Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

My mother had not long before delivered “The Twins.” I had just been released from the hospital after a six week stay, and was recovering from a serious road traffic accident. Needless to say, with my father working very long hours, my mother was in great need of assistance in the house.

Esther Rose, known affectionately to us as Esther, became an integral part of our household whilst managing her own simultaneously.  A devout Adventist, she quietly displayed her beliefs whenever she visited our home. She would actually carry her own cutlery, crockery and pottery into our home (a non-Adventist household) on a daily basis to ensure that she did not utilize cooking utensils that could have possibly been used to prepare food stuff that were ‘unclean’ or unhealthy.

Esther’s responsibilities in our home did not end when she left us each evening. She took us with her to many places after her daily duties were completed. On Sabbaths, we accompanied Esther and her family to the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church. We partook of Sabbath lunches and would return for AY in the evenings. We also attended many Adventist functions including ‘tent meetings’ (that were held on the grounds of what is now the Warwick Post Office and the Warwick Preschool). I have vivid memories of Pastor Mac Wilson delivering sermons on the books of Daniel and Revelation as well as the Sabbath.

I did not know at the time that our father was planting the seeds of Adventism that would eventually lead my younger sister, Roberta (one of the twins) and her family to becoming Adventists. Thirteen years later I followed and was baptized at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church. My sister’s membership in the Adventist church was the first in our immediate family, and I am sure it required great courage on her part.

Esther and her family left Bermuda when I was in my early teens. I was saddened to see them leave. Esther is like a second mother to me and my siblings. My familiarity with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its beliefs was my gift from Esther and it has remained in my heart. My spiritual connection with Adventism never left me.  It was this spiritual connection that led to my son Ade’s enrolment at Bermuda Institute when he was five years old. He spent his formative years in an academic environment replete with Adventist beliefs. In recent years, I began to attend Sabbath services more regularly, accompanied by Ade, who is now a young man. I found and still find solace and warmth in a people that I had developed a kinship with many years ago.

I recall Pastor Kenneth Manders dedicating many hours answering questions I had, expounding on the beliefs of the church and praying with me. I shared with Pastor Manders my desire to join the Adventist Church and expressed my concerns about complete submersion – water swirling around and above my head was not my idea of fun. In his wisdom, he did not dwell on this much. I suppose he thought this “bump in the road” might prove to be more manageable as time progressed. Needless to say, this clearly was not the soundest conclusion that Pastor Manders had reached in regards to me. My phobia would prove to be his greatest challenge in the conversion process.

In preparation for my baptism (complete submersion, water flowing everywhere), I participated in a Revelation Seminar in the fall of 2008 since Pastor Manders was very keen to have me register. I am not sure if I missed this small point about being prepared for baptism because I was late for class one evening or because I just could not internalize the mechanics of water flowing everywhere. In any event, the week prior to the baptism event, sitting in the very controlled environment of his office (no water to be found there swirling around or otherwise), Pastor Manders asked me if I was ready for baptism. He quickly made it clear with a grin on his face that a mere sprinkling with a garden hose or watering can was not part of the plan. Well, there it was, I could not escape full submersion. I knew that my heavenly Father would have to part those waters for me and hold my hand as I was ready to “cut and run.”

The Lord did hold my hand and so did Pastor Manders (rather tightly) as I entered the baptism pool on October 25, 2008. Water flowed everywhere and I was baptized along with many others on that beautiful Sabbath morning.

I have now come full circle. As a child, I was introduced to the Adventist Church and the seeds of the Adventist faith were sown. Germination took many years and as an adult, I entered into a covenant with the Father to weave the Sabbath and all of its precepts into the fabric of my life.

I have to say that I do not know if I am worthy of the Lord’s love and attention. However, I do know that I am blessed to be a part of His family - to have the promise of eternal life, to know that each hair on my head is numbered, and that the Lord knows me intimately, and walks with me every day. I am blessed to have had Esther Rose as a mentor, for her together with her family and Christ, remain an intrinsic part of my life today. Our omniscient Father guided Esther’s loving soul many years ago as she paved  the path that I now walk. There are still many things in life that I am not sure of. However, this path is solid beneath my feet, and I am sure that it will always be there.

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