Q. How long have you been in the church and how would you describe your journey of faith?

I was born into the Seventh-day Adventist Church so I’ve been an SDA all my life. Both my parents are Seventh-day Adventists although my dad became an SDA when my siblings and I where very young. My journey of faith has been one of discovery, trial, joy, love, pain, and at times loneliness. However, the journey of faith is a narrow path to a reunion with our Heavenly Father and there’s no greater joy than this.

Q. Where were you born and where do you consider home? 

I was born in Reading, Berkshire. Home, well they say home is where the heart is. Jesus tells us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 21:20-21). My treasure is Jesus Christ so my home is heaven, I’m just a sojourner here.

Q. What is your favourite pastime? 

Walking. Not only is walking a great exercise that’s free it’s great for stress release. It also allows me time to think, and meditate on the Word.

Q. What is your favourite dish and are you able to make it yourself? 

Hmmm good question. Wangu Pois for those that don’t know this is turned corn with gungo peas (pigeon peas) mixed in served with Okra and fish (although I no longer eat fish so I would have a vegetarian alternative). Can I cook it myself, well…no. Nobody can cook this dish like “mumz”. It’s one of the traditional dishes of Union Island (one of the Grenadine Islands of St. Vincent).

Q. What is the biggest challenge your family face when moving to a new church? 

Remembering everybody’s names. We are good on remembering faces but names are a big challenge.

Q. If you had to share one parenting tip what would it be? 

Pray daily for the Holy Spirit to teach your children and set their hearts towards God. Learn from David who prayed this prayer for his son Solomon: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision” 1 Chronicles 29:18-19.

Q. What do you and your family do to maintain a healthy lifestyle? 

Honestly, this area needs a little work, but our young son’s inability to keep still does give us a good work out. However, what is critical is morning, and evening worship it is challenging sometimes to be consistent with this but to skip family worship is perilous to spiritual health.

Q. How would you describe your style of ministry? 

Firstly, it’s not my ministry it’s the Lord’s ministry and I am His servant. As for style I’ve never really considered this but what I do know is I just want to do God’s Will God’s way.

Q. What do you feel are the most important issues facing church today? 

Our unpreparedness for the soon coming of Jesus Christ, and working in our own strength doing God’s Will in our own way.

Q. Considering today’s world and UK culture, what do you think the church should be saying and doing? Is there anything special that we as Adventists ought to be saying and doing? 

Firstly, what we say and what we do should be ONE.  That is no difference between the two. We are to be the message incarnate to today’s world and culture. Just as Christ was the living Word, the Word made flesh so we are to be the message(s) made flesh. We are to say and be the three Angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12.  The three Angels Messages together is the Gospel message a message that deals with the human heart. Solomon said “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). When we “be” the message we will always be speaking to the culture, and to the times.

Q. In what ways do you think the church should be involved in the community and how do you see yourself involved in the community? 

Before this question can be answered one must first ask “What does God want the church/us to do in this community?” We then earnestly seek God to make known His Will for the community, and our involvement in it. This way my duty, or involvement in the community God will also make known.

Read more about Pastor Andrew in his biography.