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As told by Maria Romeo God is good! |
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wait on the Lord Seventh-day Adventism began in Tobago around the turn of the 20th century. Charles D. Adamson a colporteur from Antigua, responded to an appeal made by the first four Sabbath keepers in Trinidad. He came to Trinidad in 1893 and started work in Couva which soon lead to the establishment of the Couva Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1900, Elder L. M. Crowther, an American Missioanry arrived in Trinidad. He was met by brother Adamson and together they started work in San Fernando and Tunapuna. In a short time they raised up a company of believers, and later a church building was erected. Elder Crowther visited Tobago in 1901 and shortly after his coming; he contracted what the doctors called pernicious malaria fever. Elder Crowther died on August 25 1901, leaving Brother Adamson to carry on the work. One year after the death of Elder Crowther, two colporteurs, William Porter and C. N. B. Dunmetz, pioneered the book work in Tobago, scattering the printed page in all parts of the island. Among those who purchased literature from Brother Porter was J. L. Jerry of Mt. St. George. Brother Jerry accepted the Advent message and lost no time sharing his faith with neighbors and a company of believers was soon formed at Mt. St. George. Later Brother Joseph Timothy, a lay preacher moved into the district and held meetings. Several persons, including Joel N. Titus, accepted the message. Joining the group also was Faithful Hector Jordan. Brother Jerry's home became the meeting place for the Mt. St. George believers. By 1906, Advent believers were meeting regularly in Scarborough. A church building was later built in Mt. Grace, and it became the church home for the Scarborough members and served as a central meeting place, where, every quarter believers came together from as far as Glarmorgan and Mt. St. George. This arrangement continued until the early 1930's when the Scarborough believers moved their meeting place to Rockley Vale. The Mt. St. George Seventh-day Adventist Church started as a branch from the Scarborough Seventh-day Adventist Church between 1935 and 1938 with about fourteen (14) members. Most of these members were families and it was not easy for all of them to go to church, as they had to walk six and a half (6 ½) miles in the morning carrying their lunch and walk back in the evening after service to their homes. So the men journeyed to Scarborough, while the women and the children met at one; Sister Weekes-Timothy’s house and worshipped. Sister Timothy was an elderly Seventh-day Adventist woman, the wife of brother Joseph Timothy, who donated her property for the erection of a tabernacle to the glory of God, so that the arduous journey to Scarborough would no longer be necessary. The men soon became tired of the journey to Scarborough and got together with the help of Elder T. J. Warner; who was Pastor at the time, and rented a hall near the main road, known as "Louis Barracks,” (the pillars of which can still be seen up to today) and there the members held their services. However, on the Twelfth Sabbath of every quarter, they united with the Scarborough Church for the Ordinance of the Lord’s House (Communion). They also made the journey to Scarborough Church on the Thirteenth Sabbath for that Program and for collecting of Quarterlies and other Church supplies. While worshipping at Louis Barracks, Sister Timothy died, leaving her property for the construction of a Seventh-day Adventist Church as she stated to the glory of God, where people could meet and worship. Brother Joel Titus and Brother Joseph Timothy, to whom Sister Timothy had spoken, informed the brethren of sister Timothy’s gift and wish. At a meeting held by the members, one member, Hector Jordan by name suggested that the shilling and six pence, which they paid monthly for rent could be saved and go towards their church building. The challenge was taken up and a thatch roof-bamboo structure was erected on the parcel of land donated. The Sabbath the brethren planned to move into this structure, unknowing to the members, the Barracks was sold and removed from its site during the Friday night. That Sabbath morning, the road was lined with people who came out to laugh at the group of believers who would have nowhere to worship. How surprised they were to see each member passing the demolished sight, not even noticing that the Barracks had been removed and entering their own place of worship, singing loud praises to God only a stone’s throw away. Worship in this structure lasted three months and the membership increased to over twenty (20) and they were organized into a Company. Elder Warner was transferred and Elder Wiseman came but he died shortly after. Replacing him for a short while was Elder Butterfield. Elder John Roberts (the first Tobagonian to be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on September 9, 1939) came in 1942 as Pastor, when the brethren were organized into a Company. He erected a tabernacle made entirely of galvanize, with long poles to keep out the sides. The bamboo ranch was removed and an evangelistic effort known as a crusade was conducted. This added another eleven members to the membership. Up until this time, the Mt. St. George believers held membership in the Scarborough Seventh-day Adventist Church. As time went on Elder Roberts was transferred and Pastor Lionel Brathwaite replaced him. Like Elder Roberts, Elder Brathwaite was the only Pastor for the entire island of Tobago, and traveling was on foot or bicycle most of the time. He talked about building a church and the members happily supported the idea. Brother Joel Titus gave three cedar trees, some members gathered stones and others made financial pledges, while other churches on the island chipped in with labor and finance. Construction began in the later part of 1948 and was completed in a few months. On February 13th 1949, a new edifice was dedicated to the glory of God. Elder Robert H. Pierson, president of the Caribbean Union, preached the dedicatory sermon. Dr. Robert F. Dunlop, Medical Secretary of the Caribbean Union Conference, offered the prayer of dedication. And Brother S. E. White represented the then, South Caribbean Mission. The Mt. St. George Church was accepted into the sisterhood of Seventh-day Adventist Churches in the South Caribbean Mission, during the Mission's 21st Session held in Trinidad, December 5th to 10th 1950. Elder Brathwaite was later transferred and Elder George W. Riley replaced him. Many Pastors succeeded all of them over the following years, Elder Theophilus Billingy, Elder Joseph, Elder Cush, Elder Osborne, Pastor Hunte, Noel, Sanderson, Alleyne, Caleb Edwards, Wynall Kerr, Rawle Rowley, Anslem Springer, Matthew Christo, John Edwards, Ein Kirk, F. Ali, Tony Mapp, Gregory Thomas and Martin Cunningham at present. Since the Pastors were/are responsible for several churches in the district, lay leadership bore much of the nurturing responsibility of the church. Some of the First Elders that served the church over the years were Joseph Timothy, Joel Titus, Hector Jordan, Stephen Lovelace, Clyde Jordan, Vounley Isaac, Alston George, Leon George, Henson Lovelace, Hayden Lorde and Hubert Lorde. Due to the growth of the Adventist Church in the island of Tobago, the churches in Tobago were reorganized geographically in 1977 from two into five districts. Namely; North, Southwest, Central, Far East and Near East-(affectionately called Mid East). Mt. St. George Church was at that time moved from the Western District one of the two that existed before this change and became a part of the Mid East District. The Mid East District is comprised of four Churches: Mt. St. George-(affectionately called Georgia), Good Wood, Glamorgan and Zion Hill. The SDA churches in Tobago general take on the name of the Village in which they are located. The first pastor to serve this new Mid East District was Pastor Wynall Kerr. And the blessings that came to the members of the district during his leadership can still be heard spoken about from the lips of many members. Between September and October 1978, during the leadership of Pastor Wynall Kerr, active evangelism lead to rapid growth and resulted in the membership out growing the building. On Sabbaths, seats were placed in the isle. Still some members had to stand outside or sit at the windows to hear the word. Pastor Kerr made a call for a faith venture of cutting down the mountain on which the building stood and encouraged the members to build a bigger and modern structure. The members readily accepted the challenge and in December of 1978, the mountain moving began. And faith moved the mountain, since at that time, there was no access for any type of mechanical equipment to cut the mountain, it was all done by hand. That was a site to behold as everyone, men, women and children did their part in bringing the mountain down. Since most members were busy making a living during the day, most of the work was scheduled for nights and especially Saturday nights and Sundays. Excavation took about a year, and on August 10th 1980, pastor Peter Prime, who was then president of South Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, turned the sod. Assisted by pastor A. B. Noel and Brother Wallace. Construction quickly began, with brother Fred Alleyne as work coordinator and brother James Reid from the Glamorgan Church serving as the main builder. The members of the church pooled all their skills and resources together, and moved forward in full strength, building a house to the glory of God. The foundation was quickly laid and the columns were up in quick time. Then on Saturday night February 14th 1981, the blocks began to be laid for the sides of the building. The new structure was built around the old one and as such, the members never stopped meeting in the old building. On June 20th 1981, many without their realizing it created history. Sister Irma George conducted the last Sabbath School program and Brother Hugo Murray preached the last sermon in the old building. Samuel Lovelace conducted the last Adventist Youth meeting. Leon George conducted the last song service for Sabbath School and Curtis George conducted the last song service for the Adventist Youth Meeting. Later that Saturday night, the walls of the old building were joyfully pulled to the ground, leaving the new walls standing alone. Then on Sunday June 21st 1981, another set of history was created. Brother Stephen Lovelace preached the first sermon in the new building for Sunday Night Service. Alston George conducted the first song service and Hugo Murray gave the first welcome. Then Sabbath June 27th came and the members worshipped in the new structure for the first time. That day was specially dedicated to the physically challenged in the community. By August 1981, the main structure of the new build was completed. However, there was an apparent set back, when on August 18th 1981, torrential showers caused a massive landslide on the southern side of the building, stopping just about 2 feet from the building. Work on the building had to be stopped and the construction of a retaining wall began. This later proved to be a big blessing, since after the construction of the wall, we were able to add another 15 feet onto the length of the building. We also got yard space on the southern side of the building, which was not there before. October 10th 1981 was Pastor Kerr’s last Sabbath in the district. He was transferred to the South District in Trinidad. Pastor Kerr’s departure was a deadly wound to the progress of the building plans. However, this wound was healed over time and Pastor Rawle Rowley came as his replacement. Pastor Rowley continued the work of building, but he too was soon transferred to the South District in Trinidad and was replaced by pastor Anslem Springer. Pastor Springer brought with him all the skills needed for the speedy progress of the building. Having knowledge of construction, pastor Springer personally did most of the work for the completion of the building. He solicited the help of the young men in the church, who all worked diligently with him. Some of them even learning different trades and skills in the process. Pastor Springer was in a class all by himself, he was a carpenter, a mason, a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter and a lot more. As the summer of 1985 ended, there was a resolution made among the membership to have the new building dedicated before the end of the year. The date was set for December 22nd, and everyone worked overtime, day and night to finish the work before that date. On the night of December 21st, the carpet was laid and the final trimmings were done in preparation for the dedication. And on December 22nd, 1985, the new edifice was dedicated to the glory of God. Present at the dedication were Pastor John Murray, President of Caribbean Union Conference who presented the dedicatory sermon. Pastors Joseph Grimshaw, President of South Caribbean Conference who offered the prayer of dedication and laid the cornerstone. Pastor Errol Mitchell, Executive Secretary of South Caribbean Conference. Brother Desmond Alexander, Treasurer of South Caribbean Conference. Pastor John Roberts- (he was 96 years of age). Also present were Pastors Rawle Rowley, Samuel Chapman, and Matthew Christo; the new District Pastor. At the dedication, Pastor Anslem Springer revealed to the church that he will be leaving the district and would be heading to England at the end of the year. The President of the South Caribbean Conference then informed the people that Pastor Matthew Christo would be the next pastor of the District and immediately introduced him to the people. Pastor Christo brought an added spirit of evangelism to the district. And at the end of an evangelistic meeting held in Mt. St. George in April 1986 a total of 51 new members were added to the church. To be continued!!! |
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Last updated: 01/19/08