Adventist women eat together during the special prayer breakfast in commemoration of International Women’s Day, held in Magen’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas, Mar. 8, 2020. [Photo: Hester Griffin/NCC]

March 18, 2020 | St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands | Royston Philbert/NCC Staff/IAD News Staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Thomas gathered dozens of women across its congregations for a special prayer breakfast in commemoration of International Women’s Day. More than 70 women’s ministries leaders and their friends met on Mar. 8, at the popular Magen’s Bay Beach to pray, sing and fellowship, in an effort to celebrate, prayer and empower women in their quest to lead fulfilled lives, organizers said.

“We want women to know how to live virtuously in an unvirtuous world,” said Heather Henry, women’s ministries council coordinator in St. Thomas. “Amidst all that they are going through, we need to reaffirm in the women that God still expects them to accept His will.”

As a people, women are on a stormy voyage of life, Ms. Henry said, one that takes them through trials, loss and emotional pain. “It is good to know that God is there for us to lean on,” she added.

Many are facing the daily struggles of life, and sometimes the only way to hold on is to pray, she explained.

The women gathered in groups to talk about each one’s needs before praying together. [Photo: Hester Griffin/NCC]

The prayer breakfast sought to lead the women into knowing how to unlock God’s storehouse of power. “We are told that God hears our prayers even when we don’t know how to pray,” said Henry.

Several presenters, including the spouse of the resident Adventist pastors, spoke on the theme How to Unlock God’s Storehouse of Power. Key biblical themes such as generosity, sincerity and forgiveness were discussed.

Pastor Glendon Cross, who leads the City and Maranatha Adventist churches in St. Thomas, said that International Women’s Day has been celebrated in various forms on the beach during the past three years.

Women had the opportunity to share their testimony on answered prayers and encouraged one another as they connected and strengthened one another.

Lavern Jennings, a community member who took was invited to the prayer breakfast, said she thoroughly enjoyed being there. “The information on how to get your prayers answered was relevant and real to me,” said Jennings. Jennings said she has attended many activities sponsored by the Adventist Church on the island and was delighted to attend again this year.

Women pray in groups by a pavilion at Magen’s Bay Beach in St. Thomas. [Photo: Hester Griffin/NCC]

Lori-Ann Ravelier, who is the assistant women’s ministries leader at the Philadelphia Adventist Church, shared her experience on how she was able to trust God for the answers to her life challenges. “I encourage you to exercise faith in the difficult circumstances you face,” said Ravelier.

Women’s Ministries Director of the North Caribbean Conference Linda Ambrose, praised the women for their tireless and selfless efforts at keeping the ministry together, while thanking God for the opportunity to celebrate another International Women’s Day.

“Do not entertain any fear or worry in interceding [in prayer] as the Lord is always present in our lives,” said Ambrose.

As the morning prayer breakfast concluded, Ms. Henry said: “God has given specific promises regarding intercessory prayer, as people go through the details of any life-storm, He will prove Himself faithful and we will always be able, no matter our lot.”

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