Report on the Mighty Workings of Jehovah in Gordon Town Part One (1960 - 1992)
Part Two (1992 - 2005)
Part I - JEHOVAH and the North Street Brethren
The work began in the late 1950's with a Bro. Collins of the North Street Temple. In 1962 the first two persons were baptised (Sis. Sylvia Blair and Shernette Robinson were baptised in the Yallahs River - Mavis Bank)
After Bro. Collins the work continued with Sis. Iris Hinds and others. This was accomplished through house-to-house visitation and the distribution of tracts. On their first visit one Mr. Kanute Spaulding invited us into his home and from there other homes were visited. Sis. Spaulding was very happy to meet with us Seventh-Day Adventists. She took us up to Penfield where, after meeting with some families we were able to start a Branch Sabbath School on Sunday evenings in a building provided by Bro. P. Shroeter. The school was well attended by many children and older folk.
On Sabbath November 22, 1969 we changed over from Branch Sabbath School on Sundays to Sabbath School, with Sabbath Services running from Sabbath School in the morning to vesper in the evening.
By this time many from North Street heard of the work in Gordon Town and were invited to come up and pay a visit to the Branch Sabbath School in Penfield. Of those that came were Pastor C. S. Green, young Elder Doyde, Pastor White, Dr. Grace Thorpe, who was then in charge of the Gordon Town Health Clinic, and some of our deacons. As the interest grew many of the adults who attended Sabbath School decided to become members of the Advent faith. The number of persons that accepted the message and were baptised at North Street Temple at the time was more than 20.
A place on the Mavis Bank Road was promised by Pastor Thorpe and his wife Dr. Thorpe, to erect a building for worship. For quite a while this plan remained unfulfilled while members continued to trave from Gordon Town to North Street and other churches.
Part II - JEHOVAH and the Lay Evangelistic Federation Brethren
For over the next twenty years numerous calls had been made by Seventh-Day Adventists living in and outside of the Gordon Town community to establish a church here. It has always been difficult for members to attend church as the transportation system from Gordon Town was not reliable.
Several attempts had been made to establish Branch Sabbath Schools in the area, the last of which was being run at Pennfield by the Hope SDA Church. For some years as well this parcel of land had been earmarked by Dr. Grace Thorpe to be used for a Church, Health and Educational Center by the SDA Church. As a matter of fact, over 20 years ago(1967) Dr. Thorpe mortgaged her house, bought this land and subsequently went abroad to work to repay the loan.
No serious attempt was made however, during this lengthy period to utilize the land until the Lay Evangelist Federation of the Corporate Area led by Bro. Waldon Wright and the Church Ministries Department of the EJC of SDA led by Pastor Jose Grant made decided plans in the early part of 1992 to enter Gordon Town with the Three Angels message.
Bro. Errol Long of Trench Town SDA Church was chosen to be the evangelist. Much groundwork was done through planning sessions held at Hope SDA and other Churches in preparation for this historic event. A major task was to find a suitable spot to erect the tent for the meetings. The decision to use the donated spot was made, however as the crusade date approached the use of the site was questioned more and more as it was very unsuitable for the type of operation required for success. In response to our earnest prayers and His own determination to establish His Church in Gordon Town for the saving of souls in this area, God intervened in a miraculous way. The Savage Pen play field being prepared for sports and other community activities was provided following contacts made with the then Counselor of the area.
Thus it was that on Saturday August 22, 1992 the historic march of the master guides and pathfinders from Mamee River to Gordon Town and then to the tent site was made. That night we came together for the first meeting under the tent, a concert, praising the name of God for the victories won. On Sunday August 23, 1992 the LOVE IN ACTION crusade began. It was a soul stirring and challenging eight week campaign as we marched against the enemy of souls capturing 95 precious souls for the Kingdom of God.
The plan to have the church building being erected while the crusade was underway was not successful and thus at the end of the crusade there was no place of worship for the happy and rejoicing band of Gods people. Again God intervened and an extension of two weeks were granted to our stay at Savage Pen despite serious opposition. On October 11, 1992 the Hope SDA Church, under the leadership of Pastor Manley Phillips and Elder Andel Bailey made the decision to send Sis's Rachael Pinnock, Genevive Maitland, Bertilee Burgess, Jasmin Thomas and Bros. Glen Heaven and Vaughn Thomas as pioneers to nurture and establish the church in Gordon Town. Other SDA's joined in from Coopers Ridge, Mammee River , Gordon Town and Dublin Castle to strengthen the work.
Since then the Lord has continued to lead the work, fighting for his people step by step. When no further extension to remain in Savage Pen would be tolerated we were forced to move in the midst of the week, on November 4, 1992, to the tract of land provided by God many years ago. With no accommodation at Savage Pen, and the tent not yet provided here we joyously worshipped our Lord the creator of Heaven and Earth under the canopy of his Starry and moonlit heavens. I will never forget that Wednesday night after prayer meeting Sis. Thomas and I went by the site at Savage Pen to find Bro. Daniel Francis, alone, sitting on a stone, hand under his jaw with the tent, chairs, benches, etc. beside him and a smoldering fire trailing its wispy smoke into the moonlit sky. We bought him two bullas, there was no cheese, and the money was not enough, and a ginger beer. That was his lunch dinner and supper. That night we saw him and Bro. Patrick Samuels safely tucked in under the canvas covering the equipment at approximately 10:30pm before leaving for home. It was a touching moment. We pray that they will remain faithful to God, for they shall reap a good reward if they faint not.
The following night a piece of tent provided by the EJC was erected at the top of the hill where we had church for the next six months. Bro. Arthur Pinnock , Pastor Phillips and other brothers and sisters labored untiringly in setting the tent in order for service the next Sabbath November 7, 1992, our first Sabbath on unborrowed soil. On November 14, 1992 we held our first communion during which we received into fellowship of the church 70 precious souls.
As we progressed, souls were being added to the body of believers while at the same time the church building was being made. On October 25, 1992 the first batch of concrete was poured for the casting of the foundation of the church. We received invaluable assistance by way of credits, loans, gifts, etc. from the Davis Enterprise, Adventist Laymen Service Industries(ASI), Hope SDA Church, EJC and several individuals too many to mention here. On May 2, 1993 we moved into the unfinished church building in fear of the coming May rains. In fact it was a good thing we did as there was much rain, more than the canvas we were under could ever contain. That night we rejoiced in the marvelous workings of our great God who had led us thus far.
Since moving into this structure God has continued to bless us as we steadily progressed with the church building. We must thank the Inter-American Division for the gift of US$10,000 made possible through Pastors Manley Phillips and B. L. Robinson These funds along with contributions from friends and church members have helped us to deck the children's division as well as the tiling of the church. Who will forget those two Saturday nights in September 1994 when we toiled all night till daylight carrying material, mixing and pouring concrete. Who will dare to forget Bro. Lloyd Allen who had been used by God to press the work on at the pace it did. Surely these experiences are without comparison.
It is extremely difficult to determine what events are not to be mentioned as part of a short history of our church. One must of course take time to mention the building of the baptistery which was made possible by Sis. Myrtle Anglin who went abroad and brought back JA$8,000. These funds were used to finance its completion on January 30, 1994 and in which she was the first to be baptized on February 5, 1994.
We are reminded of the crusade in Industry Village by Pastor George P. Williams in July-August 1994. The sacrifice of the members, the opposition from without and within, the challenges, the joys of seeing over 13 men and women saved by the power of Jesus is hard to put in written form. We simply rejoice in Jesus.
As a continuation of our rich evangelistic heritage we have continued to march against the enemy of souls claiming victory after victory through various evangelistic efforts conducted over the period.
Today we can say, we have come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord. We are happy that you have chosen to celebrate with us this our eight anniversary, as we honor God for His mighty works on the behalf of sinful humanity.
We look forward to the coming year with eager anticipation to the challenges that will again prove that our God will deliver. It is our hope that you will accept the challenge to join with God's people, for those who have not already done so, as we prepare ourselves for the blessed and glorious soon coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Prepared by Elder Vaughn Thomas of the Gordon Town S.D.A. Church