Armetia Apopa believes we all have plenty of reasons to be thankful despite any challenges we face.

It’s a message she hopes gets across in two weeks when Evening Light Pentecostal Church and Twin Ministries host, A Thanksgiving Weekend.

“It’s funny because while planning this event, which is all about gratefulness and fostering a spirit of thankfulness, my car broke down,” she said. “That meant I had all this running around to do and no way to get from A to B. It was stressful, but I felt God teaching me in that moment and saying, ‘How grateful are you really for what you have?’

“The reality is life still goes on. We just have to stop and think about everything God has given us and put things into perspective because there are many people with even less than we have.”

Ms Apopa grew up attending the New Testament Church of God at Heritage Worship Centre. On graduating from the Berkeley Institute, she enrolled at Lee University, a Christ-centred liberal arts school in Cleveland, Tennessee.

While there the psychology major had an “aha moment” of how she could turn her studies into full-time ministry. “I realised that a lot of issues we have in society stem from issues people have in their childhood,” she said.

“I had learnt some of the secular thought behind how to control the mind so wanted to see what the Bible said on how to tackle our thoughts and keep our emotions in check.

“The Bible talks about ‘being transformed by the renewing of the mind’ and offers us so much guidance on how we can discover our purpose and what we are really meant to do with our lives. It gives us a blueprint on how we can live our best lives.”

Ms Apopa offers crisis intervention support, premarital and relationship coaching through Be Whole, the ministry she runs out of Florida. In addition to supportive services and programmes it hosts regular events that encourage healing and spiritual growth in and outside of Bermuda.

“My ministry is covered by Dr Cindy Trimm,” the 38-year-old said. “In some Christian denominations people will provide mentoring or coaching to help a faith-based business or ministry get off the ground. [Bermudian] Dr Cindy Trimm is a world-renowned speaker who supports Be Whole Ministries.”

A Thanksgiving Weekend will feature LeRon Atkinson of Florida and Ms Apopa with services hosted by Dr Carlton Crockwell and Pastors Carmilea James and Harold Lambe.

“We want people to leave the Friday night event understanding that despite the obstacles and challenges they may have to experience in life, if you have God and are grateful, you can overcome anything,” Ms Apopa said.

“The Sunday morning service will focus on the family and the belief that unity in the family will help to heal the wider community. I know that young people in Bermuda have a lot of issues of abandonment, not only by their parents and guardians, but by the society which doesn’t provide enough activities for them to do or express enough interest in hearing and learning from them. By addressing these issues we hope it can bring about healing and point people towards resources and support.”

•A Thanksgiving Weekend runs Friday, November 29 through Sunday, December 1 at Victory Kingdom Movers Centre, 91 Reid Street. Admission is free. Dinner is available for $5 a plate. For more information: 704-9476 or 333-0206.