Anguilla’s Chief Minister, the Honourable Osbourne Fleming, says that aside from his secular duties, he is on a new mission “to win souls for Christ.”

Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming with members of his family outside the SDA Church

Mr. Fleming made the statement to The Anguillian on Saturday, November 26, shortly after he had formally committed himself into the membership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Government leader, who has had a long family involvement in the Adventist Church since his boyhood days, has now taken the decision to rejoin the Church. He was among three persons who stood for baptism following a week-long series of revival services conducted by a visiting Minister from St. Lucia, Pastor Johnson Frederick, at the Mount Fortune Church.

Mr. Fleming, who is on dialysis treatment, was not baptized with the others at Sandy Hill Bay because of his medical condition. He was instead admitted into the membership of the Church “on profession of faith.” He and the others were led in the baptismal vows by resident Minister, Pastor Danny Philip. Mr. Fleming was accompanied to the Church by his wife, Mrs. Ruby Fleming and other members of his family.

Pastor Danny Philip instructing Agnita Hodge, CM Fleming and “Snakey”

“I have always been a Seventh-day Adventist,” the Chief Minister told The Anguillian. “I was only fooling myself for not being in the Church. I realise that Christ is soon coming and I need to be closer to God and that is what I am doing.

“I am very happy to have my family with me. My family flew in today from St. Croix just for this, to surprise me. They know it is a big walk of faith and so they came to share it with me and I am grateful for that. With me are my wife, my son and his wife, another daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and a sister-in-law.”

Mr. Fleming continued: “I have run for elections for seven times in the last twenty-four years and I must have been doing something good to be winning all the time. I believe the time has now come for me to begin to win souls for Christ.

“I hope that this might be an example to a lot of my friends and family to let them know that it is time for a change.”

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