Remember, Reflect, Rejoice!

THE MONTH OF May is one of historical and spiritual significance for persons in the secular and religious spheres across St Vincent and the Grenadines. But, in both arenas lie the themes of struggle and celebration, starting with Workers’ Day on May 1.We wish to highlight though, the religious component of the underlying themes identified, and focus on the celebration by the Spiritual Baptists of the May 21 holiday which affirms and celebrates their tenacity in the struggle to practise their faith. It is fitting that they refer to the holiday, observed yesterday as Liberation Day, for so it truly was. The State suppression of their right to worship is very well documented and yesterday’s celebrations provided a platform for Spiritual Baptists not only here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, but elsewhere in the Caribbean and further afield, to meet in sweet fellowship.

The Methodists are also celebrating this weekend as they honour the founder of Methodism, John Wesley alongside a cleric in the Anglican Church in the 18th century Great Britain.

The Methodist Movement, a Protestant Christian tradition therefore derived from the teachings of John, whose brother Charles as well as George Whitefield were significant leaders in the Methodist Movement. John, booted out of the Anglican Church for attempting reform, was determined to spread ‘Scriptural Holiness’ and used even the tomb stones as a pulpit from which to preach the message of salvation through Grace to his hearers at home and later, throughout the British Empire on various missionary journeys.

It is John’s conversion at Aldersgate on May 24, 1738 that Methodists will be commemorating on Sunday, May 30.

Though quite different from the struggles of the Spiritual Baptists, the Methodist Movement in its early years, also was frowned upon for its position on slavery; and maybe it was out of this experience why the Members of that faith in St Vincent and the Grenadines were able to offer ‘shelter’ to the Spiritual Baptists as they went through their decades of rejection.

But even as both religious bodies remember and rejoice, it is necessary for them to reflect on their journeys and see whether they have at all strayed from their ‘first love’. There is welcome growth in the Spiritual Baptist religion, and the intentional decision of people in the Middle class to not only associate themselves with the religion but to become Spiritual Baptist members, has added to its respectability and increasing acceptance.

But neither the leadership nor its membership should rest on the euphoria of the celebrations. Neither should the Methodists only recall John Wesley’s work in their celebrations on Sunday. They too must map out a future for growth of the Movement that John Wesley started, and reflect on their call to Mission.

In this time of Pentecost, we rejoice with both faiths, members of the Christian Religion as they celebrate in public processions, worship and thanksgiving.