Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Porter recently worshiped in the Caribbean with a unique bonding of the global Nazarene family in Barbados, Guyana, Martinique, and Cuba.

The Porters joined with Nazarenes from several nations in Barbados where District Superintendent Orlando Seale welcomed three Work and Witness teams from across the U.S. and Canada, a total of 61 persons organized as the Eastern Michigan District Prime Time Barbados Blitz.

In the midst of working on various projects, the Work and Witness teams were invited to join in the Barbados District’s quarterly service, where the united crowd of over 1,000 Nazarenes filled the district tabernacle. Dr. Porter reports, “We had church to the glory of God!” For four hours they sang and celebrated the Lord’s goodness and grace. Dr. Porter preached and encouraged pastors to embrace the Centennial Faith Projections, goals for new churches, membership, and worship attendance in celebration of the upcoming Church of the Nazarene Centennial in 2008. Pastors came forward to express their commitment, and lay leaders gathered around them, laying their hands on them in prayer. The Sunday morning service climaxed with everyone joining in the Lord’s Supper.

On Sunday evening at the Western Light Church of the Nazarene, Dr. Porter was requested to preach a message on the first two words of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father.” He called on them to be a global multicultural family of children who care for each other. The congregation included not only Barbados Nazarenes and the American and Canadian Work and Witness team members but also people from Africa, Guyana, and many of the Caribbean islands. In small groups, these global Nazarenes concluded the service in prayer with a brother or sister from Barbados.

Dr. Porter’s recent work in the Caribbean also included conducting assemblies for the Guyana, French Antilles and French Guyana, and Cuba districts. In Guyana, 1,200 Nazarenes joined together at the National Cultural Center to celebrate 60 years of the work of the Church of the Nazarene in Guyana. The exuberant crowd conducted an anniversary march from the Cultural Center to the little building where the Church of the Nazarene began its work six decades ago and then on to the Queenstown Church. The march was punctuated by joyous Caribbean choruses and praise music.

The French Antilles and French Guyana District enjoyed a moving holiness rally, district assembly, and ordination service in Martinique. This district extends 1,400 miles from French Guyana in South America to St. Martin. Dr. Porter reports that in spite of challenges of “great distances, the cost of living, and the postmodern influence of France and Western Europe, the pastors and people are enthusiastic and energized.”

Cuban Nazarenes celebrated their 60th anniversary during the district assembly held on the campus of Cuban Theological Seminary. The seminary currently has 24 students enrolled on campus and almost 200 in extension classes across the island. Cuban pastors enthusiastically embraced the Centennial Faith Projections. Dr. Porter said of these pastors, “They are heroes who inspire us beyond words!”