New Testament Church celebrates

Members from forty-five New Testament Church (NTCOG) of God branches celebrated their centennial anniversary with an opening ceremony on Palm Sunday.

With the church’s origins traced to the United States, the present Church of God is one of the leading Pentecostal churches globally. Senior Pastor of NTCOG, Reverend Davis Browne during his opening remarks said the flame of the Pentecostal light came to Barbados in 1917.

“...The New Testament Church of God Barbados has lived and carried that Pentecostal fire. One hundred years later this year, by the grace of God, we are still here. We are still bearing the strips of our calling alighting this nation in Christ-centred Ministry, Christian education and community outreach,” said Reverend Browne.

The pastor outlined the seven core values of the church which were committed to pray, Pentecostal worship, world evangelisation, church planting, leadership development, care for families and communities and interdependence within the body of Christ.

Under the theme, Celebrating our Pentecostal Heritage, Evangelising and Discipling the Next Generation, the opening ceremony focused on highlighting the achievement of the church over the years, honouring their centenarian church members and acknowledging the new, young baptised NTCOG members. In keeping with the theme, the Pentecostal flame statue was passed from an old member to a new member of the church. Additionally, the congregation viewed a brief video, a Memorial of church servant leaders between 1917 to 1942.

NTCOG Barbados has been instrumental in the social and physical development throughout its hundred year existence. The church which was incorporated in the Parliamentary Act of 1940 is a registered charity and it has helped many within the Barbadian communities and abroad. One of the major projects has been collaborating with the Breakfast Club and the St. Ambrose Anglican Church. Over five years, $350,000 has been dedicated to the support of this programme in addition to providing care for the elderly, repairing homes and providing social care for those with financial challenges within the church and its communities. The church has also provided relief in Haiti, Grenada, Dominican Republic and Malawi.

With its strong religious presence in the Barbados, past members have formed several other churches like Living Water Tabernacle, Victory Pentecostal and Faith Deliverance Temple.

On Sunday, three centenarians were honoured for their service to NTCOG. Doris Greaves, age 102, Rupert Springer, age 101 and Maizie Williams, age 102 (who had sent a relative on her behalf). Each received a gift basket during the service at Ministerial & Educational Resource Centre (MERC).

Earlier in the ceremony, Administrative Bishop of NTCOG, Martin Brewster consecrated the wooden flame statue of the NTCOG and unveiled the anniversary logo. The calendar of events began in April with the celebrations ended in January 2018.