Bermudian missionaries answered a `Macedonia Call' yesterday when they departed on a six-week journey to spread the word of God in South Africa.

`The Willing Workers', a group of six volunteers connected with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Southampton, will spend the time visiting churches and colleges in the Cape Town area as part of an effort to "help people recognise their worth and to help South Africa as a whole''.

As Head Elder and group bible instructor Kevin Santucci explained: "We will be going from place to place to help bring people a true awareness of Christ and the salvation He can bring.'' "Also we will be helping with some the communities' more acute financial needs, including those people in states of poverty.

"Each year we get several calls from places all over the world.'' he continued, "We chose South Africa this year just because we felt it was a place that really needed our help.'' During its 13 year history, the organisation has gone on missions to the US, England and the Caribbean, in particular in the mountains of Jamaica.

For this year's trip, funds of about $8000 were raised through church members and other friendly organisations.

"We would especially like to thank Bermuda Aviation Services for their generous donations.'' Mr. Santucci said.

He went to include that, despite this financial support, group members are obliged to pay for such missions from their own pockets.

"As the Book of Psalms says in chapter 50, verse five `Gather to me my faithful ones who made a covenant to me by sacrifice'. I believe that this sort of work can only be done properly by true sacrifice.'' Mr. Santucci's family will not only be accompanying him on this trip but they have done for the past four missions.

"My wife will be teaching children when we get out there and my son and daughter will be taking all of their schoolwork with them so they don't fall too far behind.'' He added: "I think that the strongest testimony of spiritual togetherness is put across by the idea of the family. It is an extremely positive note for the people we are trying to help to see an intact family in action.'' For the ten months of the year that they are in Bermuda, `The Willing Workers' help out at old folks homes, at hospitals and at the Island's two prisons to help people "get back on-line again''.

Mr. Santucci also hosts two local religious radio broadcast including a Thursday morning broadcast on ZFB 1230 which has been going continuously for 56 years.

Asked how he felt about his imminent departure, the missionary said: "I'm just trying to visualise what South Africa's going to be like. I'm really excited. We all are.'' When he returns in the New Year, The Royal Gazette will give readers an account of what experiences Mr. Santucci had during his six-week journey.