By Charles Fleming
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida--The 1996 Feast was a time of celebration and preparation.
Brethren celebrated as they contemplated the great salvation we have in Jesus Christ. They also celebrated as they enjoyed fellowship with fellow believers.
Many came not knowing what to expect. They went away enthused by what they experienced, and determined to more fully participate in next year's Festival.
It was as if many had questioned the value of keeping the Feast in a new covenant context. Eight days of worship, of inspiring sermons, and of warm fellowship combined to reassure many of the value of dedicating time to worship God.
The Feast was also a time of preparation as workshops were conducted on such subjects as marriage enrichment, spiritual gifts, small group formation and financial management. Seeds were sown that will strengthen the churches as members grow in these areas.
The following gives a feel for what went on throughout the region.
In the Bahamas 204 brethren gathered in Freeport and were encouraged by the visit of Stan Bass, former regional director, and his wife, Millie.
The quality of worship music was singled out as a highlight. A mini-Feast took place in Nassau for brethren who did not travel. Desmond Curling coordinated the six services conducted for the 70 people who attended. On the Last Great Day they were hooked up by telephone with the main site in Freeport.
Before the Feast in Grenada, members refurbished the meeting hall they use for weekly services. One reason they did this was to express their appreciation to the owner.
One memorable moment for the 376 brethren celebrating here was the recognition given to youths for helping members work through the church's doctrinal changes.
The youths were thanked for providing momentum, stability and honesty in facing the challenges of the changes and for showing initiative in implementing some of them.
In Guyana 51 brethren gathered to celebrate the Feast. Several Amerindian brethren traveled for days to get to services. The Feast is a high point of their year.
In Haiti 51 brethren assembled to worship our great God. Eight days of services and small group meetings led coordinator Joseph Franklin to sum up the experience with these words: "It was uplifting to witness how the blessings of the new covenant teachings, and the joy of salvation, are getting deeper into the soul of God's people here."
In Jamaica 325 brethren were treated to a gospel concert featuring a Jamaican Gospel group. Tickets were sold to the public, and about 700 people attended.
In Trinidad 483 brethren rejoiced before God in their own hall. This year's Feast was marked by simplicity and celebration. There was less emphasis on the physical, but the emphasis on worship made it "one of the most spiritual we have had," in the words of coordinator Victor Simpson.
The St. Vincent church (average attendance 45) showed the depth of leadership it has been blessed with when it was host for the Feast and featured five speakers giving sermons.
In summary, after months of changes and getting used to a new focus, many brethren seemed to go into the Feast with questions and concerns. Most came away reassured, uplifted and inspired.
Many of those who had not taken time off from work were heard to comment that they will take time off next year.
There seems to have been a recognition by many that dedicating a festival to the worship of our great God, even if not required by him, is well worth the effort. He deserves our worship.
Freeport, Bahamas 204
Barbados 376
Guyana 51
Haiti 51
Jamaica 325
Trinidad 483
St. Vincent 45
Oct. 29, 1996, Worldwide News, page six
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