Tributes 2006

A few weeks after graduation and about ten days after marrying Pastor Silas Napoleon McKinney, we arrived in Nassau in January 1956.  In short order we were assigned to the South Andros District, a place of breath-taking coastal and wonderfully warm and friendly people.  My husband pastored the six churches there and I was asked to be the principal of the Andros Elementary School.  Our home and the school, which sometimes were housed in one building, were located in Kemp’s Bay. 

Development and maturity in our spiritual experience and in our vocations were enhanced as challenges were successfully met by God’s guidance. 

Bonds of affection and love were formed with my assistant teacher, my students and the brethren, that have stood the test of time.  I cherish these memories.  As my husband’s work demanded and as we pursued educational advancement, we had to break up house, sellout and move overseas a number of times.  I found the moving process very difficult, not to mention expensive; but as we focused on the fact that we were following the Lord’s leading, things were executed more smoothly.  Our family increased with the addition of three children – Rosa, Michelle and Neil – and so did our responsibilities.

Because of the moves we made, I had to fit into new posts and positions –

• Secretary:  Bahamas Mission, Bahamas Conference, West Indies College and West Indies Union; 

• Teacher:  Andros Elementary School, Bahamas Academy and Northern Caribbean University; 

• Accountant:  Bahamas Mission, Bahamas Academy and West Indies Union.  I even served as Acting Treasurer of Bahamas Mission for one month, May, during 1964.

While my husband served as president of West Indies Union, nestled in the beautiful hills of Mandeville, Jamaica, I was asked to chair the Office Administration Department of Northern Caribbean University.  My lovely co-workers were supportive and cooperative and as the students were self-motivated and focused, they were a pleasure to teach.  My years at Northern Caribbean University were enjoyable and we formed chains of life-long friends and happy memories.

For every life that touched mine over the years and for every opportunity to make my contribution, as I supported my husband in his work, I give God thanks.  In retirement my weekly visits to the sick and shut-ins, my MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT on the internet and my occasional speaking appointments provide fulfillment, bring many blessings and help me to “brighten the corner” where I am.  Praise the Lord for His protection, His guidance and His blessings!

Fifty plus years in Cradle Roll Ministry has been the greatest joy of my life. This love for the children began in my early teens.     This started at the Grant’s Town Church and took on greater dimensions as we moved from Pastorate to Pastorate.  It was almost expected that the Pastor’s wife lead out in the children’s division.  Added to the time spent at Grant’s Town, we spent twelve years at the Centreville Church and all this time was spent           in the Cradle Roll Department of the church as leader or assistant leader.

This continued for the next eight years at Living Faith and eight years at Maranatha and on to our present Pastorate at Good News.

At Grant’s Town I worked with the junior girls and early teen girls in a group called Dorcasetts.  It was joy to work with this group. We learned passages from the Bible and most of all memorized the memory verses and morning watch texts.  I taught them to crochet, knit, embroidery work, smocking, Spanish work etc.  They were willing to learn and easy to work with.  On my 21^st birthday this group had a big appreciation celebration for me.  Besides being a Pathfinder Counselor, I sewed many Pathfinder uniforms over the years.

Another phase of my shepherdess pastorate was telling stories to children and young people.  I also told stories at various churches, tents and crusades in Eleuthera, Andros, Freeport, Bermuda, Jamaica, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina to name a few.  I taught (Missionary Volunteers) M.V. Honours classes for Pathfinders and Master Guides in Story Telling and a number of my students are still displaying this honour on their sashes today.

From1963 to 1966 I taught commercial subjects at Bahamas Academy evening classes.  Many students excelled in Royal Society of Arts, and Pitman Typing and Gregg Shorthand and received various certificates in typing and shorthand speeds.

I opened many registration/gift Bible desks at churches and crusades in Nassau, Andris, Freeport and Jamaica.  A most fulfilling part of my Christian service was working as a Secretary at the Bahamas Mission of Seventh-day Adventists headquarters which were located on Bay Street adjacent to Rawson Square, and later moved around the corner to East Street, North  (off Bay Street).  I had the pleasure of serving as Secretary to three overseas Presidents, namely, Pastor H.D. Colburn, Pastor R.E. Gibson and Pastor R.M. Mote who married my husband and me in 1961.  My service record totaled approximately eleven years.  With the now service credit for study of years at Canadian Union College – that would now be about thirteen (13) years. 

I have a wonderful “Home Ministry”, receiving calls from church members and non-church members who are looking for a scripture text, a statement from Ellen G. White, a word of prayer  or just a listening ear.

Octbber 11, 1970, Pastor DaLeon Browne and I were joined in holy matrimony.  From the date of his retirement, May 31, 2000 and beyond, my experiences can be introduced by my favorite hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Tune my heart to sing thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

During these years of ministry I was given the opportunity to be a supportive “help meet” to my husband.  There were many challenges we were faced with, but through them all we can truly say, God was and always will be our “Fount of every Blessing”. These blessings turned my heart to speak of His grace and I taught at Bahamas Academy, conducted Bible classes, led prayer groups, visited in the community and also as I worked at the Voice of Prophecy Bible School.  In fact, I tried to fit in wherever I was needed. 

Pastor Browne and I raise our Ebenezer in gratitude to God for all the wonderful saints we worked with in proclaiming the Three Angels Message.  Other than Bahamas Academy and the Voice of Prophecy Bible School where I worked, I ministered alongside my husband in the following districts/churches:  South Andros, Cat Island, Grant’s Town, Johnson Park, Turks & Caicos, New Englerston, Eleuthera, Maranatha, Philadelphia, and Hillview.  (Pastor Browne pastored in San Salvador but I was only able to pray for him and the work.  He also ministered in Long Island and North Andros where I visited with him.

The last of ten (10) children, I was born in Bluff, Eleuthera to  the late William and Gertrude Dorsett.          I was joined in holy matrimony to Pastor Neville E. Scavella in February 1957.  Our union produced two sons, Paul Adlai and Neville Gardell.  I am also the proud mother of a third son, Todd and daughter, Jacqueline, nine grand children:  Shantel, Ashton,  Paul II, Ariel, Cheryle, Britney-Simone, Paula-Jo, Jo’Paul and Shelby-Nicole.  My education began at the Bluff All-Age School.  I later matriculated in Government Summer Classes for a few years. 

Being an astute learner, my ability and ambition took me further where I attended Northern Caribbean University, (formerly West Indies College), and Loma Linda University.  My professional career has taken me far and wide.  I have served my church and the community with distinction.  Among the places I have served are as follows:

• Navious Corporation

• Voice of Prophecy (Jamaica)

• Star Insurance Company (New Providence)

• Bank of America (USA)

• Dupuch Publications (New Providence)

• Bahamas Princess (Grand Bahama)

• Paradise Island Hotel (New Providence)

• Bahamas Academy – Substitute Teacher

• Book and Bible House (Cayman Islands Mission)

• Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

• Bluff All-Age School (Student Teacher)

• Adventist School in South Andros (Principal)

I enjoy a fulfilling life.  My hobbies are:  playing the piano, gardening, reading, cooking, house-cleaning, taking part in family fun time and being a good wife.  My ultimate goal is to see Jesus and to see my family in the Kingdom of God.   

Question:  Do you want to see Alwhyne roll with a good belly laugh?

While at Bahamas Academy, I met Hugh Scavella, whom I later married in 1960.  When I married Brother Hugh, the thought of him being a Pastor was not anywhere on our horizon, but it soon became very evident to me that Pastoral Ministry was his calling.  I observed his interest and desire to serve the Lord and win souls for the kingdom, and encouraged him to become a Pastor.  We began the process of matriculation into West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University) and upon his acceptance into the Theological Seminary, the Scavella family, including our three daughters, Renee, Christine, and Tanya, left for Jamaica in 1972.  Audwyn, the only son, was born the following year in 1973.

Upon completion of my husband’s studies, we were assigned to the Eleuthera District in 1975 and pastored there for six years.  With the exception of Pastor and Elder, I served in every capacity of church leadership at the Rock Sound Seventh-day Adventist Church in Eleuthera.  I worked diligently along side my husband to complete the construction of the Rock Sound Seventh-day Adventist Church. Prior to completion, I did much to make the church as comfortable and as attractive as possible for all the services.  I was also a very competent pianist, and my musical ability contributed to the success of each service.

A major part of my ministry was that of hospitality.  My jovial personality along with culinary skills not only attracted people to my home, but to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  In 1981, I accompanied my husband to the district of South Andros where again I made use of my talents for ministry by the side of my husband.  I served in a variety of important leadership positions of the church in South Andros. 

Throughout my career as a stalwart adherent to the Adventist faith and as a Pastor’s wife, I exhibited organizational skills which earned me the admiration of Adventists far and wide. My forceful personality, dynamism, and deeply held convictions combined, made me a force to be reckoned with in all my endeavours on behalf of the church.

After my husband’s death in 1985, I returned to Nassau where I continued with my ministry at my home church, Centreville.  I served in a number of leadership positions including Sabbath School Superintendent, Dorcas Leader and Fellowship Committee leader.  Even though I am no longer in active ministry in my church, I attend each Sabbath and I’m happy to give encouragement, advice and a smile to Pastors and members alike.

One of my greatest assets as a pastor’s wife has been my background experience from childhood.  My mother was a very   strong Seventh-day Adventist Christian.  As children and youth, we were active in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  This  training prepared me greatly for my future role as a pastor’s wife.  In ministry with my husband I have been active in visitation and active in the programs of the church, taking part in the distribution of handbills, visitation of the sick and shut-ins,   ingathering, and serving in various positions in the churches.

My husband and I were teachers.  We got married in December, 1958. Shortly after our marriage we were asked by Bahamas Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. to go as teachers to Kemp’s Bay, South Andros, and to look after the Church School there.  We also became very active in the Churches there.  My husband began to preach on Sabbaths and I helped by teaching the children in Sabbath School.  In 1961 and 1962 my husband was permitted to do missionary work in Acklins, there we raised up the first company of Seventh-day Adventists in that island.  Seven of the ten baptized believers were members of my husband’s immediate family.  In the end of 1962 we left Acklins for studies at West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University). 

After successfully completing my two year Teacher Training, I taught at the college’s primary school and earned a few much needed dollars to boost the family’s budget, while my husband continued to complete his Bachelors Degree in Theology.  After returning home in 1965 we were assigned to the mission field of Eleuthera, where we spent happy years.  As a trained teacher I had a job in the government public school at Palmetto Point and was able to be involved in ministry with my husband in the evenings, Sundays and Sabbaths.

In 1969 my husband was called to labor in Nassau and I took a teaching post at Bahamas Academy.  From 1969 to our retirement in 2001 it was a joy to serve with my husband in many of the churches – Johnson Park, Englerston, Grant’s Town, Maranatha, New Providence, Centreville, Berea, Francophone, New Englerston, and Philadelphia.  Now in retirement we are trying together to establish a church in Acklins.  Pray for us.

This was a mile-stone in the life of the church on Crooked Island, up to that time, nobody outside of the settlement of Landrail Point had accepted the Advent Message for over ten or more years.  Visitation was a very strong point in our ministry.  We visited every settlement on Crooked Island on a consistent basis.  We found the people to be very hospitable and I always looked forward to that.

Traveling by ferry to Acklins to the settlement of Pompey Bay and Pinefield was really a good experience for us.  We visited Brother and Sister Hanna Sr., and Brother and Sister Willis McKinney and family and held services with them. A number of times we held revival services in the Baptist Church in Pinefield. We moved to South Andros in 1973.  Those were very productive years. A church was built from start to finish, including the furnishing, and three branch Sabbath Schools were formed.  We had a strong visitation program.  Pastor Leslie V. McMillan conducted a crusade, and many accepted Christ and were baptized.  The members were supportive, kind, zealous and sincere.

In 1981 we were transferred to Nassau.  During the ensuing years we ministered at Berea, Good News, and Francophone churches and we had seen the guidance and felt the presence of God in our lives every step of the way.  However, since we have spent the longest time at Francophone, I can truly say that great exploits have been accomplished for God.  The profound faithfulness, support and sincerity of the brethren had a great impact on our lives.  After moving from one place to the next, a church home was finally built and many souls were won for the Lord.

In 1995 I joined Pastor Cargill in Eleuthera.   It was a very challenging field, but God brought us through.  We had seen the refurbishing of the Gregory Town Church and the building of the  James Cistern Church by the Maranatha Flight Services.  There he wrote “Understanding Your Bible Better” series lessons 1 – 20.  All the churches distributed these tracts in their own settlement and a great impact was made on the people.  Looking back, I would have it no other way.  God has been food and I thank Him for the great opportunity to work in His vineyard.