First Sabbath Offering for a Chapel and Headquarters in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island nation within the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea, north/northeast of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique, covering a land area of 617 km2 (238 square miles) with a population of over 183,000.

The island has been under British rule at times, and French at others, with the British gaining definitive control in 1814. On February 22, 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Today, its economy centers around tourism, manufacturing, banana production, and banking.

The official language is English. Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl), which is colloquially referred to as Patois (“Patwa”), is also spoken by 95% of the population.

About 61.5% of the people are Roman Catholic; 25.5% are Protestant (Seventh-day Adventist 10.4%; Pentecostal 8.9%; Baptist 2.2%; Anglican 1.6%; Church of God 1.5%, and other 0.9%). About 1.9% of the population adheres to the Rastafari movement. Other religions include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Islam, Baha’i Faith, Judaism, and Buddhism.

In the year 1994, in answer to the earnest prayers of souls seeking revival and reformation, a <em>Sabbath Bible Lesson</em> reached the island, followed by visits from the SDARM.

In 2000, five precious souls were baptized. Although the enemy has tried in various ways to destroy the work, the Lord has prevailed. In 2017, a pastor and his family were sent here to support and develop the mission. Now we see the great need for a chapel and headquarters to rightly represent the Lord’s work here.

“As a people we must practise self-denial and economy. . . . Time is short, and every dollar not necessary to be used in supplying positive wants, should be brought in as a thank offering to God. It is the Lord’s, and the Lord has presented to me that houses of worship, and schoolhouses should be erected through this country, and in the islands of the sea.”—Pastoral Ministry, pp. 244, 245.

That is why we appeal to you to support us in this noble cause, and we heartily thank you in advance.

Your brothers and sisters from Saint Lucia