Pat Creed, Caribbean Director

To God be the Glory great things He hath done. During the past forty years Baptist International Missions, Inc., has had a major role in the planting of many fundamental, independent, Baptist churches in the Caribbean. In the early years a large percentage of BIMI missionaries went to the Caribbean, but as West Indian men and women were trained to take leadership positions, God moved our people to other needy fields.

In the 1960’s BIMI missionaries were the only independent Baptist pioneers in many of the island nations. Jim Cooper, Ken Touchton and Jack Harvey planted churches in the Turks and Caicos Islands and later in the Bahamas. Other missionaries began planting churches in the outer Bahamian islands. Baptist Bible and New Testament Baptist were established in Nassau and Calvary Baptist in Abaco. Carl Godfrey started the Haitian Calvary Baptist Church in Nassau. Since Carl’s death, his wife Shirleen has continued to assist in the various Haitian ministries. Under national leadership the church in Nassau has planted several churches in Haiti. Nassau Christian Academy, with over 900 students, is a part of the ministry of Baptist Bible Church. The church and school are under the leadership of Dr. Howard Mills, who was saved after Jim Cooper started Calvary Baptist in South Cacios.

Dr. Ray Thompson, Vice President and Executive Director of BIMI, had organized the Calvary Baptist Church on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in 1956 before joining BIMI in 1964. On the island of St. Croix, Clyde Simpson founded the Altona Baptist Church. The need to train national leadership motivated these men, along with others, to establish Bluewater Bible College. BBC has trained over 150 graduates for full-time Christian ministries. Through the years there has been an ongoing staff of BIMI missionaries. Dr. Dennis Bellew served faithfully as president and professor for many years. The Bellews are on a much-needed furlough at this time while the Ken Guths and Audley Charltons continue to teach. Bro. Heath Charles, a graduate of BBC and Tennessee Temple University and Seminary, is a professor and acting president at this time. BBC has survived two major hurricanes that destroyed buildings and property. The present problem is with the US immigration laws that are making it very difficult to receive students from other Caribbean nations. Please pray for the needs of this institute.

In the early days of BIMI’s ministry, Clifford Huskey and others served on the large southern island of Trinidad. At this time John Gossett, Mike Hader and Cyril Gumbs are laboring to reach 1.8 million people. Almost half of these people are from India. Several churches have national pastors.

The Lord chose Freeman and Martha Goodge to minister on the island of Anguilla, one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean. They were used to start a church and influence many young people to give their lives to Christ. There are twelve men who are in full-time ministry because of their influence. Cecil Richardson, pastor of Central Baptist Church, lived in their home until he enrolled in Tennessee Temple College to prepare for the ministry. Bob and Colleen Faile helped in the work on Anguilla before moving to Nevis and later to Saint Maarten, where he planted strong churches that have national pastors.

God sent Jerry and Scharmel Johnson to Antigua. Jerry started several churches, including Grace Baptist Church, where they are now involved in church and schoolwork. The Caribbean Radio Lighthouse is located on the Island of Antigua and has had a positive impact on thousands of people during the past thirty years. God has used a number of BIMI missionaries to build and operate this distinctive Christian Radio Station. Presently Curt Waite, Jerry Baker, Roger Kennard and their families, along with other faithful missionaries and national workers, make it possible for broadcasters to get the message of Christ to people on many islands. The Little Lighthouse Club has ministered to literally thousands of boys and girls, and Source of Light correspondence materials have been provided to more than 10,000 students. The strong Bible preaching and teaching and Bible-based music have played a major role in assisting local Baptist churches in its listening area.

In the Cayman Islands the Chesley Tibbetts family minister to the people of Grand Cayman through the Good News Baptist Church that was planted by Howard Chappell. The Swanti Lindquist family, who served for many years in Africa, has assumed responsibilities of the Calvary Baptist Church that was started by Bob Vradenburg. Russell and Bobbie Turner continue to serve faithfully on the island of Cayman Brac. Brother Turner has a tract distribution ministry that has taken him virtually around the world sharing the Gospel of Christ. The Howard Chappells moved to the island of St. Kitts, where he has planted another Good News Baptist Church. The church has a Bible school geared to preparing young men for the ministry.

Richey Young and Marlin Johnson, along with several others who followed, began planting churches in Jamaica that are flourishing today with national pastors. The Tim Leonard family has recently returned to Jamaica after an extended medical furlough to begin a new work. Pray for Tim’s health and for Richey Young, who has been on medical leave from Jamaica.

BIMI has not only worked in the English speaking islands, but has had strong works among the Spanish and Creole/French speaking countries. Dr. Glenn Foster started two churches in Puerto Rico that have national pastors. Don Dryden has planted a number of churches and trained many leaders in Haiti. These men have been pioneer workers. Jerry Reese, who served in El Salvador, Central America, turned his work over to national leaders and began giving needed assistance to the work in the Dominican Republic. Brother Reese is an assistant to the Caribbean Director in these Spanish ministries. His expertise in the language has been beneficial in training national pastors, publishing tracts and literature and in the translating of Spanish materials for other missionaries. The Caribbean Radio Lighthouse is presently erecting an FM tower to reach into the French-speaking island of Guadeloupe, which has about 500,000 people. Swante Lindquist will be making broadcast tapes in French from the island of Grand Cayman. Broadcasts will also be beamed into the Spanish-speaking islands.

God has sent others to Puerto Rico to continue what Dr. Glenn Foster began many years ago. (The Fosters are on medical leave at this time. Mrs. Foster is receiving therapy after several severe strokes.) The Phil Bells have been laboring in Jayuya for some years at Iglesia Bautista Monte Calvario. In April, he began a new work in Ciales. In Manati, the Jerry Harmons faithfully serve in the Iglesia Bautista Fundamental. In January, Mark Stephens began Iglesia Bautista del Faro in Arecibo, a city of 110,000 people. Steve Buchanan has planted the Iglesia Bautista Berea in Aguadilla. Drs. Wayne and Hilda Keelin started Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Vida in the city of Mayaguez. The church is in a major building program. Missionary Joan Whiteheart assists them with the children and ladies’ ministries. The David Rackes started a church in the mountain town of Las Marias that has a building and a national pastor. In March David started the La Mision Bautista de Anasco. Missionary Gary Sprunger, assistant to the Caribbean Director, Dr. Pat Creed, resides in Puerto Rico and assists all our missionaries with their various ministry needs.

The Dominican Republic is one of the most fruitful fields. Ronnie Autrey leads the work of Iglesia Evangelica Bautista Resurrection and Resurrecion Bible Seminary in Santo Domingo, which is the Capital city. This ministry is providing a systematic Bible education for many national pastors. Steve Sidler started a church in Quitaswena on the west side of the Capital that is being greatly blessed of the Lord. In the city of Bonao, Steve Wido began the Iglesia Bautista Independiente de Bona. In the city of La Vega, Stephen Brockell began having services in January 2000 with great attendance. Aaron Hoot and family have a special ministry with Haitian immigrants. Soon the Joshua Wessons and the Luke Townsleys will be leaving for this fruitful field.

Exciting news continues to come from our missionaries working in the island/nation of Cuba. Rusty Price, Michael Doering, Christopher Phillips and their families are assisting national leadership in reaching the lost and establishing house churches. Pablo and Ana Marchante, associate missionaries, are full-time workers. Since they are Cubans, they identify with the needs of their people. New believers are growing in the Lord, and national leadership is being trained and developed.

The ministry of BIMI missionaries in soul winning, discipleship and church planting has resulted in the establishment of over 125 churches on 32 islands that have national leadership. BIMI has been blessed to have missionaries who have been committed to the work of Christ in the Caribbean. During the past forty years, the Lord has called some of these precious saints home to glory and others to new ministries after their work was nationalized. However, the task of evangelizing the Caribbean is far from being finished. Dr. Pat Creed, Caribbean Director, is strongly focused on church planting, training national leaders and reproducing fundamental, independent, Baptist churches.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

EDWARD & CAROLE HEMBREE -  ROMANIA - ASSISTANT EUROPE DIRECTOR
BRYCE & SARAH HENDERSON -  BOLIVIA
JASON & KATHLEEN HENEISE -  MILITARY - CALIFORNIA