Just hours before the arrival of Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the General Conference (GC), to the Caribbean island of Dominica on May 23, Faye Patterson, education director for the Inter-American Division (IAD), met with teachers and students of the Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Primary School. Together, they held a special worship and dedication service at the Roseau Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The morning gathering served as a spiritual prologue to a weekend of mission-focused events emphasizing the role of Adventist education in discipleship and nation-building, local church leaders said. Under the theme “Discipleship in Action: Advancing the Mission Through Education,” church leaders highlighted the importance of beginning with prayer, praise, and renewed purpose.
“Our schools have faced many challenges, and part of what we are experiencing in Dominica reflects a deeper need,” said Patterson to the school body at the beginning of the service. “We must ensure that our school becomes a center of mission and discipleship.”
Besides Patterson, other regional church leaders attended the service, including IAD Sabbath School director Samuel Telemaque, who is a native of Dominica; Caribbean Union Conference president Kern Tobias; and other union, conference, and local representatives.
A Beacon on the Island
According to government statistics, the Commonwealth of Dominica operates 53 primary schools, including five government-assisted and five privately run institutions. Among these are three Adventist primary schools and one Adventist secondary school, collectively serving more than 600 students. With enrollment steadily increasing, the growth reflects a growing desire for faith-based education across the island, church leaders said.
The Ebenezer Adventist Primary School began operating in 1976. Since its inception, the school has been housed in the basement of the Roseau church, providing education to students from kindergarten through sixth grade. With an enrollment of 228 students, the school has had to rent additional classroom facilities to accommodate demand. Now, with support from the Thirteenth Sabbath Mission Offering from the world church and other donors, plans are in place for a new school building that will house all students in one location, church leaders reported. “The new facility aims to provide state-of-the-art resources, reflecting the school’s commitment to delivering quality Christian education in Dominica,” they said.
Preparing for the President’s Visit
School principal Ursula Leslie expressed both gratitude and determination as they waited for Wilson’s arrival. “This is more than a building project; it’s a mission-driven response to a growing need,” she told those attending the morning service. “We are prayerfully preparing to receive the world church leader and to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to Adventist education.”
The vision for Adventist education in Dominica began with pioneers such as Arthur Waldron, who recognized the importance of nurturing both the spiritual and academic development of young people. Inspired by faith and a passion for community upliftment, Waldron and other early leaders laid the foundation for what would become a key pillar of the church’s mission in Dominica.
Local church and educational leaders believe the vision of the pioneers endures. “Today, the Adventist Church continues to champion a dynamic educational system that is shaping generations of students through values-based instruction and a strong emphasis on service,” they said.
A Spiritual and Academic Legacy
While most of the students enrolled at Ebenezer school are not members of the Adventist Church, the institution remains rooted in its spiritual mission, school leaders reported. “Programs such as the Week of Prayer, student-led concerts, and Bible Character Day exemplify the school’s commitment to fostering a personal relationship between each student and God,” they said.
The school has earned a reputation for academic excellence infused with spiritual intentionality, leaders reported. “Each year, as top-performing students are recognized in local media, it becomes a moment of shared gratitude and testimony—an acknowledgment of the divine hand guiding their success,” they said.
The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.