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Last Updated: Sep 21, 2017 - 5:36:28 PM |
Under the theme, “His faithfulness continues to all generations,” Pastor Karol Roache, leaders, members and followers of Freeport Bible Church (FBC), will be celebrating the church’s 41st anniversary, this coming Sunday, September 24, 2017, at 9:30A.M. at the church on Norma Headley Drive. Guest speaker for this grand occasion will be Bishop Kermit Saunders of Kingdom Worship Centre.
Coming from humble beginnings, the church was birthed by Rev. Edward Godet from Nassau, New Providence, who was at the time the Pastor of Carmichael Bible Church.
It was at the home of James (Jimmy) Gardiner, now deceased, and his wife Carrie, at # 159 Poinciana Drive, where approximately six persons gathered to discuss establishing Freeport Bible Church along with Rev. Godet and his wife Mary. Established as a member of the Bahamas Evangelical Church Association (BECA), services officially began in September of 1976 at the home of the Godets on Oleander Street, with approximately 20 persons in attendance.
After three months of worshipping at the home of the Godets on Oleander, the church relocated to the YMCA with about 30 to 40 members at that time. After another year, in 1978, the church again relocated to an open apartment on Jobson Avenue. It was here when they really began to grow.
Given a property by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the FBC family began constructing a building of their own on West Atlantic Drive. After nearly six years at Jobson Avenue, though the building was not yet complete, the church moved on West Atlantic Drive with a little over 100 members.
Shortly thereafter, Rev. Godet and his family moved back to Nassau where he once again Pastored Carmichael Bible Church. In the interim, for approximately 17 months, Rev. Sammy McLamb of South Carolina took over the leadership of FBC.
In June of 1987, Rev. Wilbur Outten was appointed as Pastor of FBC by the then Superintendent of the BECA, Rev. Stephen Edgecombe. There was then a split in the church leaving only about 11 members.
Pastor Outten and those that remained worked hard to rebuild the church. With God’s help they were successful and membership eventually became bountiful. As membership began to increase, several ministries were added. By the late 90s, early 2000s there were about 200 members and two morning services, 8:30am and 11:00am were eventually needed.
In 2008 with 400 plus members, Freeport Bible Church relocated once again to their current edifice on Norma Headley Drive.
After 30 years of dedicated service as Senior Pastor of FBC, Pastor Outten died in January of this year. Following his death, Pastor Karol Roache who served as Assistant Pastor to Pastor Outten for eighteen years, was appointed as interim Senior Pastor and Pastor Kyle Maycock as interim Assistant Pastor.
Over the past 41 years, FBC has been a beacon of light on the island of Grand Bahama. Many souls came to know Christ through the ministry and the church is also known for their outreach in the community. The church also has its own school, “Freeport Bible Academy,” established as a preschool (FBC Preschool) in 1995. FBC Academy now has classes from nursery to grade six with a current student body of about 365 students.
Pastor Roache said, “We anticipate continued growth in our church’s membership, in our members’ walk with the Lord and in winning souls for Christ as we continue to ‘Love God, Love People and Serve the World’. We are inviting the community of Grand Bahama to come and celebrate this milestone with us.”
During Sunday’s anniversary celebration, there will be special performances by the Police Choir and Grand Bahama Youth Choir. After the service there would be a social gathering with a parade of ministries and a Junkanoo Rushout with Platinum Knights.
Weekly services are held at FBC on Sunday Mornings at 9:30 a.m. Their doors are opened to welcome all.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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