IN MEMORIAM: my friend, Marie

MARIE TAITT FELLOWSHIP PROPOSAL

Brief Biography:

Sister Marie Taitt, a devout member of the Christ is the Family Church, transferred membership from its parent assembly The People’s Cathedral, Bishop’s Court Hill, St. Michael, to the newly established northern church during the formative years of the St. Peter fellowship. It is easily recognized that while this transfer of membership would mean a much longer period of travel for Marie from her former location Sis.Taitt did not hesitate to ask her trusted counsellor at her former church, Rev. Elder Wilma Gill for a transfer of membership, which she was granted.

Marie, as she was affectionately called, spent much of her time after her conversion as a devout Christian seeking to encourage both the youth and senior members of her community and all who came into contact with her to follow the way of Christ Jesus, her Lord and Saviour. Neither distance of travel nor the inclemency of the weather could deter Marie form attending various evangelistic crusades held throughout the island or some special convocation of her beloved Women’s Ministries of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies. Marie made it her business to seek out those on the periphery of these meetings and bid them accept the Master’s call of salvation, if they had not already done so. She was often seen walking with others, usually young men, toward the altar or platform area during the 'altar call' segment of these meetings.

For a number of years Marie worked as a fish vendor out of Bridgetown in addition to her many creative and industrious pursuits. The latter included home made skin and hair products, seasonings and pepper sauces which she often distributed among her friends free of cost. Although, often challenged by aching feet, Marie would pay regular visits to shut-ins, sometimes travelling by bus from one end of the island to the next to offer comfort and condiments to friends while ignoring her own physical constraints and financial inadequacies. Her Saturday shopping ventures to R.L. SEALE & CO. LTD. distribution centre, Tudor Bridge, St. Michael, for the purchase of low cost goods cannot be forgotten, as these products were also shared among her friends, sometimes at Marie’s own expense.

Marie’s spirit of devotion to her family, friends, and faith was also noticeable in her unswerving support for the Barbados Labour Party. She was unashamedly fervent in her support for this political institution, all the while promoting and demonstrating the love of God coupled with her tireless commitment to the ideals of evangelism and 'soul winning' throughout her many appearances at both political and evangelical rallies. Politicians, physicians, and pastors were all remembered by Marie, who kept a prayer list of the names of those working in the above mentioned fields with whom she came into contact. She prayed that people everywhere would experience the love of Christ as she had done. Truly, like the widow held up by Christ as a beacon of selfless generosity (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4), Marie too gave so much from so little.

This is but a brief and inadequate account of the distinguished community-minded servant in whose name and honour this Fellowship Proposal is chartered. Marie Taitt served her God, church, community, and country with unswerving loyalty, devotion and pride and left for us in the church community a benchmark of selfless service to the cause of Christ. It is with these few modest acknowledgements that the Marie Taitt Fellowship be now offered for your consideration and input.

The Proposal:

It is proposed that the Marie Taitt Fellowship be first offered to members of her immediate past assembly, Christ is the Answer Family Church, which maintains annual community-based evangelical and overseas missionary outreaches, of which she was an avid supporter. The prospective candidate will pursue some level of evangelical-based training or Christian ministry, for example: Christian education; youth ministry; training for missions; music ministry; pastoral care and counselling; theology, history, and ethical studies, to name a few. Such studies or training will be done at an approved institution of learning for which the candidate has received admittance. Recipients of the Marie Taitt Fellowship will normally be expected to reinvest their acquired training and qualification/s into the ministry of the local assembly and or wider church community where such need arise.

Partnerships are therefore sought from within the immediate church district, business community, individual donors and other such interested parties for funding for this Fellowship. The specific number of recipients and monetary value of the Marie Taitt Fellowship will be determined and managed by the Scholarship and Fellowship Trustee Fund; a subcommittee of the Board of the Christ is the Answer Family Church, headed by senior pastor the Rev. Edwin Bullen.

Your contribution is valued and will be handled with the high moral and ethical principles becoming of Christ-like stewardship; accountability is therefore assured.

Epitaph:

A service for the life of Marie Taitt, aged 80, late of 3^rd Avenue Waterhall Land, Eagle Hall, St. Michael was held at the Christ is the Answer Family Church, Little Battaleys, St. Peter, on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at 2:00 pm. Officiating Ministers were Rev. Edwin Bullen and Elder Michael Greaves. Interment: The Westbury Cemetery. Professional services entrusted to: Downes and Wilson Funeral Home.

At the time of her passing Sister Taitt left to mourn her beloved son Earl Taitt, grandson Corey Brewster, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies church family, and numerous friends. Her life is truly a testimony of the amazing grace and power of change experienced in a life surrendered to the will of God.

Yours in Christ

Rev. Edwin Bullen

Senior Pastor

Christ is the Answer Family Church

EB/oow

OOW
2011