A new leadership team is now in place at the St Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists following an installation service held at the Zion SDA Church in Labayee on Sunday, August 9th, 2026.
Church members from across the island gathered for the service, which also marked the first official Caribbean Union event involving its newly elected leadership.
The installation comes as the Mission reflects on its recent challenges while looking ahead to the work required to strengthen the church and address the changing needs of its membership.
Pastor Johnson Frederick used the occasion to call for a more creative approach to strengthening members’ faith and responding to challenges affecting the church.
He questioned whether traditional methods of engaging members were sufficient in an environment where people are increasingly exposed to opinions and ideas that challenge their religious beliefs.
“What do we do to address the doubts of members who are constantly bombarded by opinions that go against our beliefs?” Frederick asked.
He argued that simply relying on conventional Bible study sessions may not be enough to meet the needs of today’s membership.
“The call for Bible class at 3 p.m. with five people present will not cut it. We have to be more creative than that,” he said.
Frederick also raised concerns about the state of marriages within the church and questioned whether existing approaches to premarital counselling should be reconsidered.
“If I had the time I would tell you, at a time when marriages are failing, Pastor Otley, at an alarming rate among us, do we need to review our premarital counselling methods?” he asked.
He said the church must also be prepared to address psychological and emotional factors that can influence relationships and family life.
“Do we need to address psychological trauma, dysfunctions and inherited fallacies that influence behaviour?” Frederick asked.
He stressed the importance of addressing underlying issues before they affect marriages.
“Sick people, when they get married, they are going to have sick marriages,” he said.
Frederick’s comments placed a strong emphasis on the need for the church to respond to members in a more comprehensive way, particularly as families and individuals navigate social, psychological and spiritual challenges.
Pastor Roger Stephen, meanwhile, reflected on the work of the Mission over the past five years and expressed gratitude for what he described as God’s guidance through periods of difficulty.
“The Psalmist declares, the Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad,” Stephen said.
He recalled the challenges faced by the Mission, including difficult decisions and periods that required perseverance and prayer.
“As I reflect on the past five years, the challenges we encountered, the mountains we climbed, the difficult decisions we made, the prayers we prayed, and the victories God granted us, I can testify today on behalf of my administrators that God has been tremendously good to the Saint Lucia Mission,” he said.
The installation service therefore served both as a formal transition into a new period of leadership and an opportunity for the Mission to reflect on its achievements and challenges.
With the new leadership team now installed, attention is expected to turn towards strengthening engagement with members, supporting families and ensuring the church remains responsive to the changing needs of its congregation.