A Season of Renewal

A small ecclesia in St. Lucia is moving from maintenance to growth and local ownership is making the difference.

My most recent visit to St. Lucia took place from September 30 to November 7, 2025. During that time, I had the opportunity to continue the work in person, which had been conducted primarily via Zoom during the interval between the visit of Bro. Martin and Sis. Lois Webster in January of this year and my trip.

We have been working to encourage the brothers and sisters to be self-supporting in conducting Sunday services and outreach activities. I am happy to report that, although a work still in progress, this approach is bearing fruit. During my five-week stay, the local brethren successfully conducted the Sunday meetings. They did a first-class job of presiding and exhorting as well as doing the readings and prayers. The St. Lucia Ecclesia (Castries) has three brethren, Eddie Anthony, Gabriel Fontenelle, and Julian Jackson, who can both preside and exhort. Brother Benji St. Ange can do readings and prayers.

In consultation with the local brethren, Martin Webster, and Sis. Dawn David-Hutchinson, I am developing a “Focused Bible Study” program which, God willing, will develop a much deeper understanding of key first-principle topics. This was Bro. Eddie’s suggestion, as he rightly pointed out that the brothers and sisters need to be “on the same page” when reaching out to others with the Gospel. During my visit, Bible Classes using this technique were conducted on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and were very effective in bringing home the irrefutable power of the scriptures underlying our First Principles.

Sis. Dawn has been key to maintaining the cohesion of the St. Lucia Ecclesia over the past few years. She has maintained the Mission House, run the Zoom meetings on Sundays, and kept regular contact with the members. Her dedication, despite very trying personal circumstances, has been instrumental in maintaining our lightstand on this island.

Bro. Eddie is putting together a Sunday-morning schedule for the rest of the year. This will encourage ongoing in-person fellowship, which is so important for the continuing development of the Ecclesia, and to create a sense of local “ownership.” However, given the relatively small number of active brethren available to do the work, Zoom meetings will be conducted from time to time but members will gather at the Mission House to participate in these meetings in fellowship together. A Zoom Bible Class, which I continue to organize, is held on Sunday evenings.

Another happy development is that the Arima (Trinidad) Ecclesia has welcomed St. Lucia to join their Sunday Memorial Meeting on Zoom when necessary. Up until now, St. Lucia has met together at the Mission House and joined the meeting I normally attend (Kitchener-Waterloo, ON). Not only will this new arrangement be more convenient (no time differential), but it will also be encouraging for them to join another vibrant Caribbean Ecclesia. Brother Sam Edwards, Arima’s Recorder, intends to call on the brothers in St. Lucia to actively participate in their service whenever possible. Our members have also been invited to attend Arima’s Zoom Tuesday evening Bible Class.

As far as outreach is concerned, I have asked the brethren and sisters in St. Lucia to get together to decide on appropriate outreach activities. The Websters and I will act in an advisory capacity, and I will, as the Link for the island, work with the CBMC regarding funding and other logistics.

The little ecclesia in St. Lucia has been in “maintenance mode” since the COVID pandemic. However, it is now showing signs of a positive development toward becoming a much more active and growing lightstand in their corner of the Caribbean.

Anyone who would like to join us in this work is encouraged to get in touch with me. The brothers and sisters would love to have assistance on a short or long-term basis, or even if you are just visiting on vacation, including a day’s excursion from a cruise ship. Such contact is very encouraging and helps greatly in their appreciation that our fellowship is truly world-wide!

Mike LeDuke,
CBMC Link for St. Lucia