Emerging from the canopy of a tree, King David slew a lion as he tended to his sheep. Plucking his harp, he belted out Psalm 23- "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters." In contemporary times, Psalm 23 is still the most famous and most quoted of the Psalms. On Sunday, the number 23 bore special significance for Redemption Christian Centre's (RCC) Pastor Victor Gill and his wife Rev Tracy Gill. The couple was joined by their three children Viktoria, Vanessa and Dave-Mark.
The Espinet Street, Laventille congregation was celebrating and rejoicing on the couple's 23 years in ministry. There was ample reason for double celebration in the RCC camp since Pastor Gill and Brother Chris had recently returned from South Africa and Zimbabwe on missionary work. In his tete-a-tete, Pastor Gill affectionately referred to Chris as his "armour bearer." Among those present were Theresa James and her husband Deacon Phillip James. As the programme unfolded, visiting St Lucian pastor Thomas Eriste gave the exhortation.
He said: "The pastor is a star. The wife is the first lady. We have to honour the mother and father of the church." He noted it was tough even for the pastor's children because "they were human and could err." In his reflections prepared by Cindy Gill, Pastor Gill warned pastors against "arrogance, aloneness and adultery." He thanked Pastor Allistair Alexander from Daybreak Assembly, Morvant, for his sterling input into their lives. His spouse admitted it was challenging to juggle the roles of wife, mother and assist her spouse in his religious duties.
But it was eclipsed by her desire to win souls for the kingdom. "I would say I'm doing pretty alright." Even her mother Ann Timothy lauded her daughter Tracey on her Christian calling. She said: "When you have a baby you would never know what they would turn out to be. But she is in the soul-winning business. I am proud of her."
Tribute to the Gills
A banner prepared by Andre Phillip proclaimed congratulations on the 23rd milestone. It was flanked by bunches of purple and gold balloons. As the elegant evening unfolded, the couple was revered with song, dance, drama and verbal tributes. Youth missionary Jabari Lynch, who has reached out to the poor and suffering in Haiti, provided technological support. Among the highlights were RCC Junior Dancers, singing from Renelle Martin and Monique Hector, former 2008 Female Calypso Monarch.
Sis Lula Alexander from Daybreak Assembly expressed her profound satisfaction at the work of the Gills. She even referred to the congregation as "her grandchildren." The celebrations had to be truncated because of the curfew. Yet there was sufficient time for members like Dikola James, Edmund Hinkson, Susan Dick, Marissa Dyett, Talon Mc Lean and Kwesi Farrell to make their presentations. Everyone prayed and thanked the Gills for their commitment to the congregation, country and the kingdom of God.