1988
We had recently moved to Kingston from Linstead and were getting busy with the development of Children’s Ministry training material for the seminars we were doing with Whole Life Ministries. At the same time, relationships were developing within the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches which we had become increasingly involved with.
Most weekends were filled with ministering in the member churches, sometimes Jean and I speaking in different churches on the same Sunday. As I mentioned in a previous post, Jean was the Secretary for the Association and I was participating in the monthly meetings and with many of the other activities. It all seemed to happen so fast!
Right in the middle of all this growing activity and involvement, I had a “chance” meeting with a young American minister named Larry Bridge who had come to Kingston with a group of other families sponsored by Calvary Ministries in Jacksonville, FL. They had come specifically to establish a Bible teaching centre in Kingston. Larry and I hit it off right away and he soon introduced Jean and me to the other team members and their families.
It was a young team! They had “vision” and faith and enthusiasm, but they had little experience and no real contacts or relationships in Jamaica. As we talked and prayed together, Jean and I came to realize that what they had come to do was almost exactly what we wanted to do a couple of years down the line. You see, Jamaica had several Bible Colleges and one Seminary and most of the denominations had Schools and Colleges in the US and the UK that aspiring pastors could attend for training. What Jamaica lacked was a local training centre aimed at “regular Christians” who had jobs and businesses and other responsibilities but felt called by God to serve in their local churches and communities.
There was nothing available for people who had jobs during the day to receive encouragement and discipleship and training. The team from Calvary Ministries had a vision to open Calvary Ministries Bible Training Centre in Kingston with evening classes, practical training, and opportunities for students to put what they learned into practice. We had been in Jamaica for a few years and saw that this was exactly what was needed, so Jean and I became teachers and advisors to them and opened up connections and opportunities to them for recruiting students from local churches in the city and surrounding area. Our connection with Al Miller and Whole Life Ministries and also our participation with the JAFGC was a real door opener.
The Bible Training Centre got off to a great start in 1987 and had a good first year. There were students from a variety of churches and denominations. The men of the Calvary Ministries Team taught sessions, they brought in visiting speakers to teach, and Jean and I taught frequently. My daughter Stephanie played keyboard for the nightly worship time and I led worship part of the time. Stephanie also tutored some of the missionary kids. The school was good, but it lacked cohesiveness in both doctrine and emphasis. And there wasn’t much room for women in teaching and leadership. We prayed about that.
And then in 1988 Hurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica! It was the first hurricane to make landfall on the island in over fifty years. It was absolutely devastating! Lives were lost, property was destroyed, infrastructure failed, roads disappeared, and Jamaica went into survival mode. The young couples from Calvary Ministries really struggled. A couple of them lost their homes to storm damage. Power was out across much of the island. We were without electricity at our home for over six weeks. The level of disruption and uncertainty was just too much for the members of the Calvary Ministries Team and they decided to leave and go back to the US.
During that time as we were all struggling to keep an even keel and the entire nation was in survival mode I felt that I heard the Lord say to me very clearly, “Don’t let the school close!” No words of insight on what to do, no promises of “If you do this, I’ll do this!”, just “Don’t let the school close!” This is one of my God Encounters that I’ve experienced through the years. They don’t happen often, but they’ve always been at a turning point or a learning point. (Here’s a story of a God Encounter in 1967 and here’s one from 1983). There’ll be few more before I’m done telling these stories!
So Jean and I proceeded to “Don’t Let The School Close!” We met with Al Miller and the Whole Life Ministries Leadership Team. We asked if Whole Life Ministries would embrace the Bible Training Centre within its growing assortment of ministries. Yes! We asked the landlord if Whole Life Ministries could assume the lease for the building (we had the upper floor of a three-story commercial building on Constant Spring Road in Kingston). Yes! Calvary Ministries graciously passed over the chairs, desks, overhead projector and screen, and the sound system to us! Yes!
Then we met with Al Miller, Melrose Rattray, and Pam Johnson at our dining room table and began to work out the details of curricula, teaching staff, and administration. The previous approach to the course material was to simply ask teachers to teach their favorite topics! We needed to get more specific and focused! So we divided the school year into three terms: Term 1 – God the Father – Old Covenant – Foundation; Term 2 God the Son – New Covenant – Life Transformation; Term 3 – The Holy Spirit – Living it out through Spiritual Gifts, Callings, and Ministries.
When we opened Whole Life Ministries Bible Training Centre for the next term, there were students from over thirty churches and almost as many denominations! Jean and I carried the weight of the teaching, developing the course material as we went along. Al Miller taught regularly, as did Pam Johnson and Melrose Rattray. I’ll include another story about the Bible Training Centre in Kingston before we move on… By the way, Jean and I were invited back to Jamaica as honored guests for the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of Whole Life Ministries Bible Training Centre! We’re so thankful God said, “Don’t Let The School Close!”
As always, I’d love to hear from you. If you have a question or a comment simply reply to this email or if you’re reading on the blog, comment below.
Grace to you today, Jim Stephens