First Thirty Years

The Journey of Faith (First 30 years)

 And it came to pass that in 1961, as this country prepared to establish itself as an independent nation in the coming year, this church, established in 1931, celebrated.  It had seen 30 glorious years of being planted permanently at 20 ¼ Langston Road. During that time, like Jamaica, this church had grown from strength to strength.  Today we pause to read our history book and remind ourselves from whence we came and give thanks. 

 

‘The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord (1Cor 16:19)
“To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philemon 1:1-3)
 

 

I am Pastor Hurden.  The New Testament speaks of groups of believers meeting regularly in the intimacy of a home rather than a church building. This house church was a Christian fellowship group formed in and/or around a house. Paul speaks of such a church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla of Philemon, and of Nympha in Laodicea.  Like Paul, I desired to have Sabbath services in homes so the gospel of Jesus could be preached in this area. The nearest Seventh-day Adventist Church was all the way at North Street so I visited with Sister Braithwaite, who lived on Langston Road, requesting to start a Branch Sabbath School at her home.  She kindly agreed.  The membership quickly outgrew this location so we moved to the home of Sis Hill at the corner of Langston and Waterloo Roads and then to the home of Sis Harrison on Jacques Road We have seen our home congregations grow from strength and very soon, I’m sure, property will have to be acquired to erect a permanent building for our members.  We’ve come this far by faith, and we’re moving on in faith
 

The faith of Pastor Hurden and the new believers didn’t wane and it wasn’t long before God answered their prayers. The property was acquired at 20 ¼ Langston Road, on which a permanent building was to be constructed and in 1931, during the Pastorship of J. A. Reid and under the expertise of chief builder Bro. Wiles, the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Langston Road, was completed and stood as a proud monument of hard work, dedication and a love for God. With a membership of thirty-seven, this church stood proudly as the fourth oldest organized Seventh-day Adventist church in Jamaica and the third in Kingston.   God had provided the material as well as the voluntary service of faithful members for the building of the church.

Church Building in 1931

 

We were privileged to have had dedicated, Christian leadership in the form of Pastors: D.B. Reid, A.D. Laing, Roy Ashmeade, Herbert Fletcher, H.E. Nembhard, J Davis, Joseph Reid, H. N. Nembhard, Hutchinson, Bond, R. Robertson, Jeffreys, and C. Edwards who served this congregation faithfully during those years.


In Group Picture A.D. Laing - first from left in the front row, Roy Ashmeade – third from left in the back row

Pastor Herbert Fletcher

Pastor H.E. Nembhard


Pastor D.B Reid



Additionally,  leaders like Bros Hinds, Wiles, Rudolph Gayle, A.C Stanford, Luther Powell,  Arthur Fowlin, Winston Falconer, Joseph Henriques and Kenneth Destowe and the many others who supported the work and left a legacy of commitment, hard work, deep spirituality and loyalty to You. 

Kenneth Destowe
Arthur FowlinWinston Falconer
Joseph Henriques

We thank you, Lord, for those women who supported the church from the first brick that was laid in 1931 right through to 1961 and beyond.


The commission given to the early church was to “make disciples of all men” and this congregation, between the years 1931 and 1961, took this commission seriously and through constant soul-winning, filled this church to capacity. This commission was spearheaded by departments, some of which had their names changed, and others keeping the same names. We think in particular of the Home Missionary Department later known as the Lay Activities Department, the evangelical arm of the church which was led by dynamic men and women over the years. As time went by, it was to have its name changed again to the Personal Ministries Department. Its mission remained the same despite the new name. 



Harvest Ingathering Minute Men

The Sabbath School Department from its inception was strong and vibrant and led by equally strong and vibrant Superintendents in the persons of  Sisters Burton, Kellman,  Claris Brown and Edith Maynard-Reid  

Clarice Brown

Edith Maynard-Reid

From its inception, this department had as its main focus, the teaching of God’s word and spearheaded such programmes as Cottage Meetings, visitations, Branch Sabbath Schools and annual Vacation Bible Schools.  Because of its strong leading and impact in soul winning, the Sabbath School units were often used by the Home Missionary Department in its evangelistic outreach programmes

 

Among the departments that had a great impact on the church in the first 30 years of this congregation was the youth department, known then as the Missionary Volunteer Department. Over the years its impact got stronger as more young people got involved.

 

In the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the name Dorcas Society was synonymous with supplying food for the needy members, caring for the fatherless and widows and ministering to the sick. Rollington Town SDA Church had a strong Dorcas Society led by women like  Sis Ivy Headcock and Sis. Flo Donaldson among others. This Department later saw its name changed to the Welfare Department. Despite this, its mission to help the needy never waned.


Flo Donaldson

 

From the very beginning, music played an important part in this congregation. We were privileged to have musical geniuses in leadership roles in the persons of  Bro Welwin, Bro. A. C. Stanford, Sis. West, Sis. Elsie Stewart, Sis. Harrison, Sis. Eugenie Hinds Fowlin, Sis Vera Powell, Sis, Carmen Falconer, Sis. Winnie Edwards Sis, Elsie Gregory, and Sis. Hazel Maynard-Henry.


Elsie Gregory & Hazel Maynard-Henry

The heritage of music passed down through the years from the first services conducted in this church in the 1930s and onward was second to none and helped to establish this church as one of the leading congregations in choral music in Jamaica. Church services conducted in the early years were blessed with thanksgiving, music and the voices of praise.