|
The Church of God and Saints of Christ
was re-established in November 1896 by Prophet
William Saunders Crowdy who was Elijah in
the spirit. The local churches in Jamaica
are found in the parishes of Morant Bay,
St. Mary, Old Habour Bay, Montego Bay, Lucea
and Yallahs. The international body is made
up of tabernacles located in the United
States of America, South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Bermuda, and Birmingham,
England and Ontario, Canada. Bishop
Robert D. Grant, Chief Executive Officer,
is the pastor of the church in Cleveland,
Ohio.
The late Bishop Howard L. Chase took the
gospel of Christ to the shores of Jamaica
in 1931. This dedicated leader was and still
is a great inspiration to the saints of
Jamaica. Bishop W.C. Hamilton was also a
man of God who was well loved by the saints
and did his best in teaching the people
the ways of God. Today, Evangelist-At-Large
Albert E. Hall (Executive Officer), is the
leader of the West Indian, South and Central
American diocese and is the pastor of the
church in Morant Bay.
When the Prophet re-established the church,
it was designed with many offices that made
the church of a well-structured body. The
ministry was well defined with men holding
such offices as Bishops, Evangelists, Elders
and Deacons, etc. The highest of these being
that of a Bishop. God set men in the ministerial
body to guide and teach the church as the
scripture says in Ephesians
4:2.
The highest governing body in the Church
is the Presbytery Board. The Board governs
the church just has the disciples governed
the church back in the ancient days after
Christ had ascended (Acts
1:23-26). It is made up of twelve ministers,
whose job it is to ordain brothers to the
ministry.
The spreading of the Word of God is the
most vital aspect of kingdom building. The
Bishop sends ministers out in the field
to win souls for the Lord. Generally, field
work is not an easy task for a minister,
but the help of God he is determined and
persistent to do God's bidding. The minister
will apply many techniques in spreading
the gospel. This may be by going from house
to house sharing the knowledge of God with
families or having street meetings in the
form of service. The church has used other
media such as radio and cable television
for hosting services.
Church of God and Saints of Christ presents
a gospel that is usually said to be unheard
of, yet it is not new, as it was from the
days of the apostles Peter and Paul. The
bible is used in all instances to prove
what is taught and preached to the saints
and nothing is left to the imagination,
as the Word of God is truth.
|