In Turks & Caicos, Adventist Church Continues Providing Assistance to Community After Storms

ADRA volunteer distributes tarp to a person in Grand Turk. Image by Turks and Caicos Mission

October 18, 2017 | Providenciales, Turks & Caicos | Libna Stevens/IAD

ADRA volunteer and a shelter manager at the All Saints Mission Baptist Church in Providenciales, cleans the floor from flooding waters after Hurricane Irma. Image by Frantz-Ciscia Jn Pierre

While Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Turks and Caicos are pending insurance damage assessments from hurricanes Irma and Maria, church leaders and members have kept busy helping their own and reaching out to those in need across the islands of Providenciales, Grand Turk and South Caicos.

“In Providenciales where I live and where the bulk of the church membership resides, some 90 percent of the homes were damaged by Irma,” said Pastor Michael Smith, president of the Turks and Caicos Mission. Pastor Smith’s roof collapsed, windows were blown off, and mud was everywhere. “It’s like that for almost everyone, with two hurricanes hitting one after the other,” he said.

All ten Adventist Churches across the three islands sustained damage and members are worshiping elsewhere every week. Two large Adventist churches in Providenciales are worshiping at Maranatha Adventist Academy Church—a structure that was built by Maranatha Volunteers International and the only one that sustained minor damages, said Smith. Other churches meet in rented halls, or outside churches.

The hurricanes knocked down more than 1,200 electric poles and restoring power has taken time in Turks and Caicos, reported Smith. After more than a month since Hurricane Irma, power is slowing being restored.

Damage by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in South Caicos island last month. Image by Andrea Francis

Special emergency funds available to union territories across the Inter-American Division were immediately obtainable to assist 250 Adventist families affected by the storm, said Pastor Leonard Johnson, president of the church in the Atlantic Caribbean Union. The Atlantic Caribbean Union oversees the church in The Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos.

Pastor Johnson said that there was some damage reported in South Bahamas, but the most severe was sustained by the Turks and Caicos.

The local Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the Atlantic Caribbean Union distributed 450 tarps after Hurricane Irma across the islands and another 300 right before Hurricane Maria hit, reported Leonardo Rahming, ADRA director for the Atlantic Caribbean region.

The local ADRA office and a group of church member volunteers distributed food baskets and relief supplies in Turks and Caicos, said Rahming.  Plans have been underway to provide hot meals from the Maranatha Adventist Academy Church Providenciales three days a week in coordination with the government’s social services department this week, said Rahming. “Food baskets and relief supplies will also be distributed to the most needy families during the upcoming weeks,” he said.

Leaders in South Caicos to deliver tarps and relief supplies last month. From left to right: Leonardo Rahming ADRA Director Atlantic Caribbean Union, Almartha Thomas, Country ADRA Director Turks and Caicos Islands, Andrea Francis ADRA first responder, and Pastor Michael A. Smith President Image by Cameron Lightbourne

In Grand Turk, ADRA is working with the government office to assist in feeding those in the community with hot meals and food supplies for a duration of two months, according to Rahming.

South Caicos will also see ADRA and the team of volunteers with a feeding program to assist during the next three months.

Pastor Smith is proud of the commitment of church members, even after being affected by the storm.

“Right after ‘Irma’, church members through its community services at the Blue Hills Adventist Church began running a soup kitchen, and packaged food and relief supplies. Our community knows that we care,” said Smith. The church saw about 100 persons every day for three weeks.

Young people, together with church leaders, helped clean up churches and residences. Food and relief supplies were also distributed in North Caicos Island.

With four pastors to cater to the membership of some 3,300 in Turks and Caicos, the key message is one of gratitude for God’s protection through the storms.

“We recognize that God still has a purpose for our lives and we can rebuild again and continue trusting in the Lord to Provide for our needs,” said Pastor Smith. The storms have brought a great opportunity for the church to show its true colors, he said.

ADRA volunteers clean up hurricane debris from shanty settlement
Image by Tameka Finlay

“We want our churches to shine brightly during this time of darkness and disaster for many,” added Smith. The tarps, the food, the hot meals, the cleaning up of churches and residencies lets the community see that the Seventh-day Adventist Church cares and is giving back to its community.”

That testimony has brought the government to request the use of the church’s evangelistic tent to be used for the public school system across Providenciales until December when the rebuilding and renovation are expected to be completed, explained Pastor Smith. The church’s tent can hold up to 1,000 people.

“We are happy with the partnership we have been able to establish with the government, showing that that our church organization is involved in country development and we can be part of first responders as well,” he added.

“Our acts of kindness will aid us tremendously as we move forth, and continue to show that we have a genuine care for people,” Smith added.