Thursday, February 15, 2007
Bataca, Dominica
By Daniel C. Hopkins, Caribbean Region missionary
"Convergence" is the act of things coming together in greater density resulting in a reaction that produces change. In the Caribbean, atmospheric convergence can produce storms, even hurricanes. In a baseball park, fans converge in greater and greater density producing the effect of a "10th man" on the field.
Last week in Dominica, we experienced spiritual convergence. More than 70 lay leaders from 7 Nazarene churches joined 7 district superintendents from 6 Caribbean countries to strategize for evangelism and church planting. Participants came from villages like Bioche, Bataca, and Pichelin and countries like Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica. They were joined by denominational leaders from Kansas City and pastors and laymen from Ohio and Florida.
Never before has there been this kind of convergence for the Church of the Nazarene on the island of Dominica. God brought us together to challenge our thinking, infuse us with vision and send us back to start evangelistic and church planting movements all across the English-speaking Caribbean.
Our conference started on Thursday night, February 8, with a gospel concert and JESUS film showing to a packed house in the village of Jimmit. At the close, 10 people came forward to receive Jesus as their Savior. Many were seeing the JESUS film for the first time.
On Friday morning, church leaders were taken to a newly purchased site for the development of a conference center/campground for Dominica and the English-speaking Caribbean. The site has breathtaking views (pictured - right) of the Caribbean and will be a center for children and youth camping, district events, and regional training. The first building will be dedicated to Bob Gray.
On Friday afternoon, Louie E. Bustle, director of World Mission, conducted a training session with the district superintendents of Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica, and two districts in Guyana, along with Scoffield Eversley, field strategy coordinator for English-speaking districts in the Caribbean Region.
As we met, there came a fresh sense of focus and direction. On districts where churches had not been planted in 10, 15, and 20 years, leaders seemed inspired to challenge their people to unprecedented evangelistic and church planting efforts.
On Saturday, 85 Nazarene leaders gathered at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau to hear Bustle cast a vision for evangelism and church planting movements throughout the Caribbean Region. Each participant was given a copy of Bustle's new book, Each One Win One, which will be the evangelism strategy for the English-speaking Caribbean.
Dominicans were challenged to "let this be the day for the Church of the Nazarene in Dominica." The necessary tools were given to create opportunities for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
On Sunday, several hundred gathered at the St. Joseph church for a World Mission Rally and holiness service. Bob Gray was honored for his years of service to Dominica. Dozens came forward at the close of the service to commit themselves to Christian service. It was an incredible day of worship for the Church in Dominica.
Convergence always produces a result. When spiritual convergence happens there is the opportunity for more than a result -- there is the opportunity for a movement. Imagine for a moment what God could do in the English-speaking Caribbean through a God-inspired movement of evangelism and church planting. Our imagination has turned to the conviction that God is going to do something big here. Our Dominican pastors met with our district superintendent, Ken Sharpe, and set a goal of four new churches in the next year. In Antigua, the first new church in 15 years has been planted and plans are under way for a second one. I will be going to St. Croix in two weeks to present Each One Win One to the pastor's there. Then I have been asked to go to Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana. Things are already under way to transform the Church of the Nazarene in the Caribbean.
Let me give a special thanks to Wayne Penrod, whose generosity made this Strategy Conference possible, and to Dr. Bustle for his time, direction, and encouragement.
For those interested in coming to Dominica to help build the conference center, please Email (dhopkins@missiondominica.org.)
Praising God for His blessing,
Daniel C. Hopkins
www.missiondominica.org
Note: Dominica is a part of the four-island, Leeward-Virgin Islands District, which also includes Antigua, St. Croix, and St. Kitts.
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