Devon Dick ON THURSDAY, while I was at the United Church's Synod at the Jamaica Grande, the tragic news came that Reverend Cleveland Elisha Grant, C.D. D.D., J.P., had died. The bearer of the news was Reverend Christopher Mason, one who had worked closely with the now deceased over the years on the National Prayer Breakfast Committee. The synod was in shock when it was announced and a moment's silence was observed.
I was not in total shock because the night before, I heard that he had gone back to hospital. In addition, at the 33rd Annual Kingston Keswick Convention held in January at the Boulevard Baptist Church, Reverend Dr Cleve Grant seemed thin and weak. It was not the same robust Cleve Grant, though he was still an effective Chairman.
ECUMENICAL GIANT
Cleve Grant will be remembered as an ecumenical giant. He was not president of any ecumenical council but he has done more for the ecumenical movement than most. He was the Chairman of the Kingston Keswick from I started to attend Keswick in my high school days. The motto of Kingston Keswick was 'all one in Christ Jesus' and one never heard him speak about his denominational label. One could not detect any bias toward speakers from his denomination to be used in the Kingston Keswick Convention. His interest was the deepening of the Christian life of the Believer.
Under the leadership of Cleve Grant, Kingston Keswick was known for its high standard of Bible teaching. Another feature of his leadership was the use of locals as main speakers. When Kingston Keswick Convention started in 1960, Dr. Stephen Holford of New York was the first speaker. There have been other outstanding foreign preachers throughout the years including Rev Roy Gustafon, Dr. Barry Moore, Rev Ian Barclay and the one I remember best Dr. Alan Redpath. But in 1979, we had Jamaican-born Dr. Sam Hines, former chairman of Kingston Keswick Convention as the guest speaker. There have been others including Dr. Gerry Gallimore, Dr. Sam Green, and this year for another time Dr. Burchell Taylor.
He was also involved in other ecumenical bodies. I fondly remember his faithful service when we both served as vice-presidents of the Boys' Brigade in the 1980s. In addition, he has served on the Board of Jamaica Theological Seminary and committee member of the National Prayer Breakfast.
PASSION FOR EVANGELISM
Reverend Dr. Cleve Grant will also be remembered for his passion for evangelism. There was not a major national evangelistic crusade that he was not involved in from the time Billy Graham came here in 1958 to the visit of Graham's son, Franklyn in 2000. He was chairman of the Committee when Argentinean-born American Luis Palau came in 1993 and it was a joy working with him.
Unfortunately, the information about those great mass crusades will be interred with his bones because not much is documented and no one did an interview with him. No other clergyman would have been involved in mass national evangelistic efforts that have resulted in more persons making decisions for Christ, than Cleve Grant. In the Franklyn Graham crusade alone, of the 220,980 persons who attended, 26,124 made decisions for Christ. Yes, he was Mr. Ecumenism but he was also Mr. Evangelism. He was involved in both edifying the believers and evangelising the lost.
However, it would be a mistake to believe that Cleve Grant did not understand the social implications of the gospel. Just before he retired, I was privileged to attend the opening of the imposing building to the back of the Constant Spring Church of God. That centre was designed to help in a holistic ministry to the community. He was also a newspaper columnist who was against Sunday shopping and the Carnival during the Easter season. He was not afraid to call for holiness in national affairs.
PERPETUALLY YOUNG
Cleve Grant was evergreen. He was perpetually young and always on the go. He might 'burn out' but never 'rust out'. I remember one Kingston Keswick in the mid-1990s when a Bahamian preacher was the main speaker. He publicly remarked that the committee was old and that it needed fresh blood. That did not bother Cleve Grant. He just continued to serve faithfully until the end.
He, though small in stature, was performing his duties with dignity as a gentle giant. The doyen of clergymen will be deeply missed. Condolences to the family and especially to his life partner, Gloria, who was always there with him at the Kingston Keswick.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
