Adventist Church in St. Vincent is mourning the loss of one of its members

February 4, 2016 | Georgetown, St. Vincent | IAD Staff

Scene of the accident where the vehicle church members were riding in careened off and overturned in Argyle in St. Vincent, killing Marilyn Henry on Jan. 30, 2016. Image from Facebook

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Caribbean Islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is still shaken after a tragic accident left one member dead and seven other church members injured on Jan. 30, 2016.

Marilyn Henry, 62, died after the vehicle she was in careened off the road and overturned in Argyle, near where the International airport is being built, reported Pastor Dermoth Baptiste, president of the church in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The other seven passengers including the driver, were rushed to the General Hospital for medical attention. Five were discharged the same day and the other two suffered from head injuries but are in stable condition.

The group was headed to an island-wide praise and worship service to enjoy a day of fellowship, evangelism celebration to celebrate major achievements in 2015 and to roll out the evangelistic plans and projections for the new year for the 40 congregations in the islands.

“News of the accident broke soon after it happened,” said Baptiste. “We shared the news with the audience, and held a prayer session for the relatives of the deceased and survivors of the crash.”

Pastor Baptiste visited the home of Marilyn Henry and expressed condolences to family members. “Sister Henry was known to be zealous about her faith, inviting people to crusades and loved attending conventions.” She is survived by five children.

“We all belong to a cohesive, caring and compassionate church family and when one succumbs to death, especially under tragic circumstances, we all feel the pain, bear the loss and grieve together as we look to Jesus who understands everything about death,” said Baptiste.

During a special worship on Jan. 31, the congregation where Henry attended in Georgetown, four survivors from the crash, including the driver shared their experience and praised God for protection and intervention in their lives. Baptiste encouraged them and the entire congregation to “focus on God’s plan for their lives and not on their pain, for God’s plan there is healing, comfort and hope.”

Counseling services have been arranged for the affected families.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mission oversees a membership of over 15,000 in 40 churches and congregations.