Ready to explore the story of De Kerk van Jezus Christus van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen? This church on Burenstraat in Paramaribo represents a unique spiritual journey in Suriname. The church is also known as a Mormon or Christian church.
In the late 1980s, Suriname saw the seeds of this faith take root. The first known baptism was Lisa Bills in August 1967. She was the eight-year-old daughter of a family who held their own church services. This occurred in a river outside Paramaribo.
Missionary work formally began when John Limburg and his wife Beverly arrived in Paramaribo in October 1988. By early 1989, about sixteen people attended services. On Easter Sunday in March 1989, August Marengo and sisters Eleni and Maudi Treonosimitoe were baptized. They became the first converts.
A month later, Iwan Nathaniel and Philly Denswel were also baptized. Philly Denswel’s family lived in Lelydorp. This prompted the Limburgs to start holding services there in December 1989.
The growing membership in Paramaribo led to a formal branch. It was organized in November 1989. By 1990, around 100 people attended the branch each week.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve visited Suriname in February 1990. Four men who had read about his visit in the newspaper attended the meeting. All four men joined the Church. One of them was Stanley Cooman. He became the first native branch president.
Don and Lorna Rapier played a crucial role. They obtained pre-recorded radio broadcasts about gospel principles. These broadcasts were from missionaries in Holland. They then arranged for them to be aired on a local Dutch-speaking radio program. Irena Manakavera heard one of these broadcasts. She was later baptized and brought 28 people into the Church. Several were members of a local Carib Indian tribe.
By 2001, the church had grown to 495 members in Suriname. The Paramaribo chapel was dedicated in July 2001. Due to continued growth, the Paramaribo Branch was divided. This division created the Wanica Branch in September 2002.
In 2022, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Suriname had 1797 members. There were six branches and one district. The Paramaribo Suriname District includes several branches. These are Gemeente Koewarasan, Latour, Nieuw Amsterdam, Paramaribo, Tammenga, and Wanica.
Family History Centers are located in the Tammenga and Wanica Meetinghouses. These centers allow members and others to explore their ancestry. They connect with their families. The District Center offices are located in the Tammenga Branch Meetinghouse.
Today, De Kerk van Jezus Christus van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen continues to be a place of worship. It serves its community in Paramaribo and beyond. It stands as a testament to faith. It highlights growth and community. It’s a spiritual home for many in Suriname.