Mission Offerings, Leaders, and Members Converge for Education Breakthrough in Dominica

General Conference president among distinguished guests at island-wide convention

May 31, 2025 | Roseau, Dominica | Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review, and Inter-American Division News

The intermittent drizzle on a muggy early morning gave way to a cool breeze from the ocean as about 1,000 Seventh-day Adventists from across the Caribbean island of Dominica made their way to the Windsor Park Sports Stadium in the capital city of Roseau on May 24. From across the small country’s 10 parishes, or districts, members from all age groups arrived to attend a national convention with guest Ted N. C. Wilson, General Conference president, and his wife, Nancy, on their first visit to Dominica. Also present were Inter-American Division (IAD) president Elie Henry and his wife, Ketlie; IAD secretary Leonard Johnson and his wife, Denise; and other division, union, and conference leaders.

As members climbed up the stairs to the stands, music leaders invited newcomers to join in singing the well-known hymn “We’re Marching to Zion.”

Focus on Adventist Education

The special all-day program had a strong focus on Adventist education and included an afternoon consecration service for the building site of the new Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Primary School. Regional education leaders attended, including IAD education director Faye Patterson and other union, conference, and local field educators.

“We are honored and elated to welcome this distinguished delegation, whose presence affirms the importance of this moment,” said Ursula Leslie, principal of the Ebenezer school, in her welcoming remarks. She praised the support of Adventist members across the island. “Your dedication to this movement has built and strengthened the reach we are celebrating today,” Leslie said.

In the Commonwealth of Dominica (estimated population of 72,000) there are only five private schools; four of them are owned and operated by Seventh-day Adventists. The Adventist schools—three primary schools and one secondary school—currently serve more than 600 students. The Ebenezer Adventist school is housed on the basement floor of Roseau Seventh-day Adventist Church, and its current 228 students have outgrown the facilities. Now, with the support of the Thirteenth Sabbath Mission Offering from the fourth quarter of 2024 and other donors, the Adventist Church in Dominica is building state-of-the-art facilities that will house an expected increase in enrollment.

Insights on Education

At the May 24 national convention, the gathering of church leaders and members included a panel of four female education leaders who shared insights and reflections on the mission, importance, and results of Adventist education. Besides Patterson and Leslie, the panel included Daphney Magloire, education director for the Caribbean Union Conference (CUC), and Andrea Hudson-Hoyte, education director for the East Caribbean Conference (ECC).

During their panel discussion participants set out to answer some of the questions church members sometime pose, especially those who call into question the value of Christian—and specifically Adventist—education.

Patterson explained that according to the Bible, the foundation of all education is spiritual, “teaching students to love God, obey His commandments, and live by its principles.” Based on Deuteronomy 6, she emphasized that “faith must be intentionally taught” and that “education involves effort, repetition, and purpose.” And it also involves “home, school, and church working together,” she emphasized.

Interdependency and Results

Several of the leaders reminded their audience that education is not just imparting knowledge. “It’s a sacred call to shape character for eternity,” they repeated several times. In that sense, educational leaders highlighted what they called “the interdependent relationship” between church and school. “The stronger the schools, the stronger the church will be,” they emphasized.

The panel also shared a few of what they called the success stories of Adventist education. Leaders were quick to point out that Adventist schools on the island of Dominica have produced current pastors, teachers, and church leaders. “We have professionals in the medical field, farmers, firemen, and others who have went through the Adventist education system. Wherever you walk in Dominica, you’ll find people who are products of Adventist education,” educational leaders said.

One Church in Mission

At the beginning of divine service Samuel Telemaque, IAD Sabbath School and Adventist Mission director, led an intercessory prayer, thanking God for Dominica’s members’ “energy, commitment to service, and passion for Christian education.” Likewise, Anthony Hall, president of the ECC, and Kern Tobias, CUC president, celebrated the leaders’ visit and the focus on Adventist education in Dominica. “We could not choose a better island to celebrate,” Tobias said. “The support of the Dominica constituency is phenomenal.”

Pastor Henry agreed. “You are the center of the Inter-American Division today,” he told those sitting on the stands. He reminded church members that while the IAD is known for preaching the gospel and focusing on evangelism, “mission is more than that.” He added, “Mission is how we serve the community; mission is how we take care of our youth, our children, our education, because we want everyone to be ready for the coming of Jesus Christ. . . . We are just one church, united, working for the Lord.”