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The Methodist Church here in Spanish Wells has become quite the 2nd home for us. No longer are the individuals in church polite strangers, they’re essentially family. Each time we return its like a reunion and it feels like we have so much to catch up over the past year. In many ways, nothing changes, but invariably there are loved ones who have passed away, and all the little updates with new babies and career updates that we’re excited to learn about too.
The primary ministry I have had is serving as the preacher for the weeks of our visit. However, this year, I have had a much greater opportunity to engaging in counseling, which has the added benefit of allowing me to get to know our friends here at the SWMC much better.
However, the preaching for this year’s visit was to be through the book of Philippians. The tradition here is to preach mornings and evenings on Sunday, which takes quite a bit of energy and intentionality. Yet, twice a week was not going to provide enough opportunities to work through the whole book of Philippians. Thankfully, there is also the midweek Tuesday night service, and so throughout all preaching opportunities we were able to work through Paul’s epistle to the church in Philippi and by extension to the church in Spanish Wells.
One of the primary themes through Philippians is the idea of unity and partnership. I have made it a key point in my messages to encourage a cooperation between the three main churches here on the island. Much like the rest of Eleuthera, Spanish Wells sufferings from an entrenched divide between churches, but rarely between individuals. Its always harder in small communities, but from the outside I see a wealth of potential to be found in cooperation.
We are immensely grateful for the church’s generosity in provision to allow us to return back to the Bahamas in November. Although it is a sacrifice on our end in the momentum of ministry at Grace, November is probably the best time of year than anytime, with families traveling for Thanksgiving and the excitement of hunting season, I’m thankful for the opportunity to sneak away for a couple of weeks and reconnect with our home away from home.