Administrators of the Inter-American Division, field presidents of CARU, institutional leaders, directors, administrative colleagues, office staff, delegates, spouses and family members of delegates, specially invited guests, brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!
The Communication Department of the Caribbean Union Conference exists to serve the mission of the Church by giving voice, visibility, and direction to its witness in the Caribbean and beyond. Rooted in personal ethical standards of confidence, clarity of direction, and availability, the Department understands communication not merely as information sharing, but as sacred stewardship – an extension of the Church’s calling to proclaim Christ in word, image, and action.
As a facilitating arm of administration and all church departments, the Communication Department works collaboratively to support the aggressive yet loving and humble proclamation of the everlasting gospel. Guided by the message of the Three Angels of Revelation 14, its role is to ensure that the Church’s life, activities, and testimony are presented in a way that favorably attracts hearts to Jesus Christ and leads individuals to choose discipleship.
The Department’s vision – to reach the highest point of excellence in Christian journalism in the Caribbean to the glory of God – shapes every communication effort, while its mission to provide an inspirational story of the Church in the Caribbean Union Conference gives focus to its daily work. Through accurate reporting, compelling storytelling, and intentional media engagement, the Department seeks to reach the Caribbean and the wider world with messages that reflect the hope, faith, and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Underlying this work is a clear theological and missional conviction: communication shapes perception, and perception influences response to the gospel. Therefore, the Department intentionally seeks to create a favorable image of the Church – its values, ministries, and witness – so that many may be drawn to Christ and become members of His body. As inspired counsel reminds us, the ultimate objective is to “show forth the excellence of the character of God through exactness, skill, tact, wisdom, and perfection in everything that shall be done in His service.”
In pursuit of this mandate, the Communication Department continues to enhance and expand available media platforms, develop fresh and relevant communication channels, and tell the story of the Church through authentic journalistic narratives that reveal faith in action. I wish to express thanks to former Director Dr. Claudius Morgan for his commitment and service to the Department. It is through his vision and leadership that we were able to build ministry. Through these efforts, the theory of truth is given living form, as the character of God is reflected in the lives, ministries, and mission of His people across the Caribbean Union Conference.
When we began two years ago, we did so with clear vision, mission and strategic direction.
To achieve excellence in Christian communication within the Caribbean Union Conference and beyond, to the glory of God, by using diverse media platforms to inform, inspire, unite, and build trust as we share the gospel with the world.
To tell the inspirational story of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Caribbean Union Conference and beyond through accurate, ethical, and engaging communication that leads people to Jesus Christ.
Field Communication Directors – Caribbean Union Conference
Field / Conference / Mission | Communication Director(s) |
Suriname Mission | Vanessa L. Draaisma-Haselhoef; Esmeralda Omzigtig |
Guyana Conference | Pastor Osley Edwards |
South Caribbean Conference | Pastor Eddison Williams |
Tobago Conference | Annette Lewis |
Grenada Conference | Pastor Oliver Scott; Pastor Elvis Hillaire |
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mission | Pastor Chan Nichols; Pastor Dwane Nichols |
St. Lucia Mission | Pastor Daryl Philips; Pastor Lucias Philips |
East Caribbean Conference | Pastor Anthony Hall |
North Caribbean Conference | Pastor Leriano Webster; Sis. Linda Ambrose |
South Leeward Conference | Pastor Wayne Knowles; Pastor Frederick Alfred |
During the period under review, the Communication Department focused on the following key strategic Goals:
Communication Management – Strengthening systems, coordination, and oversight to ensure effective and consistent communication across the Union.
During the period under review, the Department focused on motivating church leaders and members to recognize and embrace the value of active, intentional communication in today’s rapidly changing world, emphasizing communication as an essential tool for mission, unity, and effective witness.
Objective:
To increase awareness of the importance of church communication in today’s world and to encourage leaders and members to adjust their thinking and practice of ministry and church operations to effectively engage a changing communication landscape.
Action Initiatives
Purpose:
To provide regular updates, guidance, and inspiration for communication personnel, leaders, members, and the wider public across the Caribbean Union Conference.
During the period under review, the Communication Department continued to position itself as a consistent and reliable source of news and information across the region. With the support of field communication directors and correspondents, the Department produced and distributed weekly inspirational stories highlighting the life, mission, and witness of the Church. Since 2022, these stories have been shared with 914 active contacts, reaching both Adventist members and non-believers.
The bulletin seeks to clearly communicate who we are, what we do, what we believe, and why we are committed to serving our communities and fulfilling the mission of the Church.
Content Output by Year:
In 2021 and 2022, the Caribbean Union Conference was recognized as the number one content provider within the Inter-American Division. Several CARU stories were also published on Inter-American Division news platforms and the Adventist News Network (ANN). Stories featured by the Inter-American Division reach approximately 2 million readers in three major languages, while those published by ANN reach an estimated 23 million readers worldwide across the major languages of the world Church.
As a result of the Department’s consistent output and credibility, the Communication Director was invited to serve as a member of the Global Newsroom during the 2025 General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri.
Purpose:
To strengthen writing capacity, journalistic standards, and media competence among conference communication directors, local church communication and audio-visual leaders, and interested volunteers across the Caribbean Union Conference.
During the reporting period, the Communication Department provided comprehensive training covering writing for Adventist publications and social media, flyer and graphic creation, photography, content development, audio engineering, and video production. These initiatives were designed to equip participants with practical skills and best practices for effective and ethical church communication.
As part of this effort, the Department hosted annual seminars on “Writing for Adventist Periodicals”, in collaboration with the Associate Director for Communication of the Inter-American Division. Two Union-wide writing seminars were conducted to reinforce standards in Adventist journalism, ethical reporting, and effective storytelling.
In addition to the Union-wide sessions, field-level writing workshops were held in the North Caribbean Conference, South Caribbean Conference, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mission, Tobago Conference, Guyana Conference, and Suriname Mission, ensuring broad participation and localized capacity building.
Collectively, these training initiatives resulted in improved content quality, increased story submissions, and stronger alignment with denominational communication standards across the Union.
Rationale:
Orientation for elected Field Communication Directors is essential to ensure a shared understanding of the mission, policies, and expectations of the Communication Department within the Caribbean Union Conference. Given the strategic role communication plays in shaping the Church’s public witness, orientation provides clarity on denominational standards, ethical responsibilities, and reporting protocols.
These orientation sessions ensure that newly elected directors are aligned with Union and Division Working Policy, communication guidelines, branding standards, and strategic priorities. They also facilitate consistency in messaging, strengthen coordination across fields, and promote effective collaboration with Union administration and departmental leadership.
Additionally, orientation equips directors to respond effectively to emerging communication challenges, utilize approved media platforms responsibly, and implement best practices in storytelling, crisis communication, and digital engagement. Through this process, the Department builds capacity, unity of purpose, and accountability, ensuring that communication across the Union is professional, coordinated, and mission-focused.
Organizational Visibility and Awareness – Enhancing the public presence and visibility of the Caribbean Union Conference and its ministries through intentional storytelling and media engagement.
Goal:
To raise awareness of the Caribbean Union Conference’s values and priorities through targeted marketing on CARU news platforms, while clearly communicating the Church’s position on internal and external issues.
Objective:
To enhance the public image of the Church by promoting a clear, consistent, and mission-focused representation of its life and witness.
Action Initiatives
During the period under review, the Communication Department advanced initiatives aimed at strengthening and standardizing the branding identity of the Church within the Caribbean Union Conference. Through targeted education and ongoing support, intentional efforts were made to ensure that the visual identity of the Church is consistently maintained, correctly applied, and effectively promoted across all fields.
This initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the General Conference Director of Communication, Alyssa Truman, and the Director of Communication for the Inter-American Division, Abel Márquez, whose guidance and support were instrumental in advancing this work.
While full compliance across all entities has not yet been achieved, the Department is satisfied that meaningful progress has been made and that the Union is well positioned to attain full compliance with denominational branding standards.
During the term under review, the Communication Department successfully supported the mission of the Church by hosting one CARU General Communication Seminar annually, providing strategic guidance and capacity building in key areas of church communication.
Each seminar addressed priority communication needs within the Union:
These seminars strengthened awareness of best practices, enhanced professional competence among communication personnel, and supported the consistent, mission-focused representation of the Church across the Caribbean Union Conference.
In collaboration with the Youth Department, the Communication Department facilitated a “Let’s Talk with the President” session featuring Caribbean Union Conference President, Dr. Kern Tobias. The event was held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the Bible Connection finals, providing an interactive platform for dialogue, engagement, and connection between Union leadership and young people.
The Department expresses sincere appreciation to Mr. Tristan Samuel and the CARU Go Live team for their continued investment and technical expertise in ensuring high-quality, standards-compliant broadcast production. Appreciation is also extended to the graphic designers, field communication directors, and local church communication teams whose creativity, commitment, and collaborative spirit contributed significantly to the success of this initiative.
This collaboration strengthened youth engagement, enhanced leadership visibility, and reinforced the Church’s commitment to transparent, meaningful communication.
Corporate Communication: Promoting clear, unified messaging that reflects the identity, values, and mission of the Conference.
Goal:
To compile and share accurate news and inspiring stories that inform, uplift, and encourage audiences across the Caribbean Union Conference.
Objective:
To gather and publish news and stories that keep audiences across the Caribbean Union Conference connected, informed, engaged, and inspired to experience the mission by communicating the hope of Jesus Christ.
Action Initiatives
In its 95th year of publication, the Caribbean Union Conference Gleanings continues to serve as a flagship communication resource of the Union. During the period under review, the establishment of the CARU Gleanings Committee significantly strengthened the consistency, quality, and strategic focus of the publication. As a result, the magazine delivered high-quality, mission-aligned content consistently from 2022 to 2025.
Working alongside field communication directors who serve as contributors, the Committee – Ian Green, Jeannette Languedoc-Barry, Nicaise Joseph-McKenna, and Jamie Maximus – is commended for its dedicated service and substantial contribution to the editorial and production process. Their efforts enabled the production of special thematic editions, including Education and Discipleship, in direct support of Union-wide initiatives.
To further enhance access and continuity, the Department launched a dedicated CARU Gleanings digital platform to support, preserve, and archive pastoral and special editions of the magazine. While electronic distribution remains the primary channel, limited print runs were produced for selected editions, including the General Conference Session edition and the Discipleship special issue.
Looking ahead, steps are being taken to establish a technical production team to develop enhanced electronic versions of the magazine, ensuring sustainability, improved accessibility, and continued excellence in Union communication.
The annual production of the Holy Spirit Emphasis Week materials was strengthened through the valued support of Ideal Production, led by Horace Graham and his team. Their professional expertise added significant value and assisted the Communication Department in effectively fulfilling its mission.
During the period under review, the Communication Department recorded significant growth and renewed interest across the Caribbean Union Conference social media platforms. These platforms have become key channels for information sharing, ministry support, and mission engagement across the Union, strengthening the visibility and reach of CARU stories and initiatives.
Through consistent content distribution and collaboration with field communication directors, CARU social media has supported the timely release of news and inspirational stories, reinforcing its role as a trusted communication and ministry resource within the Caribbean Union Conference.
To further strengthen capacity and align with Division-wide standards, the Communication Department encouraged field communication directors to actively promote and participate in Inter-American Division Communication In-Service Training.
In support of this objective, a CARU delegation – Jeannette Languedoc-Barry, Pastor Eddison Williams, and Caribbean Union Conference President, Dr. Kern Tobias – represented the Union at the Inter-American Division Communication Summit in Miami in 2023. Participation in this summit enhanced strategic alignment, professional development, and collaboration with communication leaders across the Division.
Communication and Training Resources
Goal
To create and provide resources that promote best practices in communication across the Caribbean Union Conference.
Objective
To create communication resources and provide training that equip communicators at every level of the Church to apply best practices and effectively tell the Adventist story.
Creatives from across the Caribbean Union Conference territory submitted entries, demonstrating a growing interest in film as a tool for mission and communication. The award-winning film, The Chair, produced by the North Caribbean Conference, is especially commended for its powerful and impactful narrative. The film is now available on Hope Channel On Demand and, with permission, has been featured at Adventist GAIN Conferences, where it has been recognized for its compelling storytelling and ministry impact.
This initiative marked a significant step in expanding creative media engagement within the Union and reinforced film as an effective medium for sharing the Adventist message.
The Communication Department actively promoted the observance of Annual Communication Day throughout the Caribbean Union Conference territory, encouraging every field to recognize and celebrate communication as an essential ministry of the Church. Resources, guidance, and support were provided to strengthen local participation and to emphasize the strategic role of communication in mission, discipleship, unity, and public engagement.
Over the 2023 – 2026 period, the annual observance experienced increased participation and greater impact across the territory. Communication Day has become an important platform for raising awareness of the Church’s communication ministry, equipping members for effective witness, and reinforcing the vital role of communication in advancing the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
This resource provides clear guidance on best practices, ethical standards, branding, media relations, digital communication, and content creation, ensuring consistency and alignment with denominational policies across all levels of the Church. Upon release, the manual will strengthen capacity, promote excellence, and support effective, mission-focused communication throughout the Caribbean Union Conference.
The image library has expanded significantly and currently houses more than 16,000 images, strengthening visual storytelling, supporting branding consistency, and enhancing the quality of communication materials across conferences, institutions, and local churches.
Internal and External Engagement
Goal:
To strengthen communication within the Church while building meaningful relationships with stakeholders to impact the wider community in support of the Church’s mission.
Objective:
To develop communication resources and training that equip communicators at every level of the Church to apply best practices and effectively tell the Adventist story.
Action Initiatives
The Caribbean Union Conference hosted a Union-sponsored Advisory for Field Communication Directors in Barbados in 2023, aimed at developing, training, and orienting directors to the vision and strategic direction of the Communication Department for the quadrennium.
The advisory brought together key partners and resource personnel, including Abel Márquez, Director of Communication for the Inter-American Division; Libna Stevens, Associate Director of Communication for the Inter-American Division; Eduardo Canales, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Adventist World Radio; and Dr. Ray Allen, General Vice President of Adventist World Radio (AWR). Their presentations and engagement provided valuable insight, practical training, and strategic guidance to equip field communication leaders for effective, mission-focused service.
In 2025, the Communication Department achieved a major milestone through the hosting of a collaborative IAD/CARU/Guyana Communication Congress in Guyana. The congress brought together communication representatives from the South Leeward Conference and the Suriname Mission, fostering collaboration and shared learning.
This initiative significantly strengthened communication capacity and coordination within the Union’s largest field, enhancing alignment with Union and Division communication priorities.
Intra-Agency Support
Goal
To provide coordinated communication support and collaboration among conferences, missions, institutions, and departments, strengthening unity, effectiveness, and mission alignment across the Caribbean Union Conference.
Objective
To pursue innovative outreach methods that expand program scope and broaden audience reach across the Caribbean Union Conference.
Action Initiatives
The Communication Department placed renewed emphasis on the strategic value of radio ministry as a vital communication and evangelism tool of the Church. In support of this objective, the Union hosted the CARU Radio Managers and Board Directors Conference in 2024, providing a forum for collaboration, capacity building, and strategic alignment among radio ministry leaders.
The Caribbean Union Conference currently supports three radio stations actively sharing ministry across the territory:
In collaboration with Adventist World Radio, the Union continues to strengthen radio ministry across the territory. As part of its strategic commitment, the Caribbean Union Conference provides annual financial support of USD $10,000 to advance radio evangelism and outreach.
Through these efforts, radio continues to serve as a trusted and far-reaching platform for sharing hope, strengthening faith, and extending the mission of the Church to diverse audiences.
Interdepartmental Communication
Limited coordination among departments affected unity and information flow. The Communication Department addressed this by encouraging regular information sharing and closer collaboration among departmental directors.
Equipment and Staffing Constraints
Insufficient equipment and support staff challenged service delivery. Essential equipment was acquired, and volunteers and skilled support were engaged to meet operational demands.
Strategic Focus Areas
Effective leadership within the Communication Department is rooted in the strength of a united and committed team. It has been my privilege to work alongside dedicated individuals who serve with passion, professionalism, and a shared commitment to mission.
I express sincere appreciation to the Administration of the Caribbean Union Conference, our Administrative Assistant in the Communication Department, Mrs. Sheryle Liverpool, Br. Tristan Samuel and his communication team, the members of the CARU Committee, my fellow Conference Communication Directors, local church Communication Directors, pastors, and the many members who generously volunteer their time and talents in service to the Church. Your contributions are recognized, valued, and deeply appreciated.
I am especially grateful to my family for their love, prayers, and encouragement.
Above all, I thank God for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and for His sustaining grace, which empowers each of us to faithfully fulfill the gospel commission.
“Telling God’s Story with Excellence: The CARU Communication Journey”
8-Minute Video Report Script
(Camera opens on speaker, calm but confident tone)
Good day.
I am Royston Philbert, Director of Communication for the Caribbean Union Conference, and I am pleased to share this report on the work, growth, and impact of the Communication Department during the period under review.
At its heart, communication is not simply about information. It is about mission. It is about giving voice to the work of God, visibility to the Church’s witness, and direction to how we engage the world for Christ.
When we began this quadrennium, we did so with a clear vision, mission, and strategic direction.
Our vision was simple but bold:
To achieve excellence in Christian communication within the Caribbean Union Conference and beyond, to the glory of God.
Our mission was equally clear:
To tell the inspirational story of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through accurate, ethical, and engaging communication that leads people to Jesus Christ.
Everything we have done flows from that conviction.
Strengthening Communication Management
One of our first priorities was Communication Management – strengthening systems, coordination, and oversight across the Union. We focused on helping leaders and members understand that communication is not optional; it is essential to mission, unity, and witness in today’s world.
This led to the expansion of structured reporting, stronger coordination with field directors, and a renewed emphasis on intentional communication at every level of the Church.
A major achievement has been the CARU Weekly Communication News Bulletin.
Since 2022, we have consistently produced and distributed inspirational stories to 914 active contacts, sharing who we are, what we believe, and how we serve our communities.
Our content output grew significantly:
In 2021 and 2022, the Caribbean Union Conference became the number one content provider in the Inter-American Division. Several of our stories were featured on IAD platforms, reaching approximately 2 million readers, and on Adventist News Network, reaching an estimated 23 million readers worldwide.
As a result of this credibility and consistency, I was invited to serve in the Global Newsroom at the 2025 General Conference Session in St. Louis – a clear affirmation of CARU’s growing voice in global Adventist communication.
Excellence requires investment. We therefore placed strong emphasis on training and development.
Through Union-wide and field-level seminars, we trained communication directors, church media teams, and volunteers in writing, photography, graphic design, video production, audio engineering, and digital storytelling.
We hosted annual seminars on “Writing for Adventist Periodicals”, in collaboration with the Inter-American Division, and conducted workshops across North Caribbean, South Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname.
These efforts led to improved writing quality, increased submissions, and stronger alignment with denominational standards.
Orientation sessions for newly elected Field Communication Directors further ensured clarity of mission, policy alignment, and unity of purpose across the territory.
To strengthen the Church’s public image, we advanced organizational visibility and awareness.
In collaboration with the General Conference and Inter-American Division Communication Directors, we implemented intentional steps toward standardized branding identity for CARU.
While full compliance is still in progress, we are encouraged that the Union is now well positioned to fully reflect denominational branding standards.
We also hosted annual CARU General Communication Seminars, addressing key topics such as brand protection, social media and pastoral care, and radio ministry.
A major milestone was the establishment of the CARU Gleanings Committee, in the magazine’s 95th year of publication.
Through the dedication of committee members and field contributors, Gleanings delivered consistent, high-quality content from 2022 to 2025, including special editions on Education and Discipleship.
We also launched a dedicated digital Gleanings platform, supported limited print editions for special events, and began preparations for enhanced electronic production.
Additionally, the annual Holy Spirit Emphasis Week materials were strengthened through the valued partnership of Ideal Production, led by Horace Graham and his team.
Our digital presence expanded significantly.
CARU social media platforms have become trusted sources for news, ministry support, and mission engagement across the Union.
We also launched creative initiatives such as the CARU Film Festival in 2024, held in collaboration with Hope Channel Inter-America at the University of the Southern Caribbean.
The award-winning film The Chair from the North Caribbean Conference is now available on Hope Channel On Demand and has been featured at Adventist GAIN Conferences, demonstrating the power of storytelling through film.
We strengthened relationships through Communication Congresses and Advisory Sessions, including:
Radio ministry also received renewed emphasis. The Union now supports:
In collaboration with Adventist World Radio, CARU provides annual financial support of USD $10,000 to strengthen radio evangelism across the territory.
We faced challenges – limited interdepartmental coordination and resource constraints – but through strategic collaboration, equipment acquisition, and volunteer engagement, these challenges became opportunities for growth.
None of this was accomplished alone.
I express sincere appreciation to CARU Administration, our Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Sheryle Liverpool, Br. Tristan Samuel and the CARU Go Live Team, committee members, field and local church communication directors, pastors, volunteers, and my family for their unwavering support.
Above all, I thank God for the privilege to serve and for His sustaining grace.
The story of the Caribbean Union Conference is a story worth telling – and by God’s grace, we will continue to tell it with excellence, integrity, and faith.
Thank you.
