Message from the Minister – July 2025

Dear Friends in the Community: Thriving Through Life's Toughness

Since childhood, I have cherished the rich, refreshing taste of coconut milk and water. It has been a source of nourishment, strength, and comfort, something I have grown with and come to appreciate beyond its flavour. Over time, I have come to admire the coconut itself, not only for its richness but for its resilience. Through storms and shifting tides, it journeys undeterred, its tough shell protecting the precious life within until the right moment arrives for it to thrive.

Life, much like the journey of the coconut, can be rugged and unpredictable. Some seasons feel like drifting aimlessly, tossed by waves of hardship, uncertainty, and waiting. We may find ourselves wondering if we will ever reach calmer shores, questioning whether our efforts will bear fruit. Yet within each of us lies an inner strength, a core of patience, gentleness, and determination that enables us to endure, adapt, and flourish.

A single coconut can travel vast distances, braving sun, wind, and saltwater, never losing its potential. It waits silently, steadily, until it reaches a shore where conditions are just right. Then, it springs to life, spreading its roots, standing tall, and bearing fruit that sustains others.

You, too, are built for endurance. The storms you have faced did not arrive to break you but to shape you--to deepen your faith, strengthen your trust, and prepare you for the season of flourishing. Through patience, you hold firm. Through gentleness, you soften life's rough edges. And through determination, you rise, knowing that no challenge is insurmountable.

Look around you, dear friends. You are part of a community of strong, faithful individuals who uplift one another, encourage growth, and stand together even in the hardest of times. The seeds we plant today, whether through kindness, wisdom, or service, will bear fruit tomorrow. Each of us carries something valuable, and when we share it, we become instruments of hope and healing in our homes, churches, and neighbourhoods.

So, do not lose heart. Embrace life's journey with faith and courage, anchoring yourself in love, spreading your roots deep, and bearing fruit wherever you are planted. You were created to thrive, even against the odds.

"Like the coconut, we may drift through rough waters, but our strength lies in knowing that when the right season comes, we will stand, we will root, and we will bear fruit."

Four Quotes on Life and Determination

1. "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a person perfected without trials." -- Seneca

2. "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear, and obstacles vanish." -- John Quincy Adams

3. "A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence." -- James Watkins

4. "Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, you will reap a harvest if you do not give up." -- Galatians 6:9

Through the Storms. A reflective Poem.

The road is rugged, steep, and wild,
The winds are relentless, the waves untamed,
Yet faith whispers through the trials,
"Stand firm, you are not ashamed."
In shadows deep, when hope feels frail,
And burdens press upon the heart,
Grace like morning light prevails,
A promise whole, a love imparted.
Through patience, gentleness, and might,
We rise again, though torn and tried,
For faith is not in endless sight,
But in the steps where trust abides.
So, when the storm begins to call,
And doubts attempt to seize your ground,
Hold steadfast, rise, do not fall,
For faith is where true strength is found.

Have a blessed Month.

Yours sincerely,

Rev George K. Quarm