Sharpes church praises are ‘through the roof’

The members of the St. Malachi Spiritual Baptist Church at Redemption Sharpes have more to sing praises for, thanks to assistance from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and a local community organization.{{more}}

Last Saturday, August 28, carpenters and maintenance officers from the Police Force partnered with the Concerned Citizens of Redemption Sharpes and its Environs in replacing the church’s leaking roof, as part of the group’s week of activities to mark its first anniversary.

The committee, headed by Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, worked alongside members of the congregation in an effort to have the new roof ready by the next day’s service.

At the end of Saturday it was partially completed with plans to continue work during the week and the upcoming weekend.

Miller speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Saturday, said that the project was one of many that the group had undertaken since it was formed.

Miller stated that the decision to tackle the church’s roof emerged from a series of visits to the institution.

“When we got here (St. Malachi) we got wet,” Miller recalled.

“Rain came. The roof leaked and during the service we were shifting and there were members of the church who were mopping up water and putting buckets here and there.

“In addition to that, we attended the funeral of (Esron) Ells and again rain came and persons in the church got wet: so that really reinforced our need to do what we are doing here today,” said Miller.

The COP said that it is best that churches operate in a conducive environment if they are to fulfill their mandate, which is to cater to the spiritual needs of the people.

Miller stressed that getting wet in a church is not contributing to that organization and this was the motivating factor for addressing the problem.

According to Miller, the mandate of the police and the church has some similarities: for the church it is to go into the communities and evangelize; for the police it is to reach out to community members and ask them to refrain from doing wrong.

He said police officers spearheading the changing of the roof is an example of community policing. He said the officers are trying to foster closer relationships with members of Redemption Sharpes.

In Sharpes there have been instances of police/community tensions.

“The presence of the police here today is to show the community that we are community spirited, community oriented.We are a police force that can reach out… we have to be multifaceted in our approach,” said Miller.

George Matthews, a leader at the church who was assisting in Saturday’s roof replacement, said that the congregation was grateful for the help from the police and the committee, and was looking forward to working with the police as they continue their community policing technique.

The St. Malachi Baptist Church was founded in 1977 by Pointer and Mother Myers and is now led by Mother Natasha James.