Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The St. Kitts Circuit of Methodist Churches finds itself plunged into mourning, having lost two pioneers of the Methodist Radio Network (MRN) in quick succession. The Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs died suddenly while serving as the Superintendent of his home circuit of Anguilla on Friday, 4 September, 2020. In 2013, Dr. Gumbs was instrumental in establishing the MRN while serving as Superintendent of the St Kitts Circuit before leaving to take up Superintendency in Anguilla that same year.
On Wednesday, 23 September, 2020, we awoke to the sad news that the General Manager of the MRN, Bro. Albert Asquith "Al" "Bertie" Elmes had died suddenly. Armed with a background in Mass Communication and a wealth of experience in the field, Bro. Al was not just the General Manager, he was the “heart and soul” of the MRN. He went beyond the call of duty to ensure the MRN kept its mandate of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Connecting with the congregations in the Circuit, the circuits across the Leeward Islands District and the wider Connexion, whether live or recorded, Bro. Al ensured that the programming covered the diversity of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. A quiet, gentle, and unassuming soldier of Christ, Bro. Al wore many hats over the years at the congregational and circuit levels and at the denominational and ecumenical levels.
The MRN now “pauses” in memory of these two pioneers to which the Circuit is greatly indebted. We offer our prayerful support to their immediate families, friends, and colleagues in ministry. May their souls rest in eternal peace!