Cayman Brac fellowship with US church

Brackers and friends from Virginia give praise at the
Celebration Concert on Cayman Brac

Friday,  January 28, 2005

Members of the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, recently spent a week on Cayman Brac, praying, teaching and sharing their faith with the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church and other Christians on the Island.

From the 14 to 22 January, 34 members of the US church participated in prayer walks, meeting with the people of the Brac and praying for their special needs, said Pastor John Copeland, who spent two years as a missionary on the Island from 1982 to 1984.

He said all the churches were invited to join them for Bible studies at night for the youth and adults. The American visitors also shared their musical talents in choir rehearsals and hand bell practice for the children, preparing for a Celebration Concert on Friday, 21 January at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre.

Sybil Jackson, the Programme Organizer for Ebenezer Baptist said: “I think this was a wonderful week. I believe that the churches need to work more together and encourage this type of programme to our Island.”

Mrs Jackson thought the Brac kids learned many new things, such as arts and crafts, during the week, but she particularly enjoyed the children’s hand bell choir, and said the youngsters reached a very high standard in just four days because they had such good teachers.

She described their visitors as “the most loving, talented, caring group of people I have ever met”, adding that she has been hearing the same sentiment from many others on the Island.

Pastor Copeland said his group was enriched by a more global concept of ministry. “Missions is caught and not taught,” he said. “This helps them to see what God is doing in other places.”

Pastor Copeland said he has sent around 15 teams to work with Ebenezer Church and other Christians, helping with Vacation Bible Schools and even with the construction of an extension to the church. Most have stayed for a week and some as long as 12 days, he said.

This summer, they are planning to provide a sports camp for the children, which will include basketball, soccer, volleyball and Frisbee-golf.

Ebenezer Church’s new Pastor, Jamie Coomer, said, “It is a joy to be a part of the Cayman Brac community and to see the community coming together to worship the one and only true, living God.”

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