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For the last seven years, the 200 + member congregation at the Port of Spain Church of Christ has been without a full-time Evangelist and Women's Ministry Leader. The church has been led by the courageous efforts of three awesome couples, who serve the church while working secular jobs. But God has had plans in store for Trinidad...
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They were used by God to do the impossible: lead our 200+ member church while working secular jobs.
A daunting task to be sure, but not too much for God to accomplish. He was able to use these couples powerfully because of their love for Him and His church. But it was also not His idea that one church carry on like this forever. Our prayers went up to God for help, and our search began.
Tony & Leslie Millet were both converted in Ohio at the Cincinnati Church of Christ in 1995 & 1996 respectively. Tony left his corporate position and Leslie left a budding Broadway career to go into the full- time ministry in 1998. They were happily married in 1999 and now have 2 bright and energetic children (Brooke - 9, and Anthony - 8). Tony & Leslie moved to Hampton Roads, Virginia in 2005 and faithfully led the West Region of the Hampton Roads Church until their arrival here in Trinidad on March 23rd, 2011.
"Truly the Spirit of God has led our family to be part of this loving congregation", says Tony when asked what inspired them to move to our twin island republic of 1.3 million souls. "We simply prayed that God would continue to show us His will, and give us the faith to follow it."
It also helps that Tony is half-Trinidadian through his father and Leslie left the Boston Conservatory of Music for a year to perform with Royal Caribbean around the islands dreaming of returning to live one day!
Renewed Vision
Since their arrival, the Millet's have helped us renew the vision for God’s working in our lives and church, which is made up of 3 main ministries (Port of Spain, South - San Fernando, and Tobago) and is just over 200 disciples.
While the church has been organized around small groups, there was still a need for oversight of thosesmall groups to support long-term growth and open avenues for deeper relationships and more specific teaching. Now our family group leaders are excited to now be meeting every other week after the worshipservice to share good news, receive training, and pray for those currently studying the Bible.
Teens are meeting once again each week for fun, fellowship, and inspiration, and our teen parents are also meeting together every month for encouragement, inspiration, and coordination with their teens.
Not to be left out, our entire singles ministry now meets monthly, for a rockin' Singles Devotional!
Marrieds’, Teens and New Campus Ministry
In early July, we hosted an amazing 1/2-day marriage workshop with over 100 people in attendance. The sisters were encouraged to submit to their husbands, and the husbands were challenged to lead their wives. It was a wonderful time and all were encouraged.
In August, the church also hosted its first overnight teen camp! The camp was held an hour & a half away from Port of Spain at a beautiful location directly on the Atlantic coast. 45 teens (only 5 teen disciples) from Port of Spain, the South sector, and Tobago gathered together for a week of inspirational and challenging preaching on loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Each lesson was followed by a discipleship group where the teens learned to share their hearts, get feedback on their lives, and pray together. Of course, there were plenty of fun activities as well including swimming at the private beach, hiking to a waterfall, teen Olympics, cricket, football, and a talent show.
The week was capped off on Saturday with a sobering yet inspirational presentation of the gospel message for the 40 yet to be baptized teens. After response cards had been filled out, 27 teens said they wanted to study the bible! Each teen has already been paired up with an adult, and studies have begun. Amen!
Currently, we're in the midst of an evangelistic/prayer campaign. The theme is "Pray for Workers" and we ask that you please pray that God sends us out into his harvest field in a focused and unified way. We're planning on capping off the campaign with a 4-night "gospel meeting" at the end of September to bring in the harvest.
Finally, with 45,000 college students in our country we're sad to say that we've had no campus ministry in recent years. However, we believe these students will be instrumental to the future leadership of our church and will play a key role in evangelizing the remaining Caribbean islands that are left to be planted.
So with that in mind, we launched our campus ministry this month at the University of the West Indies!
The ministry is led by one of our young couples who also came out of the campus ministry - Shane & Susan Gibson. They are joined by 4 young, but brave students and a single sister as they advance the kingdom at UWI and other surrounding campuses.
"God is truly blessing the faith and efforts of the saints", says Tony. "We're so encouraged to have seen 14 baptisms, and 2 restorations since the month of May & an additional 45+ people currently in active Bible studies!"
Caribbean Conference
In October the Millet family together with almost 50 disciples from Trinidad will travel to Barbados, for this year’s Caribbean Conference – the new leaders first real opportunity to connect with the other churches in the region since moving to Trinidad earlier this year.
"We're eagerly looking forward to seeing all of our Caribbean brothers and sisters at this year's Caribbean Conference held in Barbados in October. It will be a joy to build relationships and work side by side with disciples from Guyana, Suriname, Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent, Jamaica, St. Kitts, and other islands to see the entire Caribbean evangelized."
We earnestly ask for your prayers as there is still much work to be done in Trinidad and Tobago. The nation is currently under a State of Emergency and curfew in an effort to combat crime due to gangs and drugs. There are also a large percentage of people who have a form of godliness and religion, but deny its power.
We are grateful for Tony & Leslie's willingness to "go anywhere & do anything" for the cause of Christ! Click here to visit our new website to stay in touch with the disciples in Trinidad and Tobago, and keep informed about our ministry.
Now to Him, be glory in the church for ever & ever! Amen.