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Last Updated: Sep 20, 2019 - 12:49:05 PM |
Bishop Delton Fernander offered a hand of comfort to Rev. Silbert Mills, Pastor of Friendship Tabernacle who wept as he described how his house fell around him and water beat down his doors as he tried to comfort his wife, their children and grandchildren, including a 10-week-old when Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco, The Bahamas.
Photo by Gianne Demeritte
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Atlanta, Georgia - It was an emotional evening at the historic Ebenezer
Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, Sept 18, 2019 as
representatives from the diplomatic corps, civil rights moment, and
Caribbean diaspora joined icon Xernona Clayton, Bahamas Consul General
Astra Armbrister-Rolle and members of the Bahamas Christian Council to
pledge support during a night of prayer for The Bahamas.
During
the service, a representative from Congressman John Lewis’ office
confirmed that he was supporting Bahamians getting temporary protective
status in The United States.
As devastating images flashed
across the screens, showing the impact of Hurrican Dorian to Grand
Bahama and Abaco, tears were shed in the congregation as choirs sang and
clergy members offered words of encouragement.
Through song, dance, and prayers, Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta held a Day of Prayer for The Bahamas.
Photo by Gianne Demeritte
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Perhaps the most
poignant moment of the evening was when Bishop Delton Fernander offered
a hand of comfort to Rev. Silbert Mills, Pastor of Friendship
Tabernacle who wept as he described how his house fell around him and
water beat down his doors as he tried to comfort his wife, their
children and grandchildren, including a 10-week-old. During the eye of
the storm, they made the choice to flee for the church. He recalled the
205 souls who sought refuge watching in horror, unable to open the door
and risk the wind taking off the roof as a woman held on to a tree for
two hours and a couple blew by.
Consul General Armbrister-Rolle
shared that in the hours of the storm first making landfall, she was
contacted by Bahamians in her jurisdiction who were concerned and was
already thinking of ways to connect. She expressed her gratitude to all
those who have assisted the nation in the aftermath of the tragedy,
noting that through Caring For Others, Inc and Delta Airlines, she
personally traveled with them to deliver the first ten thousand pounds
of relief to The Bahamas last week. The mother of a young son,
Armbrister-Rolle expressed her thoughts for the youngest victims who she
hopes will be able to recover from the trauma and all that they have
seen and experienced and lost in the storm.
Bahamas Consul General to Atlanta Astra Armbrister-Rolle and friend to The Bahamas Xernona Clayton join members of The Bahamas Christian Council and Atlanta clergy at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church to pray for The Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Photo by Gianne Demeritte
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“The city of Atlanta
and The Bahamas are no strangers to each other,” said Armbrister-Rolle.
“And I am so happy to stand here as the CG and say that the connections
that were forged during the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and some
of the people that you see here, they still exist and I am happy and
proud that they will continue to exist in the foreseeable future.”
Also
bringing prayers and remarks from The Bahamas was Fernander who is
President of The Bahamas Christian Council, Dr. Reuben Cooper of Mission
Baptist Church, Dr. David Burrows of Bahamas Faith Ministries, Rev. Dr.
Timothy Stewart of Bethel Baptist Church and Father Dwight Rolle of
Saint Ambrose Anglican Parish.
Rev. Dr. Kevin Murriel of Cascade
United Methodist Church Atlanta, and host pastor Rev. Raphael G.
Warnock also addressed attendees.
The congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta joining hands in song to during a Day of Prayer for The Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Photo by Gianne Demeritte
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