The Saint Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists on Tuesday launched its official Ushers for Christ Ministry handbook during a ceremony at its Lanse Road headquarters in Castries. The following delivered addresses: Pastor Lucius Philip (director), Rose Mary Desir (treasurer) and Mrs Vanessa Julien (president Ushers Ministry). “Over the years, when participating in ushering activities,” the last-mentioned told her audience, “I have frequently been asked about our hospitality ministry, its history, and its operation. People want to know the function of ushers, their spiritual role and why so many church members want to be ushers. Well, this handbook we are launching today provides all you wanted to know about ushers and didn’t know whom to ask.”
She added: “We pattern this ministry after Jesus Christ, our first helper, our first usher. He takes care of our every need. He made the beautiful Garden of Eden a home for Adam and Eve and served them.” Mrs Julien explained that the SDA Ushers for Christ Ministry was established in 2009 by Mrs Denise Holder, “a very dedicated member of the Adventist church community who saw the need for this ministry and steadfastly pursued its formation.”
The ministry comprises over 250 trained ushers. Every year new ushers receive training by pastors in the areas of spirituality, effective communication, conflict resolution, and church protocol. Facilitators include NEMO and the Saint Lucia Fire Service who train the ushers in disaster preparedness and safety procedures. Government representatives also help in the area of government protocol.
Besides serving at their church worship services and functions, the SDA ushers make their services available to organizations and denominations of the non-SDA community when requested. The ushers’ motto is: “Saved To Serve.” Mrs Julien quoted the following from the ushers’ handbook: “We are not islands unto ourselves; we are social beings. We thrive in healthy relationships. Every David needs a Jonathan. If we do not give our significant relationships, especially our families, the attention they need our performance and enthusiasm will suffer. It is also important to form new relationships in our new experiences, whether at church, at work, or in our casual encounters. Keep contact with the people in your life. Christ did not intend for us to be loners. We are to weed out unhealthy relationships. Our company influences our lives. Balance requires responsible social interrelationship.”
The ministry president said the handbook can be shared and a copy made available to any denomination on request. It is distributed to trained ushers of the SDA community through the Ushers For Christ Council ministry. The Saint Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists was formed in 1999 and oversees close to 50 congregations on the island. For more information about the Saint Lucia Mission see: www.stluciaadventists.org or contact its offices located at Lanse Road.
