Our History

 

The History of the Bethesda S.D.A. Church 

“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”
             It was in early 1973 that God pointed out to Urbane Browne, an elder in the Liberta S.D.A church that there are unreached areas right here in Antigua, including the Bethesda/Christian  Hill area.  God then asked, what are you going to do about this?  He answered, “Lord I will try.”
             It was a Sabbath afternoon after lunch that the Holy Spirit impressed up on him and he left immediately to look on the field-(that is the Bethesda and Christian hill Community).  When he came he saw several groups of children playing at different parts of the village and decided to visit the area the very next Sabbath afternoon.
 (True to his word he was in the community the next Sabbath afternoon but not alone)
             He invited his wife, the late Novella Brown, his two daughters-Ester and Deldelker, Bro Elmer Joseph (decease), and Carel Burton to join him that Sabbath afternoon.  Their first stop was in front of Sister Gwendolyn Tonge’s home and the last of four stops was at the home of Bro Oscar Tonge. At each stop they sang and taught choruses after which they distribute cup cakes etc. this continued for many weeks.
 They sought permission from Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton to use the ALP Union hall which they receive to host there branch Sabbath school. The floor was very bad and often the children’s feet would break through the rotten wood floor but that did not stop the group from coming together. The Union members decided to change the floor to concrete and Bro Browne gladly assisted them with the floor, since the entire branch Sabbath school was going to benefit from it.
 The branch Sabbath school was going well, so they thought that it would be nice for the group to see and experience what a real Sabbath school is like so Bro Browne takes them to the Liberta S.D.A church.  On Sabbath morning he would transport them to the Liberta Sabbath School on a pick up truck. Jasmine and Vanessa Tonge were the first two, to be baptized then Roslyn Tonge and Bro and Sis Oscar Tonge – Five in all were baptized.
       He then told Pastor Eugene Daniel that he wanted to conduct a lay Crusade in the area because he knew that the people were ready but Pastor Eugene Daniel decided to run the crusade himself.  In April 1974 the crusade was conducted right hear in Bethesda by Pastor Eugene Daniel which resulted in additional souls.  The pickup truck was not enough so he had to send a bus while he drove the pick up to get the entire group to Sabbath school in Liberta all at his expense.
  They continue to worship at the Union Hall. There was love and togetherness and fulfillment in that group although they had no church building.   In the old union hall they conducted vacation bible school where parents along with their children had a good time from time to time. They had socials on Saturday nights, picnics and a strong visitation program carried on in that young group.  No one could be absent before they went to check them out.
  The early days spent at Bethesda were exciting days, since we bought a new organ and had an amplified guitar to enhance the music in our worship.  Sister Novella Browne played the organ and Brother Urbane Browne played the Guitar.  The group was always a good singing group and Jasmin Tonge with a voice like a bell stood out as a strong leading voice.
 (Many of us who have the opportunity to hear her sing can agree with that)
 (As the saying goes all good things must come to an end but there is another one that say when one door closes another will open – that is what happen)
 After worshipping in the Union Hall for a while, the member decided they wanted there building they had no place of worship so they went back to the mother church and while there they looked for another place for worship. Finally they were given permission to use the Bethesda Primary School in the late 70’s.
 
They continued to worship at the school, until the liberta church, the mother church, decided to erect a new church building to the honor and glory of God for the Bethesda brethren.
 
The time came to start the church building.  (for me )  I can only imagine the excitement of that group finally they will be getting a church a place of worship but for those who were there – They say it was picture perfect as the Bethesda’s Uniformed Choir sang for the ground breaking ceremony of their new church building!  That choir was directed by the late sister Novella Browne who did all the practicing and dress arrangement for the ceremony.
 
The building program was supervised by Bro Haynes Browne, while many of the liberta brethren gave free labor on the church building.
 
Bro Urbane Browne Started the building fund by donating approximately $1500.00 then the other gifts and donations were made from time to time.
 
Sister Bernice Ethelda James (decease), Roylet O’Mard, Gwendolyn Tonge Octavia Isaac were some of the official superintendent of the young church. The up keeping of the church in the early years was done by Sis Gwendolyn Tonge, Sis Octavia Isaac and Sis Mildred Tonge.
 
Standing out as elders were Bro Urbane Browne, Elmer Joseph (Decease), Alfred James(Decease), James Malone, Fitzroy Browne, Thomas Daley (Decease), Oscar Tonge (Decease) Conrod Dowe and Vernon Farrell and others have all helped in the building-up of the work in the Bethesda Church.
 
Many were the ministers who served since its inception:  Eugene Daniel, Eustace Sheppard, Roosevelt Daniels, Stanley Greaves, Champion Earl Malone, Samuel Allen, Peter Aaron (Decease), Ruthven Roy, Charles Heskey, Charles Leader, Orville Joseph, Urvin Pinney, and  Holford Browne
 
 
On December 5th 1982 the church was first dedicated by President B.N. Josiah to the Honor and Glory of God.
 
To day God has given us the opportunity to Re-Dedicate this church after 37 years of storms, trials and victories. Without his help this would not have been possible.
 
It is said that pastors come and they go but the church remains.  It was July 2004, under the pastoral guidance of the visionary Pastor Noel James the renovations began.  The relay started when Pastor James was commissioned to a new district and the baton was passed on to his successor and colleague in ministry, Pastor Clinton liburd.  The work continued under Pastor liburd’s watch until he too was commissioned to another part of the vine yard and the baton was passed on to our present Pastor Andrew Gardner.  Pastor Andrew Gardner ensured that the work was brought to completion.  All three endured in the work and we want to recognized there hard work and commitment during the initial stage of the renovation.
 
Along with our Pastors, we had worker who were committed and faithful to the task from beginning to the finish such as Bro Desmond Ryan, Bro Travis Casey, Bro Kennedy Murraine and Bro Vernon Farrell who migrated to England not forgetting the ladies who prepared the lunches.
 
 All the facts and figures of the history of the Bethesda Church are not written in the books of earth, but in the books of heaven.
 
It is truly amazing what our God can do!  He can use unworthy, defective, human being to bring honor and glory to his Holy name
 
So let the builders continue to build up the Bethesda Church in whatever way they can, until Jesus comes and say to all “well done”.