Located on the Northern coast of South America, and bordered by Venezuela
on the West, Suriname on the East, and Brazil on the South, Guyana has a
land area slightly smaller than Idaho. Originally called British Guyana,
it received its independence from the UK in 1966. Its terrain is mostly
rolling highlands, with a low coastal plain, and a savannah in the South.
The many rivers contain frequent water falls, making water navigation
almost impossible except for short distances. Its climate is tropical,
hot and humid, with two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to
mid-January). Of its total land mass, 83% is forest and woodland. Though
3% of its land is arable, none is dedicated to permanent crops. Mining
communities scattered throughout the jungle mine bauxite, gold, diamonds
and hardwood timbers.
Ethnically diverse, Guyana has an East Indian population of 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2%. Diversity of religions also is a characteristic with its population being Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, and other 1% . Its official language is English, but Amerindian dialects are spoken throughout the interior. Of those age 15 and over, 96% have received some type of education.
receive very little attention due to the difficulty of travel by foot,
and expense of chartering an aircraft. Its vast presence is a mute
testimony to the need of tens of thousands who wait until we take the
initiative to bring them the gospel. Global Mission during the last five
years, and now Hands Around the World during the upcoming years demand
that aggressive actions be taken to do what has not yet been done during
the history of the SDA work in Guyana.
The presence of the Davis Memorial Hospital in Guyana places the church in a unique position to work closely with the Ministry of Health and utilize its medical professionals as an opening wedge into many communities. By working side-by-side with the medical effort, and by making available medical training to local, indigenous people, church evangelists and layworkers will find welcome reception to the Advent message. The administrations of the Inter-American Division and Caribbean Union Conference have voiced their support and their Executive Committees have voted a request to have an aviation program developed for them in Guyana. The administrations of the Guyana Conference and Davis Memorial Hospital are especially anxious to put their medical/evangelistic resources to work. The original proposal to initiate an aviation program in Guyana, was presented to the Conference Executive Committee in 1994 by the author of this proposal, David Gates, and resulted in a unanimous vote of support.
would soon visit them. Unfortunately, the chief died without seeing the
dream fulfilled. However, when Elder Davis first journeyed West towards
the Venezuelan border, he was immediately recognized as the man so long
awaited. Elder Davis was amazed by their knowledge of
the truth, and served them there for many years. To this day, they are known as the
Davis Indians. The Hospital in Georgetown was also named after their beloved pastor
whose body today lies buried In the foothills of towering Mount Roraima.
The Seventh-day Adventist church in Guyana faces a great
challenge. Given by Jesus Himself, its marching orders "go ye into all
the world" clearly mandate a plan to "reach the un-reached", to move in
unison with the world church in placing its "hands around the world".
Christ's charge, which must be accepted, is not contingent upon having
surplus resources, for He opens the river Jordan only as we step forward.
If we as a church don t take steps to blanket the interior with the Third
Angel s Message, God will find and send others, probably less equipped
than we, to do the job.