Pastor Alston Henry. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer
UNDER THE theme 'Redeeming the Time' the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica will on March 13-19 convene its 57th annual conference and convention.
The denomination, which boasts an active membership of 6,000, will convene its annual conference on March 13-14, 2006, at its national headquarters in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine. Rev. Dr. Alston Henry, general superintendent of the denomination, told The Sunday Gleaner that among the issues slated for discussion are:
(1) The ordination of the spouses of ministers.
(2) The creation of a leave policy to cover employees of the denomination.
(3) The creation of a pension scheme for employees of the denomination.
Dr. Henry said these three issues are among the top goals he has set himself as the general superintendent of the denomination. He said, in addition, that the Open Bible Churches through its Missions Department, will shortly be launching major evangelistic-discipleship programmes which will seek to develop each member into competent personal-evangelists and disciplers.
The Rev. Dr. Henry disclosed that the church group is on the incline as evident in growth in baptisms and membership in the last two years. In 2004, there were 367 baptisms. But this increased to 427 for 2005.
For 2004, the active membership stood at 4,571 and grew to 5,935 in 2005.
The denomination, which is a member of both the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals (JAE) and the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches (JAFGC) operates nine educational institutions seven basic schools, one kinder-prep and one tertiary institution the Jamaica Open Bible Institute (JOBI).
SPEAKERS
The convention itself gets under way on Wednesday March 15 and continues daily to Sunday March 19. The convention speakers will be Rev. Henry; the Rev. Dr. E. Curtis, a divisional superintendent and pastor of the Haven of Hope Church in August Town, St. Andrew; and the Rev. Cecil Quamina, senior pastor, The Church of the Open Bible, in San Fernando, Trinidad. The convention services will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m. and culminate on Sunday 10:30 am in a communion service at the National Arena in Kingston where more than 6,000 persons are expected to be in attendance.
On Friday March 17, the convention will host a series of workshops covering: Same-sex relations, conflict-resolution, capital punishment and worship&music. A high point of the convention will include the ordination and licensing of six Ministers of the Gospel - three men and three women. At present the denomination is served by 66 Ministers of the Gospel, 55 of which are in pastoral ministry. The pastoral cadre is comprised of 44 men and 11 women.
Dr. Henry anticipates a highly successful conference and convention as the denomination recommits itself to the work of God.
