“What doctrines shape the faith here at Castries Evangelical Church?” I ask you to consider that question as we stand before this important place of worship. Castries Evangelical Church stands as a testament to faith in Castries. It reflects the diverse religious landscape of Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia is predominantly Catholic. However, Protestant denominations also have a strong presence. Evangelicals comprise a smaller percentage of the population. Yet their contribution to the island’s spiritual life is significant.
Let’s delve into the historical context of churches in St. Lucia. Baptist work began in the mid-1940s. Missionaries arrived from Baptist Mid-Missions of North Carolina. They established several churches including First Baptist Church in Castries. Grace Baptist Church in Bexon and Patience Church in Anse-la-Raye also owe their existence to these early missionaries.
By the time the missionaries departed seven churches existed. A Bible school was built in St Vincent. Young men trained there then ministered in some of those churches.
These churches were Arminian and dispensational in doctrine. This hindered the teaching of the doctrines of grace. Joseph Fevrier introduced the doctrines of grace to St. Lucia. He was invited to pastor Bexon Grace Baptist Church in the early 1970s. Fevrier had trained at Barry Bible College in South Wales. He was assistant pastor at the East London Tabernacle. His convictions were Calvinistic.
When he accepted the pastorate of First Baptist Church in 1976 his teaching faced scrutiny. First Baptist Church experienced internal struggles. Some members left. The church withdrew from the Association of Baptist Churches. Under his leadership the Reformed faith prevailed. Young men embraced the doctrines of grace. These included Malcolm Scholar and Peter Samuel.
Today four of seventeen Baptist churches in St Lucia are Reformed. These are First Baptist at Castries Grace Baptist at Bexon Patience Baptist at Anse la Raye and Berean Baptist Church at Vieux Fort.
The Reformed work in St Lucia faces challenges. These include smallness and a lack of resources. The Calvinistic Arminian divide persists. Yet pastors maintain good relationships. Fellowship is discouraged at an ecclesiastical level. But ties between members of different churches remain strong. A Reformed teaching ministry is urgently needed.
Pastors in St Lucia address worship and gospel preaching. They counteract trends towards entertainment worship. They emphasize the Word of God and evangelism. Resources for evangelistic programs are scarce. It is difficult for pastors to acquire good books.
St Lucia is bilingual. Few pastors are fluent in Creole. Peter Samuel teaches Creole in the churches. He made available a Creole translation of the New Testament.
Hostility poses a challenge to gospel progress. Patience Baptist Church is seen as a threat by Roman Catholics. Efforts have been made to destroy its ministry. Disruptive efforts include denying sacraments to children attending Baptist Sunday school. Activities coincide with Sunday school events.
Grace Baptist Church faces hostility from Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Despite these challenges opportunities for preaching exist. It is possible to preach in the open air. One can visit homes to share the gospel.
Services can be amplified through loudspeakers. Bibles books and tracts are sold at subsidized prices. Pastor Samuel conducts a daily devotional radio program in Creole. His church has a Reformed book ministry. The Reformed churches plan to publish gospel tracts free of charge.
Pastors and elders of St Lucia’s Reformed churches meet twice a month. They meet for prayer and fellowship. Contacts have been developed with Reformed churches in Trinidad Tobago and Grenada. This cooperation resulted in the Bunyan Institute of Theological Studies. It is hoped that BITS will provide training for local church leaders. It will host Reformed conferences and other events.
As we conclude our visit to Castries Evangelical Church remember the dedication of its members. They work to spread their faith in the face of adversity. Their commitment is inspiring. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith in Saint Lucia.