Adventist schools in North Caribbean region interact online during special day of prayer

April 2, 2015 | St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands | Royston Philbert/IAD

Students at the St. Maarten Adventist School display scenes of the garden of prayer via a video-conferencing platform during the interactive day of special prayer program held throughout the five Adventist schools in the North Caribbean region, on Mar. 6, 2015. Image courtesy of North Caribbean Conference

For the fifth consecutive year, teachers and students throughout schools of the North Caribbean Conference put away their academic activities in their classrooms on Mar. 6, to reflect on God’s blessings, pray, study the Bible and participate in a day of prayer for schools.

Education leaders at the North Caribbean Conference said that this year was historic because for the first time all the schools came together to share in the occasion through the software application Skype, where all the schools were able to share in the program while viewing the presentations of the other schools.

Using the theme garden of prayer, the various schools were able to create scenes of what can be found in a garden of prayer to bring out the theme of the day.

The special day was filled with spiritual messages delivered by the students who participated in the online event, featuring musical numbers, prayer sessions, and acoustic messages by selected students and classes.

Gerene Joseph, education director for the North Caribbean Conference said the activity was meant to remind teachers and students that “prayer is a wonderful resource so we can cultivate a close relationship with Him that will lead us to a special communion every day.”

“Students and teachers should know that there is a God who can assist them in solving whatever problems they encounter at school,” added Mrs. Joseph.

In St. Eustatius, the students of the Lynch Plantation Seventh-day Adventist school gathered at the school auditorium to participate in spiritual activities.

In St. Maarten, teachers and their pupils gathered at the nearby Cole Bay Adventist Church to offer prayer to anyone who needed it.

“We wanted to motivate our students and teachers to pray constantly in the good times and in the bad times, in adversity and in prosperity,” said Merlese Lake, principal of the over 324 student population school. “The message was clear that God listens to us, cares for us and wants us to draw closer to Him,” she added.

The children were able to sing, pray, and recite memory verses they learnt as they traveled on the bus to the school. Other activities included special prayer sessions for parents with health needs and more.

In St. Thomas, the students gathered in their auditorium where the staff was able to coordinate the activities of the day. Students were able to write down their prayer request and pray for the needs of the students and parents.

In St. Croix, students at Seventh-day Adventist school took the day to pray hand-in-hand throughout the classes in the schools. Several parents and well wishers gathered at the school auditorium.

“We know that our students across our conference have it clear in their minds that prayer is essential for their life today and in the future,” said Mrs. Joseph.

Plans are underway for next year’s day of prayer throughout North Caribbean Conference schools. Church leaders and educators in the NCC will continue to promote a daily prayer life, the study of the Bible and the sharing of the love of Jesus to its more than 700 students across its five schools.