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LOCATION : 33 Gordon Town Road, St. Andrew
PASTOR : Rev. Dalvern O. Williams SERVICES : 10:00am Sunday School
TELEPHONE : (876) 702-4400 EMAIL : [email protected] SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Papine-Wesleyan-Holiness-Church YouTube : https://www.youtube.com |
Rev. Dalvern O. Williams
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Our History
On a clear Sunday morning in early May 1987 Special Worker, Dalvern O. Williams was on his way to fulfill a preaching engagement at the Maryland Church in rural St. Andrew. As he passed through the town and proceeded to climb the hill to the north, he was strangely constrained by an inner impulse to stop the car. He did, and upon coming out of the car to check what might have been the reason for stopping, he caught sight of the vast valley and surrounding hills – the home of thousands of fellow Jamaicans. He was deeply impressed that God was revealing the need to share the Gospel with the Papine Community and to plant a Church there.
Shared Vision;
In the fraternal exchanges that followed the service at Maryland, the Special Worker shared his experience with Bro. Norman Thompson who was resident in Papine and pondered the idea that a Church should be started in Papine; within a few minutes Bro. Royston Peart another resident joined the conversation. They agreed but there were two serious constraints: the first, there was no place from which to work; and secondly, there was a need for a suitable person with commitment and availability to lead the process. Brother Thompson volunteered the veranda of his home as the VISION had long been on his heart.
The Papine Wesleyan Holiness Church had its Launching Service on Sunday, May 31, 1987. Services were held in the open shed / auditorium of the Papine Comprehensive High School. Special Worker Williams and his family, Brother Curtis Robinson and his wife Angela left their established congregation at Constant Spring and Brother Gray left Rose Hall Church to join in the pioneer work. Papine Church was birthed by Constant Spring Church and the child has grown into an adult.
Soon afterward, the small group was joined by Brother Gilbert Steele and his wife, Jane, and Sister Morlene Willis, who had moved from their homes in Portland to settle in the Papine area. Sis. Velma King later resigned her position as Senior Librarian for the parish of Portland to take up a position at United Theological College TCWI from where she could serve us in the Papine ministry.
The Church had an Inauguration Service on Sunday, October 18, 1987. Sunday Services were held in the open holding area of the school; Tuesday prayer meetings at various homes as would accommodate us. Thursday night Bible Studies were held on the veranda of the Thompson’s’ home and Friday night Youth Meetings were held at the home of the Pastor.
Sister Coombs, Sister Thompson, Sister Cindy and Bro. Blake were among the first to be admitted to membership. Then came the Graham sisters who were among the first group of Student members; followed by many from the University of the West Indies, University of Technology, and UHWI School of Nursing.
Papine High School continued to be our base of operation as we expanded our ministries and increased our membership. It was becoming clearer that we needed larger and more suitable facilities so while we did the best we could with the facilities that were made available to us, we prayed and looked for a new home.
In 2002, we observed that the building at 33 Gordon Town Road, Kingston 6 that formerly housed the local police station was being used as a nightclub. We saw from a distance the red lights and heard the inflaming rhythms. Pastor went into personal prayer sessions and asked God to close down the club and make the property available to us. When he mentioned it to a few brethren it was revealed that they were having the same thoughts and praying the same prayer.
The main challenge was to find out who owned the property and to make the first contact.
A lady from the community who started attending our services stood up and said” I think I have an idea who is the owner” She had seen him on the premises during the earlier years of existence.
On a clear Sunday morning in early May 1987 Special Worker, Dalvern O. Williams was on his way to fulfill a preaching engagement at the Maryland Church in rural St. Andrew. As he passed through the town and proceeded to climb the hill to the north, he was strangely constrained by an inner impulse to stop the car. He did, and upon coming out of the car to check what might have been the reason for stopping, he caught sight of the vast valley and surrounding hills – the home of thousands of fellow Jamaicans. He was deeply impressed that God was revealing the need to share the Gospel with the Papine Community and to plant a Church there.
Shared Vision;
In the fraternal exchanges that followed the service at Maryland, the Special Worker shared his experience with Bro. Norman Thompson who was resident in Papine and pondered the idea that a Church should be started in Papine; within a few minutes Bro. Royston Peart another resident joined the conversation. They agreed but there were two serious constraints: the first, there was no place from which to work; and secondly, there was a need for a suitable person with commitment and availability to lead the process. Brother Thompson volunteered the veranda of his home as the VISION had long been on his heart.
The Papine Wesleyan Holiness Church had its Launching Service on Sunday, May 31, 1987. Services were held in the open shed / auditorium of the Papine Comprehensive High School. Special Worker Williams and his family, Brother Curtis Robinson and his wife Angela left their established congregation at Constant Spring and Brother Gray left Rose Hall Church to join in the pioneer work. Papine Church was birthed by Constant Spring Church and the child has grown into an adult.
Soon afterward, the small group was joined by Brother Gilbert Steele and his wife, Jane, and Sister Morlene Willis, who had moved from their homes in Portland to settle in the Papine area. Sis. Velma King later resigned her position as Senior Librarian for the parish of Portland to take up a position at United Theological College TCWI from where she could serve us in the Papine ministry.
The Church had an Inauguration Service on Sunday, October 18, 1987. Sunday Services were held in the open holding area of the school; Tuesday prayer meetings at various homes as would accommodate us. Thursday night Bible Studies were held on the veranda of the Thompson’s’ home and Friday night Youth Meetings were held at the home of the Pastor.
Sister Coombs, Sister Thompson, Sister Cindy and Bro. Blake were among the first to be admitted to membership. Then came the Graham sisters who were among the first group of Student members; followed by many from the University of the West Indies, University of Technology, and UHWI School of Nursing.
Papine High School continued to be our base of operation as we expanded our ministries and increased our membership. It was becoming clearer that we needed larger and more suitable facilities so while we did the best we could with the facilities that were made available to us, we prayed and looked for a new home.
In 2002, we observed that the building at 33 Gordon Town Road, Kingston 6 that formerly housed the local police station was being used as a nightclub. We saw from a distance the red lights and heard the inflaming rhythms. Pastor went into personal prayer sessions and asked God to close down the club and make the property available to us. When he mentioned it to a few brethren it was revealed that they were having the same thoughts and praying the same prayer.
The main challenge was to find out who owned the property and to make the first contact.
A lady from the community who started attending our services stood up and said” I think I have an idea who is the owner” She had seen him on the premises during the earlier years of existence.
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In answer to our prayers, The Lord closed down the club and the building became vacant.
The Lord led us to find the owner Mr. Mendez Gutherie and to share with him our Vision for coming to Papine, our Mission to serve and transform the community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to build the community on godly principles and advance the kingdom of God and not to build a "Human Empire". We prayed together and asked God for His help to fulfil our mission. He was also invited to worship with us at the school. When he was advised of our interest in the property he sympathized and was clear in stating that he had constructed the building to establish a big hardware business to complement the one he already owned in the centre of the town and was not planning to dispose of it. Through the support and encouragement of our friends and family, God has made it possible for us to purchase the property. Here we must pay tribute to Papine High School for giving us a great start in providing accommodation for the budding ministry and to Mr. Mendez Guthrie, the former owner of this property, who against all other considerations changed his trajectory and graciously worked with us to facilitate our purchase of this place. Since moving to this location in 2003 the Church entered a new phase of growth and development. Membership and attendance increased, our ministries expanded, our relationship with the community deepened, and we now have a fully equipped and staffed Church office and a multidimensional ministry to the community and further afield. Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow. We especially want to acknowledge the support and assistance of all our friends, partners, members and those who are geographically separated but joined at the heart. We have all confidence that you, who have shared our Vision and supported us with your prayers, encouragement and financial gifts will continue to stand with us to the end. We have all faith in that “it is grace that has brought us safe this far and Grace will lead us home”. |
Velma King
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