Chateau New Testament Church launches meal programme

The elderly and underprivileged in the Sharpes, Barracks and Golden Grove areas of Chateaubelair can now look forward to a hot meal at least once per week, courtesy the New Testament Church of God (NTCOG).

The activities to mark the launch were low-keyed, as a few persons collected their meal, while much of the food was delivered to homes by church members, who also shared greetings, good cheer and spiritual counselling.

The initiative was conceived and executed by the Women’s Disciple Ministry, chaired by Sister Mercia Richards, who told SEARCHLIGHT that the idea came out of the community outreach ministry, in which they interact with persons in their homes and on the streets.

“People are more open in these informal situations and you have a better understanding of their needs; food is the basic, but we intend to organize and clean for some in the next few weeks,” Richards also said.

Last Week Wednesday, calaloo soup was served, but Richards said their aim is to serve a balanced meal, which would include fruits and vegetables.

Funding is provided by the women themselves, who host food sales, along with donations and their own contributions.

The Chateaubelair branch of the NTCOG is headed by Bishop Dan Richards, who is supported by Pastor Raphael Robertson, a retired head teacher. Richards said he would like to see the programme expanded to benefit more persons, so they would be seeking contributions from the public and business sector in the near future.

The Chateaubelair NTCOG is the oldest branch of the church in North Leeward, the original congregation having been started by Gladys Priam around 1941. After a succession of leaders, including Grafton Audain, who built the first structure at Sharpes partly from his own resources, other leaders included Isaac Soleyn, Wilson Felix, Lincoln Alexander and Bishop Gosnell Williams, who replaced Richards at the Troumaca branch in January 2017.

The kitchen where the food is prepared was recently installed on the ground floor of the church. The facilities are also used by the women to share recipes and cooking tips.(AC)