At the Cayman Islands chapter of the Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship (FGBMF) last Saturday held at the Grand Caymanian Resort in Crystal Harbour, members were treated to an inspiring testimony given by well known Cayman resident Scott Elphinstone and his wife, Catherine.

The FGBMF International is a nonprofit organization of Christian laymen from nearly every denominational background who are dedicated to reaching men with the good news of Jesus Christ.

As it was the annual Christmas Breakfast ladies were invited, too, although I couldn’t persuade my wife, Joan, to get out of her bed and drive all the way up to Crystal Harbour with me to arrive at 7:30am, no matter how sumptuous the breakfast is!

And it was a very good breakfast she missed, plus a wonderful start to the day in good company to hear a testimony from two delightful and well respected people in Cayman’s community.

Harold Paramlall, District leader of FGBMF, first introduced Fred Clark from the USA, who gave greetings from the Orlando Chapter and told everyone he was a member of the Orange County Jail Ministry. Fred was married to his late wife, Marilyn who sadly passed away last October.

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After a prayer and a song Scott and Catherine spoke, after a brief introduction from Bishop Nicholas Sykes, and they added to their message with many photographs including a wedding photograph of the happy couple. Scott was sporting a moustache that reminded me of Grouch Marx and I had to tell him that. He did laugh but Catherine laughed even more.

The two of them met at University in Toronto, Canada, and Scott said he wasn’t very good around women. Not that he didn’t like women he just found he wasn’t good at communicating himself as a person of interest (my words) to them so he was “uncomfortable”. Although he did attend church he was not a committed Christian. It was just something he had to do, as his parents didn’t give him any other option.

Catherine said she had always been a committed Christian. It was so much a part of her life. “The Lord was the leader of the pack,” she announced.

They met because Catherine was dating Scott’s room mate and there was an immediate attraction. It wasn’t “love” but they both mentioned the word “peace”. They said they “experienced a feeling of peace”.

Scott’s hopes were dashed because he sent a message to Catherine to meet up but she didn’t get the message so Scott thought she wasn’t interested.

But true love (or peace) has a way of making things happen and they met again at the on Campus Pub and things started happening from then on. Catherine was the part time librarian at the University and Scott managed to always be the last to leave the library and walk her home to the Girl’s Dormitory.

Scott went on to relate how he had an old 72 Chevy Nova car that would keep breaking down with gasket problems that made a lot of noise.

Expecting objections to his proposal of marriage to Catherine from her father it thankfully didn’t happen and they got married. Scott’s arm was in a sling as he had hurt it because it got caught in a machine where he was working in the evenings to make a few dollars.

They have been married now for 33 years and at first Catherine, who was a teacher, earned more money than Scott did and that was humbling, he said, even more when he decided to go back to University to get an accounting degree leaving his wife as the only bread winner.

Both of them are practicing Christians and after moving from Canada to Grand Cayman they attend St Albans Anglican Church, where Scott also occasionally preaches.

Scott Elphinstone is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Five Continents Financial Limited. Founded in 1993, Five Continents Financial Limited, a member of the Scotiabank Group, is a Cayman Islands based asset Management Company regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority under the Securities Investment Business Law.

There was a surprise for Harold Paramlall when the staff at the hotel announced they had been informed that it was Harold’s birthday. A cake was presented and we all had an extra treat to eat after the breakfast.

Even though it was a struggle I managed to eat some of it.

The FGBMF meets usually the last Saturday in the month at the Grand Caymanian Resort in Crystal Harbour. The next meeting is on Saturday 26^th January at 7:30am.