International Ministries - Honduras

For His Glory – Ministries Together

by Clint Cook, Executive Director GAGB

Since I have been Executive Director, it has been an honor to visit many of our mission fields, visit many churches abroad, and get to know many of our national pastors. It is humbling to see firsthand how training institutes at the General Baptist Bible College and the Matigsalug Bible Institute in the Philippines are making such a difference in training our Filipino pastors and church leaders.

In India, Prakash and Jemima Pamu oversee the Dorcas Sewing Centers and assist local pastors in ministry on the eastern coast. In the central region, Jesse and Brittany Vemula work with local pastors and oversee the Lydia Sewing Centers. Who would have ever imagined that a simple tool like a sewing machine could be used as a pathway to spread the gospel? The local pastors make sure these women are not just taught how to sew. The sewing lessons include the clear presentation of the gospel. As a result, scores of Hindu and Muslim women have stepped over the line of faith and accepted Christ, changing the eternal course of precious families!

Our churches in Jamaica are on fire for Jesus! They are working diligently to gather funds to build an administration center and daycare so the gospel can be shared with families by caring for their children. In Honduras, Faith Home is thriving despite political tension. The local pastors are excited because they are now receiving essential leadership and pastoral training from our California Hispanic coordinator, Rene Rodriguez.

As I saw these ministries in action and dreamed of the potential our fields hold, I became overwhelmed with joy, and then immediately burdened with the need to do more! Can you imagine the number of souls that could be won if every General Baptist church partnered financially with our international work?

There are so many opportunities for you and your church to get connected with our international work. Have you ever sponsored a student at GBBC or MBI? We have scores of young people in the Philippines that need sponsors so they can receive training in ministry to pastor, lead worship, teach and plant churches. They have the passion and call, but not the means.

Would you like to make sure that the children at Faith Home receive the best care and education possible? You can do so through child sponsorship! Would you like to partner with our work in India and provide funds to buy more sewing machines and resources for the children and pastors there? Would your church contribute to the campaign in Jamaica to help a community hear the gospel through a daycare? There are ongoing needs in Mexico, Saipan, Guam, and Niger as well.

Please get involved today with International Ministries. Our Unified Giving provides general support for International Ministries. Special project support by your church, a Sunday School class, a small group, or a youth/children’s ministry could make an eternal investment in the Kingdom by sponsoring a child at Faith Home, a student at GBBC or MBI, or funding one of our other ministries throughout the world. We can do far more together than we could ever do alone.

When I stand before God one day I do not plan on standing there with my personal bank statement displaying a lot of zeros behind a dollar sign. I want to meet Him with a harvest of souls – many that I have never laid eyes on or met, but touched through my financial gifts. How will you and your church stand before Him one day? I pray it will be surrounded by souls.

Heavenly Highway Church History, Growth, and Vision

By Rev. Phillip Pusey

To God be the glory for the things He has done. The power and presence of the Lord has always been clear at Heavenly Highway.

The history of the Heavenly Highway General Baptist church is one that is rich and changing. Its history dates back to the time of Reverend Albert Russell and his wife, First Lady Louise Russell, in the year 1965. Initially the church started out with a small congregation. The physical structure was that of wooden walls with a thatch roof and small board benches. Rev. Russell lived on the church grounds with his wife. He was a skilled baker who specialized in baking spice buns, ginger bulla and ‘kuup kuup’. These he sold from time to time by a place called Pen Gate in the community. The community people gave him their support.

Heavenly Highway Church buildingHowever, as time passed on, a transition was made and Reverend Lloyd Hall was sent to continue on the foundation that was laid by Rev. Russell. Rev. Hall with the help of his wife, First Lady Donna Hall, Deacon Wendell Ford, sister Gloria Campbell secretary and sister Sonia Mignott treasurer, the church was led into another phase. Mention must also be made of the involvement of the missionaries such as Brother John Hibbs, his wife, and Brother Terry Howser as well as other missionaries from America that were pivotal in further establishing and assisting this denomination here in Jamaica.

The ministry continued to build and grow, and its membership grew from the thirties to the sixties. The church was also re-roofed courtesy of Brother Terry and his team. This was a huge blessing for which the congregants were extremely grateful and appreciative. As time advanced Rev. Hall was called upon to pastor another General Baptist church and so he handed over the reins to Rev. Phillip Pusey.

Rev. Phillip Pusey and First Lady Sis. Pusey were given the mandate to lead Heavenly Highway into the 21st century. Rev. Pusey’s first stint began in the year 2003 as Minister Pusey, when he was under the tutelage of Rev. Hall. Then in the year 2006 he became the pastor of Heavenly Highway General Baptist. They took over when the church was in transition mode from having a pastor of over twenty years and when the world itself was shifting from the nineteenth century into a new dispensation-the 21st century. As they embarked on their new responsibilities they sought to build on the foundation that was laid spiritually, numerically, structurally and socially. Continue reading