At a meeting on missions and mission opportunities organised by the Young Adults Group at the John Gray Memorial United Church on Sunday 27th August, Mrs. Melanie Ebanks-Jackson, Captain of the West Bay Girls Brigade Company, reported on the recent Girls Brigade International Conference held in Ireland. Mrs. Ebanks-Jackson had been one of those in the large contingent of Girls Brigaders, Officers and strong supporters from Cayman who attended the Conference. Earlier, at the morning service in John Gray, she had thanked the congregation for their support and prayers for the group and had presented a gift from Ireland to the Minister. In her presentation that night she reported that Mrs. Andrea Stephens, Secretary of the Cayman Islands Council of the Girls Brigade, had been appointed an International Vice President and Mrs. Iva Good an International Patron. This is surely an honour for these two ladies and for the Cayman Islands Girl Brigade, one of the most enduringly successful missions of the United Church in Cayman in the way it has so positively influenced the lives of generations of Cayman’s girls and women over the last 60 years, since being started by Mrs. Olive Miller, OBE, JP. (We give thanks to God that Mrs. Miller continues to be an active participant in Girls Brigade – as well as so many other missions!)

When contacted, Mrs. Stephens stated that, “I accepted the position of International Vice President with responsibilities for the Caribbean and the Americas with humility. I am honoured that the Caribbean and American delegates nominated and elected me as their representative on the President's Committee (the international management committee). I pledge that with God's guidance and the support of the countries' membership I will do my best to give them excellent representation. Travelling is involved as I have to visit as many of the countries as possible that I will represent in the 4 years I have to serve. I will keep the Church informed of my activities throughout my tenure and will solicit your prayers and support.”

Mrs. Iva Good continues to be an active leader in the George Town Girls Brigade Company and the National Council, despite having served in just about every position locally as well as having had the great distinction of serving Girls Brigade International as a Vice President and then President.

Mrs. Stephens also reported that the Conference was a great success and “I am sure that everyone returned inspired to put more effort into the organisation and try to reach more girls in our community.” With their core of deeply dedicated leaders, typified by the ladies mentioned above, many of whom “just keep on going and going” even after they have ‘reached the top’ locally or internationally, helping to inspire and influence generations of local girls, we know that they will, to the glory of our God.

The Cayman Islands Council of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands offers warm congratulations to Mrs. Good and Mrs. Stephens on their international honours and a tremendous thank you to all of our Girl Brigades Leaders, past and present, for the sacrificial, life transforming work they have done and continue to do. May the grace of God, the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit continue to fill and guide you all.