Couples in Action Fellowship
The Couples in Action Fellowship (CIAF) at Andrews Memorial Seventh Day Adventist District Churches was conceptualized in April, 2019 and falls under the umbrella of the Family Life Ministries Department
The objective of this initiative is to support and encourage married couples of the church. The Fellowship was led by the following couples in the first two years:
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Glendon and Kadie Caballero (Presidents)
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Leroy and Karen Dallas (Chairpersons)
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Pastor Adrian and Genevieve Johnson (Pastoral Leaders)
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Pastor Jermy and Kimiesha Arnold (Assistant Pastoral Leaders)
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Errol and Paula Holmes (Social Coordinators)
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Alric and Eureka Blake and Neil and Erika Martin (PR Coordinators)
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Garfield and Annmarie Goulbourne (Treasurers)
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Michael and Maxine Porteous (Spiritual Coordinators)
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Christopher and Sheleisha Kassie (Executive Members)
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Richie and Tash Bando (Executive Members)
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Granville and Cynthia Pitter (Executive Members)
At the end of 2020 the mantle of leadership of this august team was passed to Errol and Paula Holmes, who continue to perform excellently.
The CIAF has a vision to create strong Christian marriages. Our primary goal is to encourage and strengthen marital bonding. On the evening of the launch of the CIAF, we celebrated a special outdoor social activity, as members of the executive, and unfolded the passion of marital love in captivating love letters. Since then, the God of marriages has blessed us with exciting, energizing and inspiring monthly marriage enrichment programmes and we have experienced the growing support of the leadership and members of the church.
Our mantra is “Couples Helping Couples”. The CIAF provides a confidential and supportive space for mentoring young couples and strengthening older ones. Monthly activities include:
∙ Morning Manna (1st Sundays) – Couples Worship Sessions at Hope Gardens
∙ Couples Walk/Run (2nd Sundays) at the Emancipation Park
∙ Seminars/Movie Nights/Presentations & Inter-action sessions on topics geared to marital understanding and bonding
∙ Letter Writing, Game Nights, Date Nights and other fun activities
Our Inaugural Couples Banquet was held at the Sky Lounge of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Our guest speaker was Pastor Romone Phoenix while MCs were Pastor Derek and Sister Yvonne Bignall. This occasion was an evening of elegance with delectable cuisine, inspiring music and engaging activities to enrich Christian marriages. A beautiful souvenir programme booklet was produced featuring businesses owned by couples.
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the group has moved its activities to the virtual space and widened its membership by accepting couples from other churches, including overseas-based couples, who have been inspired by our mantra and activities. Our WhatsApp group currently numbers 221 persons, including non-adventists.. These virtual activities have created sustained excitement in the group, and include:
- Daily/Weekly Devotionals on Marital Relationship Building and Related Topical Issues
- Birthday & Anniversary & Special Celebrations
- Financial Planning Seminar via Zoom & YouTube
- Couples Bible Studies using the on-line Happy Family Series
- Group Prayer Sessions
- Couples Socials
- Couples Devotionals – Participation in 100 Days of Prayer
- PrayerFest, “Let’s Talk To Him”
- Couples Memorable Moments
Examples of two of our recent virtually exciting activities –
ANNIVERSARY – On Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 7:30 pm, we had an inspiring Zoom Wedding Anniversary Celebration for couples who celebrated their wedding anniversaries between January and June, 2020. This was romantically hosted by Glendon and Kadie Caballero. The theme was “Let’s Celebrate Our Love.” It was truly a lovely experience. The celebration for those couples whose wedding anniversaries fall between July and December 2020, was held on December 19, 2020 and was equally romantic.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS – There is never a dull moment in the CIAF, our Social Coordinators, Errol and Paula Holmes, are always posting enriching materials for the couples and creative activities to keep us, engaged, connected, smiling and laughing. The latest activity of 2020 was Couples Memorable Moments. In this activity, the couples posted their most memorable moments on specific days in November, 2020 by surnames (A-Z). It fostered an attitude of gratitude within the group and was extremely exciting. We look forward to these memorable moments posts and work towards creating new memories for a life time.
As we continue to support and encourage married couples, we ask for God’s continued guidance and blessing on this wonderful institution of marriage, created by Him for couples to enjoy and experience the unity of the Godhead. The marriage ceremony, therefore, is meant to be a public demonstration of a couple’s commitment to a covenant relationship. This demonstrates that both husband and wife see marriage as more than just a physical and emotional union; but also as a moral, legal and spiritual commitment.
(Current CIAF activities will be documented in future editions of Maranatha Andrews.)
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6
