Members and friends of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Cayman Islands came together to advocate for ending abuse of any form in our communities on the weekend of August 26-27, 2022. Using the slogan EndItNow, the church hosted a series of events across various locations in the Cayman Islands. Several bags of groceries were made available for the needy in the community at the Bodden Town location. Additionally, cash donations were made to the Cayman Crisis Centre.
On Saturday afternoon, three (3) events were held, one at the George Town Primary Annex (off Eastern Avenue); another at the Bodden Town Coe Wood Beach (next to Lorna’s Texaco); and one at the Creek Church in Cayman Brac.
The event in George Town began with a march from the FLOW parking lot on Eastern Avenue and concluded at the George Town Primary Annex. The Scout Association of the Cayman Islands provided delightful fanfare with their uniforms and drum core.
In Cayman Brac, participants marched from Watering Place to the Creek Adventist Church with banners. They, too, were blessed to have enthusiastic volunteers, the Brac Cadet Corps, to add some pizzazz to the occasion.
Elected Members of Parliament who graciously attended and voiced their support for ending abuse in all its forms were, The Honourable Minister Sabrina Turner, Minister for Health & Wellness and Home Affairs and Member of Parliament for Prospect; The Honourable Minister Andre Ebanks, Minister for Social Development and Member of Parliament for West Bay South. Mr. Joseph Hew, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for George Town North; Mr. Isaac Rankine, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister Johany Ebanks and Minister Turner (Home Affairs); and Member of Parliament for East End; and Mr. Dwayne Seymour, JP, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister Chris Saunders (Labour), Minister Johany Ebanks (Housing) and Minister Kenneth Bryan (Transport) and Member of Parliament for Bodden Town East.
Additionally, personnel from various entities assisting and protecting abused victims shared information on their role and how they help keep families safe in abusive situations. The Children & Family Services was represented by Social Workers Jodian McLeod & Kai Matthews-Mowatt; The Crisis Center by Manager Carol-Anne Fordyce & Out-Reach Coordinator Mariesha Spencer. The Family Resource Center by Miles Ruby & Andrae Bailey; and The Royal Cayman Islands Police Family Support Unit by Inspector Anderson Taylor & Detective Sargent Dausea Scott.
The Cayman Islands Conference of Seventh-day Adventists’ administrators brought greetings and shared their stand on abuse through Pastor Reinaldo Dracket, President, and Pastor Andrew Campbell, Executive Secretary.
On Friday evening, Adventist church members in the Cayman Islands joined with other territories in our region, the Atlantic Caribbean Union, with a joint online service. The speaker for the service was Heather Dawn Small, Women’s Ministries Director for the General Conference. In her presentation, she shared, “Any abuse that happens in the world is an abuse of power; someone is abusing their power over another person. Because of this, the person with the power is the one who should be held responsible – not the victim.”
On Saturday morning, several churches in the Cayman Islands used their pulpits to speak openly against abuse and why it is wrong.
The EndItNow initiative, which extends to more than 200 countries and territories, was launched in October 2009. It was launched as a partnership between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) – a prominent humanitarian organization – and the Department of Women’s Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. These two entities are representatives of the Adventist Church.
EndItNow is one of the most important stands the Seventh-day Adventist Church has ever taken regarding violence against men, women and children. Through this campaign, more than 15 million Adventist church members – men, women, and children – are expected to create a global movement where each person actively works to create awareness and share solutions on ways to end this global problem.
Submitted by: Sheila Woods, Women’s Ministries Director, Cayman Islands Conference.
