PAWI celebrates 40 years in SVG

Forty years ago, on December 18, 1966, Missionaries of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, Jack and Daisy Keys, along with their five children, landed at the Grenadines Wharf in Kingstown. They rented a house in New Montrose and immediately began house meetings. On December 30, 1966, they held their first street meeting in Kingstown. This was the genesis of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District. Their first major outreach was a crusade with Rev. Edgar O’Brien in January 1967. On April 30, 1967, the first water baptism of 14 took place. {{more}}

The Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines District, incorporated 16th June 1978, with its District Office on the third floor of the Baynes Building, Kingstown, is a member district of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, with Headquarters at 4th Bridge Maracas, Royal Road, Curepe, Trinidad.

The theme selected to celebrate this historic and momentous occasion is “Forty and Forging Ahead with Fortitude”.

We have come a long way: From just the Keys’ family of seven in 1966 to a total membership of over 2000 in 2006. The district is comprised of 14 congregations, 7 of these are Autonomous Assemblies. That is, they are self-governing, self-propagating and self-supporting.

As a result of our unique policy of governance, our congregations or local churches are allowed to carry their own name. Please now meet these local churches:

We have significantly contributed to education on the island through our institutions: The Layou Trade School, Faith Temple Pre School, Glad Tidings Preschool and the West Indies School of Theology, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Extension.

We have overcome the stigmas of “clap hand”, “noisy”, “crazy”. We have earned the respect and have taken prominent places in the land. We have graduated from holding properties in the names of pastors to incorporation; from a rented store-front in Kingstown to the modern spacious and fully air-conditioned Faith Temple.

We are not as was thought a bunch of down and outers. We are island scholars, executives, diplomats. We are civil servants, nurses, teachers, policemen. We are farmers, builders, store clerks. We are worthwhile citizens, contributing to the growth and development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Our children are in Universities in Cuba, Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, the US in such fields as Law, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Computer Technology etc.

We have taken Digicel Rising Star and dominated Gospel Fest.

Our faith in God, our beliefs and value systems have and will continue “to see us through.”

1. New Life Prayer Tabernacle – Rev. Casmos John – South Rivers

2. Belle Vue Pentecostal Church – Pastor Marcellus Constance- Belle Vue

3. Kingdom Life Tabernacle – Rev. Stephen Ollivierre – Mesopo

4. Hill Top Tabernacle – Bishop George Frederick Glen/Fairhall

5. Glad Tidings Tabernacle – Bishop Sonny Williams – Gomea

6. Faith Temple – Bishop Melch Pope – New Montrose

7. Pembroke Pentecostal Assem. – Rev. Brian Dennie – Pembroke

8. Vermont Miracle Tabernacle – Rev. Junior George – Vermont

9. Layou Miracle Church – Bishop Noel Clarke – Layou

10. Kingdom Life Ministries – Rev. Alvin Walker – Keartons

11. Faith & Life Pent. Church – Pastor Carlton Edwards – Chateaubelair

12. Bequia Pentecostal Church – Pastor Keith Graham – Bequia

13. Christ Is The Answer Evangelistic Centre Union Island

14. Mayreau Christian Assembly Mayreau