the Rose Pelletier and Kinderoorden Brakkeput homes for displaced and troubled teens.
Distribute local treats to promote cultural exchange and connection with Curaçaoan university students, and teens.
Present students with the opportunity to be discipled and to disciple others.
Hello dear friends!
I would like to share with you a special opportunity to partner with us.
My name is Leah Joslyn Dobbins and I have been a missionary serving with Ethnos360 USA since 2014. In 2020 Ethnos360 Caribbean was founded and this initiative was spare headed by Ron And Heather Yearwood, who are also missionaries with Ethnos360 USA, since 1993. They are also natives of Trinidad and Tobago like me, and they are also working in Guinea West Africa and have been serving over there for the past 30 years. One of the major initiatives of Ethnos360 Caribbean, was to see God raise up many more missionaries from the Caribbean to serve in cross-cultural missions, missions overseas. Ethnos 360 Caribbean launched Wayumi as a way of educating church leaders, pastors, and leaders of mission's organizations in becoming part of reaching the unreached and Wayumi focuses specifically on showing people the process that missionaries go through to learn a foreign language and culture and what cross cultural missions is about. We know that everyone can’t serve overseas, but we can all be involved in taking the gospel to the unreached. Whether that is by going yourself or by partnering prayerfully and financially. In 2023, we launched the first Wayumi and it was a success, and we thank God for all the people that participated. We presently have approximately six missionary candidates that will be now going onto the next step which is participating in our two-year online Bible school program called Equip and I will be their Advisor, taking them through the entire program. This year, 2024, we are going to do the second insulation of Wayumi and this time it’s going to be bigger and better! We will be having Wayumi in two separate locations, the first one is going to be in Trinidad and the second one is going to be in Tobago. We need your assistance. We need you to partner with us prayerfully and financially to offset the cost for the building project and other expenses. One of the specialities of Wayumi is that there is a simulated village, and this gives people and all the attendees a chance to taste what it means to be serving overseas without having to go overseas into foreign country to get that experience. Wayumi gives them the opportunity to experience what it is to learn a foreign language, to learn some of the words and phrases; some of the culture and to tastes some of the food etc. This initiative takes a lot of investment and so we encourage you to partner with us. We are so excited to see what God is going to do in Wayumi 2024 and we pray that He will continue to raise up many more missionaries to serve cross-culturally overseas or wherever he’s calling them to be. God bless!
What's On
This Month
Fun Corner
A WORD TO THE WISE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT…
(A FATHERS DAY SPECIAL)
A young boy asked his dad, “When someone tells me, ‘Be a Man’ what do they mean?”
His dad replied, “A man is someone who is responsible, available and cares for their family.”
The boy’s reply surprised his father, “I hope one day I can be a man just like mom.”
A dad sends his son a text message – Hi Son, what does IDK, LY and TTYL mean?
The son texts back – I Don’t Know, Love You and Talk to You Later.
The dad texts back – It’s OK son, don’t worry about it. I will ask your sister.
Contrary to popular thought it is less cruel to break someone’s bones than to break their
heart. While they have 206 bones, they only have 1 heart!
A. I have the perfect son B. Does he smoke?
A. No, he does not. B. Does he drink alcohol or do drugs?
A. No, he does not. B. Does he ever come home late?
A. No, he does not. B. Your son is truly perfect. How old is he?
A. He will be six months old tomorrow.
This Month's
Prayer & Praises
Let’s Pray Without Ceasing
Yearwood's CRU
We are asking for prayer for a miracle that we will be able to erect another round hut that would be joined to the present one. Pray that the workers will be consistently available to construct and get the roof on before the start of the heavy rains in mid June.
Continue to pray for the Tandas to grow spiritually. Pray also for the smooth running of the empowerment project. Pray that the young folks involved will be efficiently discipled and learn their skills well. Pray also for the availability of more jobs.
Continue to pray for Sanasi and Philomen as they continue in house building. Pray for stamina..
We are elated that Heather's procedure in March went very well we look forward with anticipation re-engaging our work together. Please pray for strength and good health so we can continue what we do.
We are happy to be here in West Africa again. We have a tight schedule to accomplish alot. We will be involved in the Wayumi TT project and will return to Trinidad for it at the end of June. Also in Tobago the first week in July. Please pray that it will all come together well and that folks will register to attend.
Coming out of the Wayumi project 2023 is the first set of students who will begin their Bible preparation in July with Equip. Please pray for these candidates as they prepare to absorb themselves in the word.
Let’s Give Thanks
Yearwood's CRU
We continue to be thankful for God's provision in our lives.
Thankful for God's safety for Ron and I as we travelled many miles by air as well as by vehicle to get here in West Africa.
We are elated to return and found Sanasi's house 3 days into construction with the help from Young and old in the village place all the kids. This has been an answer to your prayers.2
Pray for us along with another Ethnos 360 USA couple, Dave & Laura Percy who will be joining us in Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate the Wayumi TT project with us.
Upcoming
Preaching Schedule
DATES | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
JUN 02 | Pastor Francis Warner | Communion Service |
JUN 09 | Pastor Kelvin Mapp | Serving in Prayer- The Prophet Daniel |
JUN 16 | Men's Committee in charge Sean Lorde | Father's Day PLMI Campo |
JUN 23 | Ebi Sonron | Serving in Prayer- The Savior - The Lord Jesus |
JUN 30 | Lindsay Gibbings | Serving in Prayer - The Apostle Paul |
JUL 07 | Elder Lindon Mitchell TBD | TBD Communion Service |
TIMES | SERVICE |
9:00 AM | Sunday Service |
10:00 AM | Sunday Junior Church |
11:30 AM | Sunday School |
6:00 PM | Wednesday CBSI |
7:15 PM | Wednesday Prayer Meeting |
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