Your Gifts Are In Your Hands, Use It Wisely!

Last Sunday morning was the yearly convention at my church, and I received a word which is fitting to write this third part of the series “Black and White! Will There Ever Be Any Shades Of Grey?”

In the middle of the service and just before the guest speaker delivered his address, the District Overseer welcomed the Deputy Premier of the BVI, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering, to the service.

Then he invited him to speak briefly to the congregation.

Over the years, I noted that the Deputy Premier always supported the COGOP conventions, but I have never seen him accepted an invitation to speak.

I know definitely that he is not a shy person, and he is a great speaker, but I guess when it comes to the religious setting he prefers to sit and listen.

Well to my surprise, that morning he accepted the invitation to speak to us. I immediately sat up and shifted to the edge of my seat in anticipation.

For the word of God is living and powerful. (Isaiah 4:12) — For the word of God is living and powerful. *(Isaiah 4:12)*

I wanted to be alert to hear what he had to say because I suspected that he had something on his mind. As a matter of fact, I quickly retrieved my notebook and pen from my purse to record his words.

Sure, enough as I had suspected he had a word from the Lord for us. Dr. Pickering stated that the House of Assembly had a weekly morning prayer and devotion before commencing their meeting where they usually invited a local pastor to share the word of God.

Well, one morning the devotion was taken from Exodus 3-4 where God met Moses at the burning bush.

“Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:4-5) — “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” *(Exodus 3:4-5)*

The Minister stated that the area of that story that stirred up their thoughts was the question that God asked Moses: “What is it that you have in your hand?”

If you are familiar with the story, you know that Moses had a rod in his hand that God used to demonstrate His glory to Pharoah and the Egyptians.

Similar to Moses, the Minister believed that God is directing this same question to the government and the people of the BVI in general.

They need to examine the gifts and benefits that God has given them and used it wisely. You can read more about these beautiful Islands here.

So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” (Exodus 4:2) — So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” *(Exodus 4:2)*

Interestingly, the topic of the guest speaker’s message was “Do with your might what your hands find to do.” His message was taken from the following verse:

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Both men had no prior knowledge of each other’s message that morning.

God supernaturally gave the same word to the heads of government and the leaders of the church. This is exactly how God operates when He has a plan in mind.

I migrated to the BVI in 2001, and while living here, the Lord showed me that He has given the mandate to all the men and women of God in this country to proclaim His prophetic word to the nations.

Furthermore, the young people of the BVI are highly gifted in music which need to be invested and channel in the right direction.

“Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign (Exodus 4:8) — “Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign *(Exodus 4:8)*

However, the Lord also showed me an evil spiritual stronghold of pride and deception that the devil planted over this country. I wrote about this in Part two of the series “The Father, The Virgin, And The Doctor.

Needless to say, there is a great awakening which will overtake this country, and God is setting the stage. He wants the residents to use the gifts and talents that He has given in their hands for His glory.

The BV Islanders of the past learned to apply the little resources that they had to accomplish tremendous things. I encourage you to reflect upon their work and learn from them.

Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully (Joel 2:23) — Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully *(Joel 2:23)*

Learning from the past

One sunny Monday afternoon, April 19, 2010, a large crowd of BV Islanders gathered to watch the unveiling of a monument of Sir James Olva Georges (1890-1976). He was the first and only citizen of BVI to receive the honor of knighthood from Her Majesty, the Queen. The monument was placed at the plaza named in honor of him.

The former Governor, David Peary lauded him as a multi-talented person who excelled in sports, business, and music. He was also an excellent statesman and parliamentarian.

These were good qualities that he encouraged the residents to emulate.

He was a great sportsman, musician, organist, notable business man, statesman, and parliamentarian. Image source BVI Tourism — Sir James Olva Georges was a great sportsman, musician, organist, notable businessman, statesman, and parliamentarian. Image source BVI Tourism.

Sir James Olva Georges served on the Legislative Council of the Leeward Islands from 1939 – 1949; the first to sixth Legislative and Executive Councils of the Virgin Islands from 1950 – 1967 and his acting appointment as Commissioner in 1946, 1954. (bviguides.com)

Mr. Noel Lloyd (1936-2008) was an ardent Martin Luther King’s fan who was inspired to establish the Positive Action Movement in 1968 to protest the Batehill company’s development of land in Anegada.

Mr. Lloyd protest began has a lone voice crying out against land injustices in his island home. Image source: BVItourism.com

The least was contracted for 199 years with the resident receiving only 10% of the land. In 2008 the government honored him by unveiling his monument and naming a park at Wickhams Cay I in honor of him. Read more about Noel Lloyd’s life and work here.

Private Samuel Hodge, 4th West India Regiment, winning the V.C. at Tubabakolong, Gambia, 1866. (Wikipedia)

Samuel Hodge (1840-1868) was a brave soldier who volunteered to fight under the British flag against the West African tribal chief.

He was the first black soldier to be awarded The Victoria Cross on 24 June 1867. (Wikipedia)

Terrance Buckley Lettsome (11 March 1935 – 12 January 2007) was one of the longest serving-legislature in the BVI. In 1963, Mr. Lettsome along with Lavity Stoutt and Ivan Dawson formed the United Party. He was also a local preacher in the Long Look Methodist Church.

During his time in the legislature, Mr. Lettsome was very committed to the community (7th District) which he served. In February 2001, the Legislative Council voted to rename Beef Island Airport in his honor. (Wikipedia.org)

Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. Source: bviaa.com

H, Lavity Stoutt (1929-1995) served 38 consecutive years as a BVI minister. He won five general elections. He first found and led the United Party then later instituted the Virgin Island Party in 1971.

Mr. Stoutt was a Methodist Sunday school teacher and lay preacher.

His only formal education was at the primary level, but he studied construction of house and boat and worked in wholesale and retail business for many years.

The late H. Lavity Stoutt served as Chief Minister of the Virgin Islands for over sixteen years and is credited with establishing the Cruise Ship Pier, creating the Social Security Scheme, overseeing the construction of the Central Administration Building and spearheading the development of the local H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, which is named in his honour. (Caribseek.com) — “The late H. Lavity Stoutt served as Chief Minister of the Virgin Islands for over sixteen years and is credited with establishing the Cruise Ship Pier, creating the Social Security Scheme, overseeing the construction of the Central Administration Building and spearheading the development of the local H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, which is named in his honour.” quotation from: **(Caribseek.com)**

Stoutt believed in advance education for the residents of BVI and fought for scholarships and training programs for them.

He was the chairman of the British Virgin Island Community College founded in 1990.

Later the institution was renamed in honor of him in – The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSC). After his death, the government declared a public holiday in honor of him.

One of Mr. Stoutt favorite quotes was from Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish”