Bishop Coleta Williams III preaches “Don’t Be a Fool, Stay in School” as children from across Providenciales receive groceries and school supplies, educators are honoured, free shoes and haircuts are provided, scholarship assistance is given to students heading overseas, and many young people respond to altar call
Sunday, September 6, 2026, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
— Abundant Life Ministries International was filled to capacity on Sunday as children, parents, teachers, school representatives and members of the wider community gathered for the church’s annual Back-to-School Service and giveaway, an event that combined worship, encouragement, practical assistance and a strong spiritual appeal to the territory’s young people.
The sanctuary was packed, with additional attendees filling overflow areas as children from across Providenciales came together ahead of the new school term. Throughout the service, the atmosphere shifted between high-energy praise and worship, prayer, scripture, recognition of educators, fellowship and direct messages aimed at encouraging children to remain focused, disciplined and committed to both their education and their faith.
By the end of the service, each child was invited forward and personally received a bag containing groceries and school supplies from Bishop Coleta Williams III. According to our observation at the event, no child or young person left without receiving a bag, while additional activities, games and entertainment awaited them outside as the service concluded.
“DON’T BE A FOOL, STAY IN SCHOOL”
One of the central messages of the service came from Bishop Coleta Williams III, who preached under the theme, “Don’t Be a Fool, Stay in School.” The message was directed squarely at the large number of children and young people in attendance and placed education alongside faith, discipline and wise decision-making.
The title itself carried a simple but forceful message: young people must not allow distractions, poor choices or outside influences to pull them away from the opportunities that education can provide. The church used the occasion not merely to hand out supplies, but to encourage students to return to school with renewed purpose and to understand that their decisions now can shape the direction of their future.
At the conclusion of the message, Bishop Williams invited young people who wanted to commit their lives to Jesus Christ to come forward. Many responded to the altar call, creating one of the most spiritually significant moments of the service as children and youths gathered at the front of the sanctuary.
WORSHIP SET THE TONE FOR THE MORNING
The service began with energetic praise and worship as the congregation was repeatedly encouraged to celebrate the goodness of God. Songs including “Oh Give Thanks Unto the Lord,” “Magnify the Lord,” and other familiar praise selections helped establish an atmosphere of thanksgiving and participation, with worshippers encouraged to stand, clap and sing together.
As the service progressed, the congregation was reminded that faith should not disappear when circumstances become difficult. One speaker encouraged those present to “hold the fort,” using the well-known hymn as a message for people facing struggles, uncertainty and discouragement.
The congregation was told that even when people feel trapped or overwhelmed, they should continue trusting God and refusing to give up. The message emphasized that God may not always remove a person from a difficult situation immediately, but can sustain them through it.
“IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD”
Scripture reading for the morning came from Psalm 124, with particular attention drawn to the words, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side.”
The passage was applied directly to the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the congregation reminded that the nation’s help ultimately comes from God. The reading closed with verse eight: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
The broader theme of dependence on God continued throughout the service, including prayers for students, teachers, church leadership and the Government. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for wisdom and strength among those responsible for leading the country and educating its children.
PRAYER FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND THE COUNTRY
During an extended prayer, the congregation prayed for those returning to school and for teachers preparing to lead classrooms through the coming term. The prayer also asked God to bless the church’s leaders, musicians, technical teams and everyone serving throughout the service.
Government leaders were also specifically remembered in prayer, with the congregation asking God to give them wisdom and strength to govern the country. The prayer reflected one of the wider themes of the service: that preparation for a new school year should involve not only material support but also spiritual covering for children, educators and the wider community.
The service also marked the beginning of Abundant Life Ministries International’s “September to Remember,” described as a month focused on fellowship, connection, spiritual growth and renewed purpose. Church representatives welcomed visitors and encouraged members to use the month to strengthen relationships and share what they described as the abundant life offered through Jesus Christ.
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS HONOURED
Abundant Life Ministries International also used the Back-to-School Service to recognise head teachers, principals and representatives from schools across Providenciales. Educators were honoured for the responsibility they carry in shaping the lives of children and preparing them academically, socially and personally.
The recognition broadened the event beyond the students themselves. It acknowledged that successful education depends heavily on teachers, administrators, parents and other adults who provide structure, guidance and support throughout the school year.
Representatives were encouraged as they prepared to return to their respective schools and classrooms. The church’s message was that those responsible for teaching and leading children also deserve prayer, recognition and encouragement as they begin another academic year.
JACKIE’S FOOTWEAR GIVES AWAY SHOES
The event also included substantial practical assistance from members of the business community.
Sister Jackie Lightbourne of Jackie’s Footwear, located in the Market Place Plaza, provided a large number of shoes for both males and females, including adults and children. The shoes were distributed as part of the wider Back-to-School effort, helping families prepare for the school term while reducing some of the financial pressure associated with purchasing school necessities.
The contribution formed part of a broader community effort surrounding the service. Rather than the church acting alone, individuals and businesses contributed resources and services that directly benefited families attending the event.
For children preparing to return to school, footwear can represent a significant household expense, particularly in families with multiple children. The giveaway therefore provided practical support alongside the spiritual and educational encouragement being offered inside the church.
FREE HAIRCUTS FOR YOUNG MEN AND BOYS
Another visible part of the Back-to-School initiative came from Bro. Kareem Higgs, who was present outside with his assistant providing haircuts to young men and boys attending the event.
Higgs operates a barbershop in the Market Place Plaza and used his skill to help students prepare for their return to the classroom. Many boys and young men received haircuts during the day, adding another practical element to the church’s effort to ensure children were ready for school.
The service therefore became more than a Sunday gathering. Families were able to receive food items, school materials, shoes, haircuts, encouragement and entertainment in one location, making the event a broad community-support initiative.
SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS HEADING OVERSEAS
The church’s support also extended to a number of students preparing to continue their education overseas. During the Back-to-School Service, scholarship assistance was presented to students who are heading abroad for school, adding another important layer to the ministry’s wider effort to support young people at different stages of their educational journey.
The scholarship assistance recognised that the cost of education can become even more demanding for families when students must travel overseas to pursue further studies. By helping those students financially, Abundant Life Ministries International demonstrated that its Back-to-School initiative was not limited only to younger children returning to local classrooms, but also included those advancing to educational opportunities abroad.
For the students receiving the assistance, the presentations served as both financial support and public encouragement as they prepared for the next stage of their education. It also reinforced the message running throughout the service: that young people should be supported not only spiritually, but practically, as they pursue their goals and prepare for their future.
EVERY CHILD RECEIVED A BAG
One of the strongest images from the close of the event came when children made their way to the front of the church to receive bags containing groceries and school supplies.
The sanctuary remained packed as each child approached individually and received his or her bag directly from Bishop Coleta Williams III. According to the information provided from the event, no young person or child went home without receiving one.
That detail was important because the giveaway was not structured around a limited number of prizes available only to some children. The stated aim was that every child present would receive something practical to take home and use as the school year began.
The bags combined educational items with groceries, reflecting the reality that preparing a child for school extends beyond books and stationery. Families also face daily household expenses, and the inclusion of groceries added another level of assistance for parents and guardians.
GAMES AND ACTIVITIES CLOSE THE DAY
The event did not end when the final prayer was offered.
Children leaving the service were met with games, activities and additional opportunities for fun and fellowship outside. The atmosphere gave young people a chance to enjoy themselves after participating in a service that had included long periods of worship, teaching, prayer and encouragement.
The activities helped reinforce the church’s attempt to make the Back-to-School Service memorable for children rather than treating it solely as a formal religious gathering. It brought together faith, education, community assistance and recreation in one event.
For many families, the day offered both practical relief and emotional encouragement before students returned to their classrooms.
A MESSAGE TO “HOLD THE FORT”
Throughout the morning, one of the recurring messages was perseverance.
The congregation was reminded of the hymn “Hold the Fort” and the story traditionally associated with people surrounded and under pressure who received a signal that help was on the way. The application offered to those gathered was simple: whatever challenges may come, do not give up.
Young people preparing for another school year were therefore encouraged not only to attend classes but to remain committed even when the work becomes difficult. Adults were similarly reminded to continue supporting children, families and one another through moments of uncertainty.
The message carried spiritual significance, but it was also relevant to education. Staying in school often requires persistence, particularly when students face academic pressure, personal challenges or distractions outside the classroom.
MORE THAN A GIVEAWAY
The September 6 gathering demonstrated that Abundant Life Ministries International intended its annual Back-to-School Service to be more than a distribution exercise.
Children received tangible assistance, but they were also placed at the centre of worship, prayer, teaching and encouragement. Teachers and school leaders were recognised, businesses and community members contributed services, scholarship assistance was provided to students heading overseas, and the wider congregation was challenged to support young people as they begin another academic term.
The presence of a packed sanctuary and overflow area reflected the scale of interest in the event. It also showed the significant demand that exists for community initiatives capable of supporting families with some of the costs and pressures associated with returning to school.
The altar call at the end of Bishop Williams’ message gave the day an additional meaning for the church. Many young people came forward and made personal commitments to Jesus Christ.
For Abundant Life Ministries International, that spiritual response stood alongside the bags, shoes, haircuts, groceries and scholarship assistance as one of the most important outcomes of the day. The event’s central message was that children and young people should return to school prepared materially, encouraged emotionally and, in the church’s view, strengthened spiritually for whatever lies ahead.
