Dear Friends
 
Presently I am in the USA participating in the International Board Meeting of AFC taking place in Rome GA. The meetings are going very well.They will conclude tomorrow. From here I expect to travel to Michigan to participate in the Ordination Ceremony of our son, Allister which will take place on Sunday morning in Canton, Michigan arranged and organized by The Harvest Bible Chapel of Canton. Prior to this I will be part of an ordaining council which will question Al on His call and on doctrinal issues relevant to his call to the Ministry. This will take place on Saturday. It will be a nervous time for both Al and me. This is like sitting on a panel of Judges to determine the fate of my own son.

Good News

The Government has decided to finish the construction of my wall. Prior to my coming to the USA the contractors were building storerooms and their project office on our property to commence work. The matter of the seriousness of the situation was discussed as an issue in the Parliament by our Representative. We are extremely delighted about this because the project was very far from completion although we had built the wall to the point where it was providing protection from the river.The government’s construction team will now do a complete and thorough job.

Matching Grant.

The amount towards a matching grant of $5000 which was made by a donor towards assisting abused single women in St. Vincent as part of our ministry in assisting these women in the churches and communities where we serve to begin small business enterprises where they can become self supporting and make contributions back into the funds where others can be helped has realized $800. We are trusting the Lord for the balance of $4.200 to be realized by the end of December which is the time frame stipulated by the donor for the matching grant to be realized. Please trust the Lord with us that this balance will be reached

Contributions can be sent to AFCI Box 470, Tucker, GA. 30085 stipulated to St. Vincent Matching Grant Funds or to our address box 1328, Kingstown, St. Vincent if you prefer to send a check this way.  AFC ST. Vincent (Matching Grant Fund) Depending on where you are located the first option will be preferable.

The blessings of the Lord be with you.

Veral & Norma Blake

Dear Prayer Partners

The long Summer Vacation for schools has begun and so has the various camp ministries. This particular time would have been our regular Pastors Conference which we faithfully conducted for 20 years consecutively until last year and this year when we decided to take a break. This year however we decided to utilize the long summer break to minister to children and youths in camp settings. Last week I was invited to speak at the Glad Tidings Camp organized by the Gospel Hall Bretheren Assemblies involving Juniors. The theme for the week was “Jesus the children’s friend.” I was amazed as to how much knowledge the children have about Biblical accounts of Jesus but how little the majority of them have of a personal relationship with our best friend Jesus.

Each morning I began by asking them questions about Jesus starting with his birth, his miracles, his disciples, his death, his resurrection, about some of his promises to find out how much they know about the Biblical account of Him. They were extremely versed in the various dimensions of the Life of Christ. I then proceeded to show them from the Scriptures what Jesus said about and did for children that demonstrated he was their very best friend. When mothers brought their Children to Jesus for him to lay his hands upon them and bless them and his disciples resented these mothers,their good friend Jesus rebuked his disciples by telling them to allow the children to come to him and not forbid them.

Their good friend Jesus used the childish faith of little children as as example of the humility and simplicity required of even adults for entrance into the Kingdom.

That their good friend Jesus cares about them so much that he placed a hedge of protection around them by threatening those who would try to hurt them or cause them to sin with serious punishment.

That their good friend Jesus loved them so much that he took their punishment by dying on the cross so they wouldn’t have to suffer and by so doing he became their Saviour.

This message was so strong and easily understood by the children that about 65 of the 70 who were in attendance prayed to receive their best friend Jesus as their Saviour. Children are certainly not sophisticated. Their faith and commitment to Christ cannot be minimized or slighted but encouraged. These children are from different communities. I challenged them to go back to their towns and villages and tell their friends and loved ones what the good friend Jesus has done for them. Please view the accompanying photos.

In early August from the 9th to the 14th Norma and I expect to take about 15 youths on a camp to Fancy which is in the north of the Island and which is my home village. Our aim is to build into these youths discipline, to help them develop Christian character and expose them to a ministry experience outside of their own communities.We expect to conduct children ministries during the day and evangelistic services in the evening for a few days with some relaxation between,

Prayer Request:

• For the Children who trusted Christ at the Glad Tidings Camp that they will be encouraged in their faith when they returned home
• For the youths who will be going with us on the camping trip to Fancy that they will be mentally, physically and spiritually prepared
• For Norma and me as well as a couple other adults who will make up the counseling staff that the Lord will instill in us the wisdom and understanding necessary to deal with the youth as well as administer an effective program.

Milestone Next month August 19th I will be celebrating 40 years of full time Christian Ministry. I was 19 years old when I was called to Pastor the Emmanuel Baptist Church in the village of South Rivers just after graduating from Bible College. My first salary was $25 and after 2 years it was raised to $30 after Norma and I were married.We have been blessed by those of you whom God has used as “ministering spirits” to minister to us but we still at this point in our lives are without medical insurance which is a risk considering our age and which I would consider a special token of your love and appreciation if you can help make this happen in this special 40th anniversary remembrance. A call, e-mail, or congratulatory message will also be appreciated. You will be reminded as the time leading up to that time progresses.

The Lord bless you.

One of the effective and exciting aspect of our ministry is the hosting of missions teams. These teams are usually involved in a variety of ministries; from pulling teeth to washing feet; from constructing buildings to bandaging bodies; from preaching to painting, from changing lives to changing diapers. Whereas teams participate in worship and witnessing they are also engaged in hard work.
 
The team from Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, Chicago, experienced, that coming to the Caribbean on a mission is not to have “fun in the sun>” If in fact that may be so when invited by others not so with Veral & Norma. We provide our team with a balanced perspective of hard work and a bit of relaxation. Our team from North America and Europe quickly discover that exposure to the sun really burns.
 
The following photos depict the various ministries into which the team immersed themselves very effectively. From after school Bible clubs, to evangelism at nights, to canvassing,to ministering in schools, and at a boys home as well as painting a church building.
 
The question that may be asked is with all this activity did the team enjoy it? At the conclusion in the sharing time, no one complained. In fact every single member of the team is ready to return. It was an experience that transformed their lives and many of the locals as well. The Challenge. ” We are ready to host a team for the summer. Would you send us one!
 
Yours in Christ’s service
Veral & Norma Blake
Director. AFCI Ministries
Box 1328, Kingstown, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines,
West Indies. Tel. 1 784-457-7668
 

Dear Friends

Last weekend I listened to and watched two commencement lectures one by the President of the United States Barak Obama and the other by Bob Johnson Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Canton Michigan. The President’s speech was a challenge to the Graduates of Notre Dame to put their acquired knowledge to work in the advancement of science, technology, and research with an obvious interest on the President’s part on stem cell research. Rev Bob Johnson’s challenge to the graduating students of Michigan Theological Seminary was completely opposite. He actually gave all forty of them a towel and challenged them that their education was not intended to make them “lords” but “feet washers” The servant is not greater than his master. Jesus Christ the Great Master was a feet washer and so should we. The greatest amongst us must be the “servant” “Here is your towel go out and wash feet was his closing challenge”

Amongst those batch of students were our son, Allister and wife Debbie. Al graduated with a Masters degree in “Theological Studies” while Debbie received a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. It was our second occasion to witness their graduation first from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, and now from MTS in Michigan. Both Al & Debbie along with their two children are planning on returning to St. Vincent in early November to commence a church plant ministry under the auspices of Harvest Bible Chapel. We are obviously very happy and excited about their achievements but moreso the fact that they have decided to return to St. Vincent to commence a ministry that will be different from what is the norm as they have expressed and unbarred their hearts to us.

Pray with us as we host a team of University Students from Chicago this coming week who will be conducting ministries in schools,after school Bible clubs, evangelistic meetings etc. Pray that they may be mightily used of the Lord.

May the rich blessings of the Lord overflow upon all your endeavours.

Yours in His service
Veral & Norma Blake

Dear Friends

April 28th will be a very special day for me. On that day I will be celebrating my LX th birthdate, This is a little test or assignment for those of you who may not have a clue about Roman numerals. If you don’t know what how much LX is in Roman Numerals look it up on Google. I was amazed to learn how to write a thousand in Roman numerals. One never stops learning.

Some have remembered this special day and sent me some fascinating Electronic Cards. Someone sent me a Jacky Gleason card baking my birthday cake. I am delighted to be alive to see this period of my life. I have been divinely favoured to have lived this far when I was given up to be dead as a baby. I believe there a still some exciting years ahead for Norma and me Ministry Wise.

Your birthday friend at LX

Veral Blake

Dear Praying Friends

During the Easter Weekend we traveled to Trinidad to minister at a Convocation organized by the Bethel New Life In Christ International Ministries. The Minister is Bishop Allan Jack who is a relative of mine. His mom and my dad are brother and sister. He and I were in St. Maarten in January to celebrate my dad’s 91st birthday. He had not seen my dad for at least 40 years.

It was a very hectic 4 days. On Good Friday I spoke twice followed by a challenge to 20 candidates who were baptised on Saturday. I was especially encouraged by the combination of the persons. They included young men and women, children between the ages 0f 7-12 as well as persons in their senior years. I actually brought the curtain down on Monday with the closing of the Convocation. The effect of our ministry is made evident by the fact that we have already been issued with an invitation to return next year.

There were several highlights of the Convocation. One was the intensity of the worship of these people. It was especially fascinating to see little children worshiping. No one is a spectator in that church. The response to the Word of God by these people was overwhelming. These persons do not look at their watches. They are not affected by time constraints. It seems like they never get tired. When they put me on to preach was at the time when back in SVG we would have already returned from church, had lunch and getting our Sunday nap. For these persons it seems like food does not matter when they are worshiping. Admittedly it was strange to us and at the end of the day we were drained.

Our visit was cut short by the Summit of the Americas which is being held this weekend. The preparations made especially for Barak Obama, President of the USA was overwhelming. The entire city was cordoned off. The airport was closed to commercial airlines for very long periods to facilitate the arrival of the many Presidents, Prime Ministers and other dignitaries. We had to leave earlier than expected least we had gotten stuck

We have attached some photos of the convocation and pray you will be blessed. Pray for Trinidad and Tobago there is absolutely no doubt that God is at work in that nation but Satan is also sowing his evil seeds of crime and vice.

Veral & Norma Blake

Dear Praying Friend

Cricket is a popular game that had its origin in Britain and now being played in almost, if not all Commonwealth or former British countries.It is a very competitive game, Don’t be surprised if I tell you that the highest form of the game ( A test match) can last up to 5 days without a result. There are 11 players on each side who are all dressed in white. Each side bats for 2 innings and for each inning there must be 10 outs so for a side to win it has to make 20 outs. Don’t be surprised if I blow your mind if you are just learning from this tutorial that one side can score from as low as 40 runs to as high as 800 at a single inning. In a recent match played between England and the West Indies, England scored 601 while West Indies replied with 749. The shorter form of the game are a lot more exciting and result oriented.

The British West Indies Nations which comprise countries in the Caribbean compete as a single Unit. We were, for more that a decade in the 1970′s, champion of the world. We lost that status and the Wisden trophy for which the two nations have competed to England for 11 years. Tuesday, The West Indies team regained that trophy by winning a series of 5 matches played against England here in the Caribbean with a margin of 1 to zero. Millions of Caribbean people at home and abroad were overwhelmed with joy. Since the 1970′s we had not won a major tournament. There is plenty of joy in our Caribbean camp.

This coming week we expect to begin a week of Evangelistic services in the town of Barrouallie in an attempt to win back many souls the devil, satan, has stolen from our forefather Adam. Our purpose is to present Jesus Christ the Second Adam as the restorer. Please pray with us that those who hear the message of deliverance and victory will turn to the Saviour.

Barrouallie is a small but very populated town beset by serious spiritual,social and economic problems. The Lord led us to begin a church in this town just about a year and a half ago.This week of ministries are intended to strengthen the church’s witness in that community. We will have the support of other churches in the community. Our prayers and yours with ours are that

• The Word of the Lord will be proclaimed by members of our team of ministers with “Spirit filled annointing.”
• That reception to the invitation to receive Christ will be positive
• That the attendance will be good
• The weather will be fair
• Those who have to travel will be protected

As much as we excited over the victory of our Cricket Team, that we will be more overjoyed over those who will have come to Christ and secured victory in him at these meetings beginning next Sunday to Friday March 15th to 20th.

Yours in His service

Veral & Norma Blake

I am presently in this country to celebrate my dad’s 91st birthday. He has been a great blessing to all 12 of his children. He has lived an exemplary life before us. A dear servant of the Lord who continues to be a prayer warrior. His birthday was yesterday. We had a wonderful prayer of thanksgiving for and with him.

Today, Sunday, I preached at a local church. St. Maarten is like a second home to me. I have 3 sisters and two brothers and their family here. The island is 37 Square miles with just about 20.000 people but two nations, French and Dutch. On Saturday we drove around the entire island in about an hour. I am accompanied by two cousins of mine who have to call my dad uncle. One of them lives in Trinidad and has not seen him in forty years. We have had a great time!

At home, the year has been going well for us. We met collectively all three congregations together on the 11th for a convocation. We are thankful to the Lord as we observe the growth of the ministry. I had the distinct privilege to minister to the nation during Christmas and New Year on 4 radio stations who all gave me free time.

We completed the stone structure of the back wall. There were some trees in the way which we have cut down. We are now working on the back-fill of the area that has been completed so we can proceed to go higher with cement blocks. It will take lots of dirt to back-fill but we are moving forward towards its completion.

This is a special year for me. In August I shall be celebrating 40 years full time in preaching the gospel. Will you kindly pray for me and help me make it special? Thank you and the blessings of the Lord be upon you.