Living Streams Church History
History of the Living Streams Seventh-Day Adventist Church
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n February 27, 2005 an Evangelistic crusade sponsored by the East Caribbean Conference, in association with the then Marriaqua and South Eastern districts of churches commenced at the Cane End playing field, with the dynamic, effervescent Evangelist Claudius Morgan as the speaker, assisted by Pastors Steve Phillips and Aaron Stephens. After five weeks of powerful, penetrating, Pentecostal preaching two hundred and thirty six persons answered the call to make Jesus Lord and Master of their lives and to seal their commitment through the covenant of baptism.
Foremost on the minds of the organizers of the crusade was the nurturing and conservation of the new members. The options were for the new members to be incorporated into the existing churches nearby, or for them or be organized into a new group where bonding would be greater experienced and fellowship becomes more intentional.
The members opted to remain together. The first meeting place was the Marriaqua Community Center and the first service for the new group was held Sabbath April 09, 2005.
On May 23rd, 2005, the decision was taken by the district council to officially recommend the group to the East Caribbean Conference as a new congregation. The Executive Committee voted on June 15th to approve legitimacy.
The Care taker leaders were: Bro. Larson Jardine, First Elder, Bertram Bacchus and Joel Woods, Associates; Aliena Woods Superintendant, Wilmoth Williams, Personal Ministries Leader, Selvannus Thomas, Adventist Youth Leader, Jonathan Samuel, Deacon. The inaugural pastor was Pastor Steve Phillips.
The name adopted for the group was “Living Streams” which bears significance to the fact that the group is a viable, moving, living organization, with members coming from across the Marriaqua Valley to blend into one unit, similar to the three rivers that join to form the Argyle River.
The group’s stay at the community center was short lived. After three months, they had to move and Mountain View Adventist Academy became their next home. The district Elder’s Council was on the hunt for a parcel of land to construct a church building, or for a structure to rent or lease to accommodate a permanent church home for the group.
Divine providence lead Bro Joel Woods to identify the parcel of land on which this church is now located and immediately set about to purchase it in his name as the fledging church had no money at that time. In August 2009 the land was eventually bought by the Region/Union from Bro Woods for the sum of $240,000.
Prior to the purchase of the land by the church, Bro. Woods gave consent for a temporary building to be constructed, but before the temporary building was completed, upon the purchase of the land, gears were shifted and the temporary structure was converted into a permanent church home.
Meanwhile, the brethren continue to consolidate and worshipped at Mountain View Academy for four years and five months. The church was officially organized into a full fledged church on December 29, 2007 with a charter membership of 152.
Pastor Steve Phillips was the first pastor followed by Pastor Aster Bruce.
When St. Vincent became a Region and administration became close to the ground, Pastor Dermoth Baptiste, the Coordinator, assumed the responsibility of pastoring the church. He has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation to the brethren and challenged them to accelerate the construction of the building to which the members rose to the challenge under the hardworking, capable leadership of Bro. Bertram Bacchus. He was the chief fundraiser, procurement officer, organizer, and contractor.
Work began in earnest, November 01, 2009 and by January 01, 2010, we were able to move from Mountain View Academy and occupy this church home permanently, even while work on the building was in progress. Work continued every Sunday on the project. Three dedicated skilled builders, Edgar ‘Japanny’ John, Wilmoth Williams and Isaac Roberts were consistent with providing free labour almost every Sunday for just over one year. The ladies of the church were also consistent in providing lunch while the men worked. Several outstanding contributions were made by certain targeted persons to whom reference will be made in the vote of thanks.
Living Streams participated in several joint crusades which included Pastor Brent St. Jean in Richland Park in which 109 persons were baptized, Pastor Karlson Samuel in Carriere in which 47 persons were baptized and Evangelist Eugene Benjamin in Belmont in which 158 persons were baptized. One of the features of the church is the fellowship luncheon which is held every Sabbath day. This helped to galvanize the members together and rally them around a common cause.
The mission of the Living Streams church is to proclaim the good news of salvation to every household within its territory through preaching, teaching, seminars and personal witnessing, thus influencing people from all walks of life to have a viable relationship with the Lord and to be ready to live in His presence.
