Pastor Fitzgerald Semper used the pulpit of Antigua and Barbuda’s 44th Independence Thanksgiving Service to deliver an impassioned plea for unity, warning that political and social division has seeped so deeply into national life that even the church has not been spared.
Addressing a packed congregation at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Creekside on Sunday, Semper declared that the nation could not truly embody its Independence theme — “Solid, Stable, Soaring” — without confronting the fractures caused by partisan politics and mistrust.
“The political divide has even reached inside of the church,” he told worshippers, which included the governor general, acting prime minister, opposition leader, and members of both Houses of Parliament. “We must break down those walls if we are to be solid as a people.”
He cautioned that when Antiguans and Barbudans “pull in different directions,” progress becomes impossible. “Half the people doing one thing and half pulling the other way — how can we be solid?” he asked.
Semper’s message resonated with the crowd, many of whom applauded his call to rise above political allegiances. “It was refreshing to hear a preacher remind both sides that we’re one family under God,” said one attendee, a church elder from St. Paul’s. Another parishioner remarked that the message “hit home,” noting that political tensions often divide communities and even congregations.
The pastor urged national leaders to set the example by promoting transparency, humility, and dialogue. “Governance means taking accountability,” he said. “It also means taking advice and being open to good counsel. None of us are as wise as all of us.”
Semper’s sermon, grounded in scripture and civic reflection, framed unity as a moral imperative essential to Antigua and Barbuda’s progress. “There will be no solidity, stability, or soaring without unity,” he said, echoing the Independence theme.
As the congregation joined in prayer for national harmony, Semper’s words lingered as both a warning and a vision — a call for the twin-island state to rise above division and rediscover its shared purpose.