Episode 121

The Spirit of God is always working in, always seeking for, and always bringing conviction to the hearts of mankind. From the pastor to the atheist and every belief or faith in between, God is always working. In this episode of the Removing Barriers podcast, we interview Pastor Wayne and discover God’s marvelous work on his heart even as a pastor’s kid, to now, as a pastor, and a husband with two children himself. Join us and hear all the ways God removed barriers to bring salvation to Pastor Wayne.

But I know, as I said, when I got to, you know, my early teenage years, there’s a point at which I felt like this is what I wanted. And even if my parents, God forbid, which, you know, they didn’t, even if they who were my greatest influencers at the time, were to. Somehow no longer serve God. I felt that I would serve God for myself.

Thank you for tuning in to the Removing Barriers podcast. I’m Jay and I’m MCG and we’re attempting to remove barriers so we can all have a Clear view of the cross

And I mean, this is episode 121 of the Removing Barriers podcast, and this is the 34th in the series of how were your barriers removed? And in this episode, we’ll find out how pastor Wayne’s barriers were removed when he came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hi, this is Jay. MCG and I would like for you to help us remove barriers by going to removing barriers.net and subscribing to receive all things removing barriers. If you’d like to take your efforts a bit further and help us keep the mics on, consider donating at removing barriers.net/donate removing barriers. A clearview of the cross.

Pastor Wayne, It is indeed a pleasure. Welcome to the Removing Barriers podcast.

Thank you so much for having me. It’s a pleasure. To be here.

Alright, tell us about your church before we get into your testimony, your pastor of a church and a small island called Nevis. Tell us about your church.

Yes, my church is Shiloh Baptist Church, and this church is the church that I was born and raised in, and I received my foundation in the things of God where I cut my teeth, if you will, on ministry and where I was invested in heavily and I. Or debt of gratitude to all those there who invested in my life for many years, and I left. This to pursue college education and was here in the US for a number of years and ultimately God called me into full-time ministry called me to preach, and I moved back home with my family and I’ve been pastoring there now for eight years. And so I’ve really come full circle. And Child Baptist Church is near and dear to my heart in so many ways.

All right, so now we know that you were born in Nevis. Tell us what state or country were you born in? Tell us a little bit more about Nevis

Well, Nevis is a small island in the Caribbean part of a twin island country called Saint Kitts and Nevis. And oftentimes, Nevis is left off. And so people many times would have heard more about saying kids, which is slightly larger but nervous, is beautiful. And then the Caribbean. 36 square miles, or a population of about. 12,000 people and very serene, very untouched, unspoiled beauty and a place where you can really relax and enjoy nature and the finer things of life, I would say.

You mentioned that Shiloh Baptist was where you grew up and received your foundation and all things spiritual. It’s where you cut your ministry teeth, as it were. So is your family. A Christian family religious one. Can you tell our audience what type of family you were raised in? What what your family is like growing up?

Well, my dad, he was born and raised on Nevis as well, and he got saved as I think around a 20 year old. And God called him to preach shortly thereafter, and he left Nevis to study and to pursue his education in ministry. Prepared to come back and start a church. And so he coming back to me with this was back in 1971. Started the Ministry of Shiloh Baptist Church and so I was born shortly thereafter. And so when it comes to growing up, I grew up in a traditional Christian home, a pastors home. And so everything surrounding ministry, I literally was born and raised. In that and my mom as well grew up there in Navis, even though she was not originally born there, but they started their family there in Navis on which I am the eldest. And so when it comes to ministry, that’s all I really. He knew from a very, very, very. Very young age.

All right. So Pastor will tell us a little bit more about your upbringing. How many? Siblings. Do you? Have a little bit more about your family. Do you remember anything about your life before your salvation?

Yes, I grew up in a Christian home. Like I said, my dad, being a pastor, he started Shiloh Baptist Church. Yeah, the ministry, a few years before I was. Was born and he and my mom began their life there in Nevis solely for the purpose of honoring God through the church that my dad was led to start. And so from the very inception, from the earliest memories of my life, I was involved in church. That was our own ministry. I can remember going to opening meetings. I can remember being in revival services. I can remember. Being in Bible Club, being in Sunday school from the very earliest memories that I have as a child, they all surround. And being in church and my dad and mom were just heavily involved. Of course, starting a church in an island like Nevis back in those days, which would have been in the early 70s, would have been very, very, very, very challenging. And you know, something that. You know, when you think of we are islands would have been back in those days. Many inconveniences that they would have to overcome. I was there. 1st and I am the eldest of four siblings, four children rather, and my sister is 3 years younger and then my other two brothers, they came later on but I could remember along with my dad’s driving vehicles. Well, not me driving, of course, but driving along with him to transport people to and from church. And just always everything that I did as a young person was surrounding the Ministry of the church back in those days.

You probably can’t remember the first time you heard the gospel, can you if you grew up in a. ?

Honestly, honestly, I can’t tell you.

I could remember very vividly. However, the way in which the gospel was presented to me at a very young child, and I remember the wordless book and that was, I remember, being exposed to that during BBQ. And I remember a missionary by the name of Faye Luther, who came to the islands and was involved with that, along with my mom. And so I remember having the wordless book at home. My mom introduced me to it. I remember being introduced at Bible Club. Bye, Mrs. The wordless book. And so it was just a very natural. Part of my life, but I can’t give you a specific time, but I know beyond any shadow of a doubt. I remember when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and savior, and I do remember the wordless book being a part of the medium that was used to. Share the gospel with me. You, you know, I had.

Not heard of the wordless book until I was well into adulthood. So for those listening, that may. Have the same experience as me. Can you go over precisely what you mean by the wordless?

So the wordless book is a book, obviously, with no words. It just has colors on the pages and I can remember having a page with the color of black and black was of course to represent sin. And the fact that all of us were born sinners and then there was a subsequent to that the color of red, which would represent, of course Jesus. It was blood that was shed so that we could have forgiveness and we could have salvation. And then there was the color white and that would have represented, of course, the fact that Jesus blood. Cleanses us from our sin, and once we accept his forgiveness and we accept what he has done on Calvary’s cross and his blood is applied to our same condition, then we. It can be clean and so why it represents the the fact that you were clean and cleansed from your sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. And then I remember the color of green to represent Christian growth and your walk with God. I also remember the color of gold, which of course would represent heaven. Now, I may not have given those colors. In the right order, but those are the colors that I vividly do remember as part of the wordless book.

So even as a child, you are listening to and being ministered to by the wordless book, and those teaching the wordless book. And as a result of that, you at least began to understand the gospel. Or would you say that, you know, you understood it right then and there? And then I guess what I’m asking is, did you understand it completely then or did all of the details get filled in later on as you?

Grew in. Yeah, that’s always a challenging question because. I would have to admit, even in terms of answering that question, I always wonder at what precise moment. Could I point to to say that I was safe? I feel like I had a good understanding of the gospel at a very early age, probably even 5-6 years old. I don’t think that I could look back and say, you know what, I don’t think I understood. I feel like I understood the message of the gospel. Of course, being involved. In hearing it at such a young. I believe that it begins to mean more to you as you grow older, and I could remember, you know, as I grew older and I would be in revival services and I would be under the sound of the word. I would respond to the message and I could remember going to the altar. On multiple occasions, even after I would have made a profession of faith and saying, God, if there is any way possible that I, you know, maybe set it through rote or somehow, you know just. Went through the routine. Listen, if there’s any question whatsoever, you know, save me and I have done that a number of times as a young person, you know, probably pre 12 years old. But as I got older, especially through my teenage years, I think it really became my own, you know. And when you’re in an environment like that, I’ve seen situations where, you know, children are very easily LED. Just to share, even an instance of that, you know, being in verification by the school back in those days, we used to have something hundreds of children coming to Barber school, vacation Barber school and I would observe during, let’s say, an invitation time. You know, children might be hesitant to come forward and then. One child. Goes forward and then you see dozens and of children following them to make a decision. And you never know really what aspect of it is, you know they are following, you know, their peers. But I know, as I said, when I got to, you know, my early teenage years, there’s a point at which. I felt like this is what I wanted and even if my parents, God forbid, which you know, they didn’t, even if they who were my greatest influencers at the time, were to somehow. No longer serve God. I felt that I would serve God for myself because it meant something personal, and it was very real to me.

So let me ask you. So how old were you when you believe you got save?

I believe I. Was around 5:00 or six years old.

Do you believe that five year old or 6 year old can fully grasp the concept of the gospel, meaning the full realization of their sin, judgement and penalty to come and to escape that penalty to Jesus Christ?

I have two children and. I believe that. A child can understand. Their same condition. I believe that children have the capacity to. Be broken. About this thing, and I believe that once you as a person, can come to the realization that I’ve sinned and that wrong that I’ve done, and that sin that I’ve been born with, that I have hurt God, I’ve offended God. I think that opens the door for. Accepting the solution and the solution. Is placing my faith and trust in Jesus Christ the one who came and died in my place? I often share the story of salvation or the plan of salvation in the way and my mom. I remember she had this with me, you know, during, you know, many of her teachings in Barber Club and Sunday school, where I remember. The story there was a young boy who had an elder brother and he was. Told by his mom that he was not to go and get the cookies or whatever from the jar and there was an established rule in the home that if you were to go and touch the cookies they would be. 6 lashes. For doing that. Anyway, he went and he did that. And when the time came, the parents reminded him of the penalty. Now his older brother. Looked at his much younger brother and figured he is too frail. He’s too small. I can’t allow him to receive such punishment and he asks his parent, his dad if he can take the punishment for his son and his father said there was nothing preventing. You from taking the penalty, the only stipulation from the beginning was that the penalty had to be paid and so he took the lashes and so is that clear. Picture of salvation and as I said, once an individual understands that I have seen and I have done wrong. Being willing to. Accept the solution and understanding that there is a solution. Is not a difficult thing at all. I think oftentimes what is missed in the whole aspect of salvation is oftentimes, maybe children don’t have a full understanding or don’t demonstrate or manifest the brokenness for their sin. I think that’s the original or the first step to getting to really an understanding of receiving salvation. You see, once you understand that there is a problem, then hey, tell me what is the solution, right. But the solution is not difficult to comprehend. It’s a matter of there’s a penalty and this person. In Jesus Christ, we see the penalty for me. Wow, if that person would do that well, how? Could I not? Thank them. How could I not love them? How could they not serve them? How could they not be obedient to them? A child can understand that cancer.

Yeah, definitely. Do you remember when you came to a full realization of your son because you said you were five or six? Do you remember that time or was it just over a period of time?

I think it’s over a period of time it becoming. More real, as I said, I think I had an understanding of salvation, what it meant, but it’s very difficult for me to pinpoint one specific time. But I do remember, like I said, times where. It was very emotional for me at the relates to salvation and what it meant in terms of what Jesus did for me. I remember responding to that message again. The reason why it’s difficult again is because it’s something that you’ve heard literally all over your life and so. Sometimes I wish I could point to a date and said this was the date, but I know for sure that I responded and again because of such a familiarity with hearing it from such a very early age, it’s hard for me to pinpoint a specific time, so I would say. You know, it really was more of a gradual realization and as you continue to grow in your work with God, the impact of it begins to really increase and it begins to mean more to you personally.

When you look back on your life. Regarding salvation, can you think of any barriers that? Were perhaps preventing you from getting saved, or maybe even since you were saved around 5:00 or six years old, I would imagine. Perhaps there were some issues with assurance, perhaps. Were there any barriers growing up?

Yeah, I think interestingly, a barrier could have been. The aspect of. For one of a better term, overfamiliarity, meaning that you’re so familiar with the gospel message that you don’t fully. Grasp it for what it really means. So you know, you could see this happening many times in as of children, right? And so you, even my daughter? I remember in her life she accepted Jesus as the first Lord and savior at the age of 4. But maybe about three years later, she came to us, and from hearing the message came back to us and said, you know, she didn’t feel like she was really saved. And she did it again and had assurance then. And, you know, never doubted or questioned since that point. But looking back, she said that she felt that when she did it at four, she kind of did it for us. Right. No, I don’t think I could recall such a vivid time and place, but I would say it’s possible that, you know, maybe the barrier for me might have been, again, maybe overfamiliarity and maybe it is that maybe the first time I maybe made a profession of faith, maybe I just did it because. You know, I wanted to please my mom, or maybe I did it because I wanted to please my dad. Maybe I did it because I wanted to please the Barber Club team. And so it is possible that you know a barrier there could have been just over familiarity with the message itself of the gospel and maybe doing it by rote. But I think that for sure. Being continually exposed to the message, I believe ultimately removed those barriers.

Yeah, that’s interesting. So tell me this. You were born and raised in a Christian home, separated with the gospel, you know, have your family. You separate them with the gospel. How would you prevent that from happening? In your family, or even someone else family, how would you say because? I would assume that most Christian families would probably have that situation where they’re raising their kids under the sound of the gospel, they go to church 3-4 times per week or whatever the case may be. They in vacation Bible School, Sunday school classes. Is, you know, Wednesday evening stuff, how would you advise a parent to prevent? Their children go into the motion or hearing the gospel so many times, it’s nothing whatever ducks back to them. What would you advise someone and that is that something you can avoid or something you just need to watch out for?

Great question. I think the key is. As parents in such a situation is to. First of all, be consistent in your question work. I think that’s one of the benefits I think I had growing up in a Christian home where so saturated with the message of the gospel. I not only heard it, but I could say categorically I saw it. I saw it in the way in which my. Parents live their lives. I saw it in how they related to each other as husband and wife. I saw it in their consistency and their devotion to the things of. God, I saw them. Not just say it, but I saw them live it. And I believe while you continue to hear it, it’s important that you are seeing it played out. And so even if somehow you were to. Do it for the wrong reason or you to to do it by rote. There’s some point at which it has to then come real to you and what you are seeing by those who are closest to you impacts you. To be a change person on the inside, and I believe when that change happens on the inside, it manifests itself on the outside and so and then in addition to that. The message of the gospel is powerful. And so. You know, it’s kind of ironic that I alluded to earlier that. What was a barrier? Was also the same thing that caused the barrier to be removed by continually being exposed to the gospel, because there’s a point at which God, through his whole spirit, is gonna have to get a hold of your heart. So I believe that the continuous exposure to the gospel, even though I refer to it as being overfamiliar. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God at the end of the day, it’s gonna be the word of God that reaches your heart is going to be the Holy Spirit that exposes you to the glorious light of the message of the gospel. And so there is no way to somehow. Remove the gospel message or limit it or hinder the exposure, because that is what’s going to bring about salvation.

All right, before we go into this work, let me ask you this, Pastor Wayne. How unique would you say is your upbringing in the islands? Is it typical? A typical. For someone to be born and raised in a home where a father and a mother live together and siblings under the word of God, how typical would you say is your experience maybe back then or even now in the islands?

I would not say it’s typical. I would say I was very privileged and fortunate, but yes, it’s not extremely common. I could remember being made fun of that. I grew up in a pastor’s home as a matter of fact, we were public times when I resented it because it was not. Seen as something positive. But yeah, it’s sadly not as common as one would want it to be in the Caribbean, but looking back over my life, I wouldn’t exchange it for anything in the.

Yeah, alright. You’ll listen to the Removing Barriers podcast. We’re sitting down with Pastor Wayne and we’re finding out how were his barriers removed? We’ll be right back.

Thanks so much for listening to the Removing Barriers podcast. Did you know that you could find us on Twitter, Gab, Parlor, Facebook, and Reddit, go to removingbarriers.net/contact and like and follow us on social media, removing barriers, a clear view of the cross.

Hi, this is Jay. MCG and I would like for you to help us remove. Barriers by going to removing barriers.net and subscribing to receive all things, removing barriers. If you’d like to take your efforts a bit further and help us keep the mics on, consider donating at removing barriers.net/donate, removing barriers, a clearview of the cross.

2nd Corinthians 517 says therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold all things are become new. So Pastor Wayne after salvation. What changes were evident in your life?

Well, I would say I was. More excited about going to church. I didn’t feel I was going just because my parents would insist that I go. I wanted to go. I was excited to be there. I enjoyed the services, I enjoyed being involved, I could remember. Taking notes as a teenager of every message, and I come across some of those little books that I had and I’m amazed. I read what I wrote and what I gathered from the various messages that all that time that God was working in my heart and working in my life. I remember very vividly being engaged in reading the Bible through in a year. As you know, our church or occasions would have that, and I could remember. Even as a younger child, we had a huge Bible story. The book that was more detailed than most. It was very, very, very, very thick. And so while the adults would be reading through, of course the real Bible as a young child, I would be following along with those Bible stories while they were reading through. So I would say at a very young age. I had a a strong appetite, if you will, for the word of God. I enjoyed recalling stories in the Bible and I believe that learning those things at a very young age stuck with me throughout my life. And so I think those things were evident and stuck out to me. Yeah, as a young person, having been saved.

Think about another 5 year old 6 year old growing up in a Christian home or even a pastor’s home. Do you believe that the barriers they have could be removed the same way your barriers were removed?

I do. I do as I indicated earlier, I believe that the aspect of being consistent in your Christian work and. Children who are so easily influenced seeing that in a real and practical way is powerful. And I think that has had a profound impact on me as a person, as a son, seeing how. Being a Christian and loving God was not just in going to church or doing what people would see. It was not a show. It was real. And that’s one thing I credit my parents for, especially my mom, who, you know, was a stay at home Mom with us. As children until we went to school and she took the time. To show us how to apply the word of God to our lives. In our daily living, and so you know, for example. Let’s say we were in need and we were praying for God to maybe provide for us some clothing. Or pier shoes. And at the time my grandmother of blessed Memory, she lived in New York and she would. Buy clothing for us and she would accumulate it in a barrel on the side, and when it’s full, she would then ship it back home to us. Well, we were always grateful. For her generosity and looking out for us, her grandchildren. But when that package got to Nevis and we would open it in excitement and enthusiasm and we would be so happy that now we finally have the shoes or the clothes that we prayed for, my mom would take the time. To let us know that God was the one who provided, and he used my grandmother, he spoke to her and allowed her to. Go to the streets and go shopping and buy precisely the clothing that we needed. The right shoes size that we needed and that God was the one who provided. So that’s a simple example of the fact that as we were growing, we were learning not just what our verse meant in the Bible. Not just memorizing the scripture, which of course is important, but we. Saw how the word of God was. Being manifested in our lives. As young as we were that God cared about us and that he was providing. And so those things were impactful. We were taught how to apply the Bible in your life, even as a child, and I believe that it absolutely can work and will work because God knows how to reveal himself to. Us and that’s what brings about salvation.

What are some of the things that you are doing in your life personally when it comes to evangelism, when it comes to reaching people that perhaps had the same barriers, you may have had growing up, or perhaps people that are different from you, that with different kinds of barriers to salvation. Now I know this question is probably weird because as a pastor, you’re. Pretty much doing this 24/7. You’re in full time ministry, but what does that look like in your life? Personally, when it comes to evangelism, reaching people, having those barriers removed so that they can see the Cross of Christ.

Well, I guess I would back up a little bit in answering that question, even though I am a pastor. No, I would dare say that I’m a pastor because of the impact on my life. I believe that it is that necessity that I believe. Led to me responding or even feeling the call of God. The urge to be involved in ministry because even though I was involved in ministry at. Such a young age, I never had the desire to be a pastor. As a matter of fact, I thought the idea of being involved in full time ministry, maybe we could say, sad to say or shame on me. I thought it was repulsive. Well, yes, I enjoyed being involved in ministry, but I believe that there were certain. Things that I saw growing up as a child not based on my parents, but I felt. That being involved in ministry was not appealing. It was not something that individuals responded to me appropriately to people who you were ministering to. And so I’m going to get to what I’m doing right now, but I think it’s interesting. Noteworthy that. Being involved in ministry for me full time and as a pastor is something we have come full circle because when I left the islands I left and studied in New York and I studied computer science. I was a software engineer for 15 years and it’s kind of halfway into. My career that. There was a burden placed on my heart to return to the islands and be involved in full time Ministry to really expose people to what I had the opportunity to experience. And so. No, that I am a pastor, I feel like. You know, it’s a continued feeling of indebtedness because of what I had. To be able to give back so that others can experience what I did now in terms of even what I’m doing now, I think I live out a lot of those things, particularly especially with my children now. And so their experience growing up as a child, I feel would mirror a lot of what I experienced. I feel that, you know, there will be some similarities, which I try to ensure that well, to use an example here that my wife and I that we are consistent in our work, that we don’t send them, you know, mixed messages. That they can grow up saying that. Listen, what we saw or what you saw on the outside is the same that we saw being on the inside. And I also feel a strong desire to reach out to people who were, you know, who grew up in Christian homes because I feel like the challenges that I would have had as a PK would be very similar to what they would have had as well.

Alright, let’s park there a little bit. What was so repulsive about being in the ministry or being a passive kid? I know growing up in islands, we have this saying that pastor pick me the worst, so I’m sure you probably have heard that because there have been examples where the pastors kid is the most. The most disrespectful person on the church bus. And yet you are stark example of not being that. And then of course. Again and on the island, sometimes the pastor should be poor in a sense. And people kind of expect the passion that to have means I do some of the repulsion of going into ministry for you or where there’s some other stuff there.

Yes, it’s the latter. It’s absolutely the fact that, sadly, in the culture in which. They grew up at the time, I think it was expected that the pastor should be poor or he sadly was not taken care of in the way in which I felt would be fair. And oftentimes the criticisms that you receive or you just not. It doesn’t seem as if you should have the same standard of living as another person. You know, you hear the criticisms if you drive a halfway decent car or you stole the church money, or you have these undesirable motives to swindle people. But for someone like me as a child, that’s going to be so impactful because I can see the sacrifices that are made. And oftentimes, I believe, sadly, those sacrifices were not appreciated and I believe I can. Venture to say that there are many children of pastors who really resent the fact that, you know their parents, who sacrifice and gave so much for the sake of ministry struggle in many cases mightily. And, you know, often were humiliated. At times in churches, even to receive a salary that would be, you know, commensurate with their peers. And I think that those things. Cause me to. Not want to be in full time ministry even though I never. I’m not patting myself on the shoulder but never got to the point where I felt I wouldn’t want to be in love. In church, I wouldn’t want to serve God by the grace of God, I felt I always had a really strong desire and was heavily involved, you know, wherever I went. But I felt that there was always going to be that step where I was not willing to cross to be involved in ministry in a full time capacity.

Do you think this was me? Maybe ignorance on the part of church folks. I would assume that this was mostly coming from church folks. Or was this some sort of lack? The guess that’s fingerprints as well. Lack of biblical knowledge, I guess the question is simply why? Why do you think this happened?

It’s a tough question to answer. I would venture to say some of it would be, I believe due to lack of proper teaching on the matter, lack of biblical understanding as to what the word of God says, and the reason why I believe that. It’s often been a challenge for pastors. To preach and to teach. On that because it can easily come across as self-serving. Hey, look at what the Bible says. The Bible says that I am worthy of double honour or that you ought to take care of me and so many times pastors tend to shy away, especially in our culture at the time. To shy away from really what the Bible teaches about that. And so as a result, I believe some of it would have been due to ignorance.

So final question on that. Before we go into favorites. You live a number of years in the US and can compare that to the islands as well. Do you see the same thing in the US or would you say that the US is probably a little bit ahead of the islands in terms of taking care of their pastor, being able to appreciate what their pastor does and pay the pastor accordingly? Compared to the island.

Yes, a short answer I would say yes, I believe that. It’s hard to generalize a large nation like the US in one way, but I would say on a grand scale, yes, I think that when I lived here in the US, as far as the examples that I saw and that I was exposed to, I think I saw something different as it relates. To churches taking care of the pastor and the ministry and involvement in full time ministry being far more esteemed and at least in the places where I was involved and exposed. And I think that had an impact on me while I was here, I saw a steam. For the ministry, I saw esteem for the things of God. I saw value placed on what was done for God, and I think that helped change my perspective. And of course, it’s not a matter of. Being involved for these things, but I think it was important to see that people value what is done for the work of God.

All right, Pastor Wayne, let’s go into a little bit of fun section and find out some of your favorites. So tell me, what is your favorite scripture verse?

I have so many verses that. But I could point you.

It’s like asking a pastor, what’s your favorite verse?

Yes, but I would say one of my favorite. Versus Matthew 6 and verse 33, but seek ye first. The Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. I have seen that and especially as I’ve mentioned, that I’ve come full circle. I think prioritizing God, putting him first. In whatever you do. Ultimately, God proves himself time and time and time and time again, and so that verse is up there for me, even though I easily could have listed so many others. But I could mention that one.

What is your favorite Bible history, your favorite historical biblical account?

Again, I could pick multiple. I would say it’s. The story of Joseph. I kind of go between Joseph’s story, his life story and Daniel as well. I see so many parallels in their lives as young people, and I think their lives have inspired me over the years. And so I would point to those two accounts.

What about your most conflicting scriptures passage to you?

Yes, I would point to some 19 and verse 14 that says David speaking. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight. O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer, and the reason why that verse is so convicting. To me is because it speaks to integrity. And it speaks to. The realization that we should all have that it’s not about what people see or people don’t see. It’s not about what people think or don’t think it’s about what God knows about us and the fact that our very thoughts, as David mentioned, God let my. Thoughts be acceptable in your sight even though they’re not seen or known by anybody else, even the closest person to me, even my spouse, my best friend, or whoever it is. My parents, Lord, even though nobody knows what’s happening in my mind. Let those thoughts be pleasing in your sight and then appealing to a higher power. That can see everything and you are the one who I want to please. To me, that’s so very convicting, because then, even if impure thought or impure motive causes my mind, then I’m convicted that God, that was not pleasing to you after fix that. And so that’s one of the most convicting. Passages and it’s something that I pray when I pray. I say, Lord, I repeat those same words in my prayer. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart let it be acceptable in your sight at all times.

What would be the most comforting scripture verse for you.

That one is. A little easier for me, I would say Romans 828 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Them with a called according to his purpose. And the reason why that verse is so comforting to me is because it speaks to God’s Providence. The fact that you know, no matter what happens, you are loving God, you’re serving God, that God. Is gonna work it out for your good even when it doesn’t feel good, even when it’s difficult in the grand scheme of it. God’s got you. God’s got me. That’s comforting. And divine Providence is one of those themes that I believe it’s one of those overarching themes in my life that really keeps me going because I’ve seen it in so many different ways. I’ve seen it, especially in the big decisions of my life. And the small decisions. You know, I’ve just seen it. I think of even my wife and how we met her name is jeanetta, by the way. Now she’s been on. Your podcast. And how God brought us together, how we allowed us to begin and raise our family in the initial stages here in the US, How he gave us two children, Michael and Micah. Allow them to be born here, allowed us to be exposed to what we were exposed to here in the US, and then call. Just for a purpose and placed us back in my home island. You know, it’s really amazing. I see God’s divine Providence and so that verse is something that really spurs me on and keeps me afloat, even in challenging times. It’s the most comforting verse to me in all the Bible.

What would you say to your favorite hymn of the faith?

No, that one that’s a challenging question.

And for those of you who are listening that don’t know, Pastor Wayne loves music, plays the piano pretty much, does music for his church services back home in Nevis. So this is gonna be a tough one. I’m interested to see what his. Favorite him just for a little background.

You know that I’m digressing a little bit, but I grew up playing the piano from five years old. Was the church musician full time from the time I was nine and so hens hymns are just a part of my existence.

Oh wow, I didn’t know that.

Right.

And so to pick one is difficult, even as I thought of this question, I didn’t know how to answer it, whether I answered it. From the perspective of the words or the perspective of the tune, his perspective of him that I like to play, but I probably would say one that I enjoyed very much playing and the words meaning much to me growing up was standing on the promises and yeah, but yeah, that one is a tough question.

That’s a great song.

Yeah, alright.

And then finally, who is your favorite giant of the faith from the scriptures? Is it going to be either Joseph or Daniel or is it someone else?

Yeah, those two biblical characters stand out to me. It’s hard to pick a favorite between them, but I just so. Appreciate their testimony. They are the two characters in the Bible where you can hardly find much. Wrong to say about what they did. Of course they were not perfect. They were sinners, born sinners. But as we all are, but I really loved their stories, especially the story of Joseph, because again, in his life story you see the aspect of divine Providence so very clearly, as I mentioned. And how you know, even though things happened that were beyond description, was so unfair. That all along. God was with him and God was preparing him for his destiny. And so. You know if. I had to choose. I was forced to choose. Maybe between Joseph and Daniel. No slight to Daniel at all. But the mere fact that so much more is revealed about Joseph’s story, and you get to really see the inner workings of the emotions and the highs and the lows of his life. He probably would sneak ahead a little bit. Not be. Because of, you know, anything to do with Daniel, but of how much more is revealed about his life and his testimony and his his forgiving spirit and so much more, you could say about Joseph, but yeah, he easily for me would be we had the.

Ok Pastor Wayne, let’s wrap it up and tell us. In general, how can barriers be removed in the life of others?

Well, the greatest barrier that exists in our lives is the barrier of sin. And without that barrier being removed. We are doomed to a devil’s hell. We are doomed to a christless eternity. And so for me, and I’m sure, for all of us here. The greatest barrier to be removed is barrier of sin, which is removed by powerful message of the gospel and I am so grateful for salvation, I mean every single day I live. I am grateful. I’m thankful for the fact that God himself would look down from heaven. And see. A wretched Sinner as I am, and even as a 5 year old would save me at such an early age. Not meaning that I was better because I was younger, because I was still a Sinner, but would save me and remove that barrier of sin by sending his son. Calvary’s cross to die for me and so. To me, barriers are removed by. None other than Jesus Christ and exposing people to the realization that we all need him. We are nothing without him, and whether we grew up in a Christian home, whether we didn’t, or whether we have lived a life away from him, or whether we’ve been exposed to ministry or not. We still need the safe. Here, and so my appeal to every single person who’s listening to this podcast would be to ensure that this barrier with which. We were born. That it is removed. By receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, recognizing that there is no other way. To remove this greatest of barriers and then to love him, to serve him to. Live our lives dedicated to him. Because of our debt of gratitude that we have. Because in love he has removed a barrier that we could never have. We moved on our.

Amen! Pastor Wayne, thank you for joining us on the Removing Barriers podcast.

Thank you so much for having me.

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