Beginnings
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost..." Matthew 28:19
This gospel commission was carried out on the 14 day of October, 1979 as a result of the decision to hold a tent crusade in the Thorpes, St. James. Those churches involved in such a venture were the Ebenezer and the Gardens Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Churches. The preacher for the crusade: Pastor Haldine Greaves. This crusade lasted for about six weeks during which 36 souls were won to Christ and as a result the Holders Hill SDA Company was formed at a house in Durants Village, St. James.
One of the members, Sister Amelda Pascoll, who lived in the area, heard of a house which was for rent and so she told another long standing member of the SDA Church, Sister Deny-Holder. Sister Deny-Holder longed for a church in the Holders Hill area where she lived gladly paid six months rent for the house owned by Mr. Griffith.
The Company
It was the second Sabbath in December, 1979, approximately eight weeks after the crusade had started that 28 new converts along with those persons who would join them from the Ebenezer and Gardens churches worshipped together as the Holders Hill SDA Company. Such persons who joined them were:
| Ebenezer | Gardens |
|
Bro. Cameron Brewster, his wife Maria and children |
Sis. Eudora Mascall Sis. Nichols |
|
*Also assisting the new group was Brother R. Alleyne from the Black Rock SDA Church. |
|
The company was on its feet and rearing to go when Pastor Haldine Greaves was sent to work in another district, and so the task of developing this new company was assigned to Pastor Charles Ford from 1980 - 1983. During this period we bought our very first organ which was dedicated on January 25th 1980.
Wanting to further spread the gospel in the district the church decided to have a Lay preachers crusade in the house. The speakers Bro. Earlwaine Cumberbatch, one of the new members and Bro. Leo Brewster were the preachers chosen. As a result 35 souls were baptized. Following this, the first tent crusade was held in August 1981 in Haynesville St. James by Brothers Earlwaine and Winston Cumberbatch, 10 souls were won to Christ. A third crusade held in Bagatelle, St. Thomas at which Pastor Charles Ford and Bro. Mc. Hood were the speakers won a further 22 precious souls to Christ.
