BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jan. 13, 2016–Rev. Philip Moore, associate pastor of Mount Calvary Second Missionary Baptist Church of Canton, Ohio, USA, and his wife Remel Moore—who is the executive director of Coming Together Stark County, which promotes inclusion of all kinds of diversity—are here in Belize to help develop youth programs and to share Godly love with young people.
“My calling is to help remind people regardless of who you are and what station of life you are, God has a purpose for your life,” said Rev. Moore.
He added that they got connected to Belize through their friend, Sister Virginia Echols, a KREM radio personality, who also runs community programs in Belize.
The Moores, who lived in Liberia from 1984 to 1990 with their two sons, had met Echols in Liberia about three decades ago, and Philip Moore, who at the time worked for the US Embassy’s Security Department in Liberia, was instrumental in assisting Echols, who was a Peace Corp volunteer then, to get out of Liberia during the war in 1990. They have kept in touch over the years.
The Moores had founded the African American Development Association of Liberia, and Echols was the first president of the organization.
The Moores subsequently lived in Ghana. The couple had to return to the USA for separate funerals on the same day: He attended his mom’s funeral and his wife attended her brother’s funeral. Thereafter, his wife retuned to Ghana, but he was having some difficulty returning, after his briefcase, which contained his travel documents, was stolen.
Moore said that it was then, in 2005, that God called him to be a pastor. Thereafter, his wife, who had gone on ahead of him, returned to the USA to be with him.
Echols told Amandala that the Moores, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge, will be assisting her with the programs she runs in Belize.
There is the literacy program for adults and after-school program for children offered from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Library of African and Indian Studies on the Kremandala compound. There is also the Mattie Rotter Women’s Outreach Group, which focuses on women in prison. Then there is the Kwanza Club with 20 young people, and her weekly radio show.
Echols said that her radio program, Moments of Inspiration, airs on KREM Radio every Sunday morning from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. During the program, she shares gospel music. Her theme is, “Get lost in the music and get found in the message. Get up with God.”
The Moores hope that by sharing their knowledge, they will be able to influence the youth to make better choices and be able to have a brighter future.