Established in 1972, the Laventille Open Bible Standard Church will celebrate 50 years of service, its golden anniversary, on November 11, 2022. Adapted from Hebrews 6:10, the Church hosted a Seniors Appreciation Day under the theme “Living the Legacy” as part of the slew of activities to mark the occasion on Sunday 6th November 2022 where over fifty (50) longstanding members aged seventy (70) years and over were recognized for their faithfulness with dedicated service and unconditional commitment to ministry.
Joining the celebration was Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Senator the Honourable Donna Cox who told the congregation that the celebration was indeed timely as the Ministry recently joined the international community on October 1 to celebrate International Day of Older Persons (IDOP). IDOP she said, is a day carded to highlighting the important contributions that older persons make to society and raising awareness of the issues and challenges of the world’s ageing population.
Commending the church for celebrating its older members, Minister Cox likened the initiative to the Ministry’s National Centenarian Programme (NCP) where persons one hundred years and over are recognized for their contributions to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. She added that the NCP is one of several initiatives under the Ministry targeting older persons.
“As many may be aware, our Senior Citizens’ Pension provides financial assistance to persons who have attained the age of 65 years and over who meet the qualifying criteria for the grant. The Ministry launched its Automated Senior Citizens’ Pension (SCP), which affords senior citizens the option to apply for their SCP via an online platform. Likewise, the Ministry’s Direct Deposit facility provides for a direct deposit into one’s bank account, so that our seniors may avoid the hassle of long lines at the commercial banks” said Minster Cox. She further invited the church to participate in its Public Information, Education and Sensitization (P.I.E.S) sessions to discover more about the various social grants and services available, and how these could be accessed by the church and the community.
In closing, Minister Cox told the congregation that by 2050, the World Health Organisation estimates that there will be two billion people in the world over the age of 60 hence, it is imperative that organizations including Faith-Based Organizations such as the Laventille Open Bible Standard Church work together to ensure that older citizens are treated with the respect, dignity and honour they deserve.
Delivering the sermon, Reverend Joyce Edwards, the oldest active Minister at the age of eighty-three, told the congregation that the greatest challenge facing older persons is change. She noted that older persons experience physical, social, and spiritual changes however all should remain fixed in an unchanging God.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services was pleased to support the event that recognized and empowered a key vulnerable group in Trinidad and Tobago.