Saphire Faith International Ministries is celebrating its fifth year with a weekend of services.

Bishop Lloyd Duncan, Reverend LaShonna Smith, Reverend Dr Danette Ming, Pastor Shannel Burrows and Reverend Dr Blanche Burchall will all speak on the theme, The Pour.

“There are some things that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish through us. And I believe that, it is against this backdrop that The Pour was birthed in my spirit,” said Marlene Flynn who, with her daughter Shaunte Fox, founded Saphire Faith with a goal of motivating, inspiring and empowering the body of Christ.

“This is an opportunity to come together, in one accord, to hear what God’s Spirit is saying to the churches and to further experience the power of God. Not only should we expect a ‘pour’ of God’s anointing upon us, but it is also time for us to ‘pour’ out ourselves unto God.”

Ms Flynn recalled the day she and her daughter received the word from God.

“We both heard the voice of the Lord, separately, as if in an open vision. We were in separate rooms of the house, both setting our vision to paper. I left where I was to speak to Shaunte only to find her writing a similar vision.

“I had written the name Saphire International Ministry and Shaunte said, ‘Mommy, the word faith has to be a part of the name.’ And so here we are. Saphire Faith International Ministries.”

Since 2018 the ministry team has hosted several events, including the Bermuda International Ladies Conference, the Singles Summit, Call For The Wailing Women Conference and the Start Your Year Strong Conference.

“Our goal and inspiration has always been two-fold: to motivate, inspire and empower the body of Christ to spiritual maturity by living out their God-given purpose, and to bring the unsaved to the knowledge of the Trinity and to share the plan of salvation.”

Their ministry faced the challenges encountered by many faith-based organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic but has also seen much success.

“Even in the midst of the pandemic, our ministry experienced the favour of God as we were able to minister via Zoom to audiences in the USA, England, Belgium, Australia, Pakistan, India, the Caribbean and various countries in Africa,” Ms Flynn said.

Expanding beyond Bermuda has always been a part of the plan. Since 2021 Saphire Faith International Ministries has been leading a church in Nairobi, Kenya – Saphire Emunuh International Deliverance Ministries. They are also directors of Saphire Nyarenda Orphanage and Widows Home.

“We have monthly council meetings where we receive reports on how the church is going. I visit the service virtually once each month and sometimes I also preach,” Ms Flynn said.

She is grateful for the lessons she has learnt in the five years since she and her daughter started their journey. The pair believe that the pointers below have been particularly helpful:

• Align the ministry to your calling. Everyone has their unique gift and calling, do what you are called to do.

• Don’t depend on people, depend solely on God. People will hold you hostage in their small box of who they think you should be.

• Have a strong prayer life. Prayer is everything. It is the effectual, fervent prayer that will avail much.

• Love always and forgive quickly, at all times but especially in ministry.

“The most rewarding part of our journey is to see the growth in people and in each other. We see people embracing mindset changes, getting to know who they are in the Kingdom of God, believing who God says they are and pursuing their destiny,” Ms Flynn said.

“By God’s grace, we pursue excellence.”

As they look towards the future, the pair are excited for what God will do through Saphire Faith International Ministries.

“We started out as a mother-daughter ministry, I believe that in the next few year, we will be a mother-daughter-granddaughter ministry, with my daughter expecting her daughter in the next month or so,” Ms Flynn said.

• Join Marlene Flynn and Shaunte Fox on Friday, June 2 at 7.30pm and Saturday, June 3 from 9.30am to 2pm at Church of God Glory Temple in St David’s