24 Oct 2024, 10:11By Darell J. Philip, PR & Communications Assistant, Hackney SDA ChurchHackney, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Transformation Now: Hackney SDA Church Campaign ends with a baptism
The Transformation Now campaign with guest speaker, Dr Sherwin Jack, which took place at the Hackney Seventh-day Adventist Church from 12th-19th October 2024, ended in a joyous celebration as one precious soul, Volta Weekes, gave her life to Christ in baptism.
Dr Sherwin Jack, who hails from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago and currently serves as the Senior Resident Pastor at the Atlanta Berean SDA Church in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), shared deeply impacting messages from the book of Daniel to alert the church to the need of being aware of the times we are living in, which let us know that the return of Christ to this earth is imminent. Joined by his wife, Patricia, an educator and teacher by profession, Dr Jack shared personal experiences of how God redirected his projected career path into international banking to instead becoming a full-time Minister of the Gospel of Christ – “God has to lay the burden of ministry on some of us in order to save us,” he recalls hearing his mentor and renowned speaker, Dr Henry Wright, once saying. Dr Jack also testified of his life being a product of a praying mother and sister who paved the way for him to realise his full potential and life’s purpose in the God whom they served. “Transformation must precede translation, and you must not let your situation determine your disposition,” Dr Jack admonished the church when they find themselves encountering trials just as those faced by Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Dr Jack’s power-packed, spirit-filled preaching was complemented by awesome worship experiences led by Hackney’s very own homegrown and renowned gifted singing psalmist, Michaela Mathieu-Marius, whose blend of traditional hymns and choruses alongside newly penned original songs ensured a wide appeal amongst the intergenerational audience. “Oh the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God, oh it chases me down, fights till I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine, I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still you give yourself away, oh the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God,” she sang to an audience moved by the Spirit and led to the presence of God. SEC Personal Ministries Director, Pastor Royston Smith, and accomplished violinist Gabriella Pedditzi also participated in the week.
The campaign came to a fitting end with the baptism of Volta Weekes in the presence of her three young children, family and friends. Weekes, born in Guyana and having moved to the UK via the Caribbean island of Montserrat, comes from an Adventist family. After hearing the messages throughout the week, she felt it was time to give her life completely to the Lord in baptism. In addition to presentations to her in artistic and poetic form from her two young daughters, there were musical messages from Michaela Mathieu-Marius and earlier in the day from another of Hackney’s gifted homegrown singers, Myrtle O’Keefe, who sang *I’ll Be with You in the Dark*. Weekes was baptised by Hackney’s resident Pastor, Vaughn Thorpe, to the delight of over 200 in-person attendees and more than 100 who watched online. In his final message entitled *Worth the Wait*, Dr Jack encouraged everyone to take their stand for the Lord, share the gospel with all people, and be ready for the never-before-witnessed celebration that will take place at Christ’s return.
The Transformation Now campaign with guest speaker, Dr Sherwin Jack, which took place at the Hackney Seventh-day Adventist Church from 12th-19th October 2024, ended in a joyous celebration as one precious soul, Volta Weekes, gave her life to Christ in baptism.
Dr Sherwin Jack, who hails from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago and currently serves as the Senior Resident Pastor at the Atlanta Berean SDA Church in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), shared deeply impacting messages from the book of Daniel to alert the church to the need of being aware of the times we are living in, which let us know that the return of Christ to this earth is imminent. Joined by his wife, Patricia, an educator and teacher by profession, Dr Jack shared personal experiences of how God redirected his projected career path into international banking to instead becoming a full-time Minister of the Gospel of Christ – “God has to lay the burden of ministry on some of us in order to save us,” he recalls hearing his mentor and renowned speaker, Dr Henry Wright, once saying. Dr Jack also testified of his life being a product of a praying mother and sister who paved the way for him to realise his full potential and life’s purpose in the God whom they served. “Transformation must precede translation, and you must not let your situation determine your disposition,” Dr Jack admonished the church when they find themselves encountering trials just as those faced by Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Dr Jack’s power-packed, spirit-filled preaching was complemented by awesome worship experiences led by Hackney’s very own homegrown and renowned gifted singing psalmist, Michaela Mathieu-Marius, whose blend of traditional hymns and choruses alongside newly penned original songs ensured a wide appeal amongst the intergenerational audience. “Oh the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God, oh it chases me down, fights till I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine, I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still you give yourself away, oh the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God,” she sang to an audience moved by the Spirit and led to the presence of God. SEC Personal Ministries Director, Pastor Royston Smith, and accomplished violinist Gabriella Pedditzi also participated in the week.
The campaign came to a fitting end with the baptism of Volta Weekes in the presence of her three young children, family and friends. Weekes, born in Guyana and having moved to the UK via the Caribbean island of Montserrat, comes from an Adventist family. After hearing the messages throughout the week, she felt it was time to give her life completely to the Lord in baptism. In addition to presentations to her in artistic and poetic form from her two young daughters, there were musical messages from Michaela Mathieu-Marius and earlier in the day from another of Hackney’s gifted homegrown singers, Myrtle O’Keefe, who sang *I’ll Be with You in the Dark*. Weekes was baptised by Hackney’s resident Pastor, Vaughn Thorpe, to the delight of over 200 in-person attendees and more than 100 who watched online. In his final message entitled *Worth the Wait*, Dr Jack encouraged everyone to take their stand for the Lord, share the gospel with all people, and be ready for the never-before-witnessed celebration that will take place at Christ’s return.
