I ... became friends with a woman who invited me to the Open Bible Church one Sunday. I told her I would go, but just once.

Growing up in Woodlands district, St Elizabeth, becoming a pastor was the last thing on Reverend Alston Henry's mind. The inquisitive young man had dreams of soaring above the clouds in a 747 jet.

"I really wanted to be a commercial pilot," he recalled in an interview with The Gleaner at his 12 Washington Boulevard office. "I was just fascinated with aeroplanes and the idea of flying."

Fate had other plans for the ambitious lad, who would leave his parents' home at age 15 to make life on his own.

"I grew up in a devout Christian home. My parents were active members of the Moravian church and I was involved in church from as early as I can remember," he said.

However, while on his own in Montego Bay, St James, Rev Henry admitted to "dropping out" of church for about three or four years.

"I eventually became friends with a woman who invited me to the Open Bible Church one Sunday. I told her I would go, but just once," he recalled. That same evening, he committed his life to Christ and has been apart of the denomination for the last 43 years.

Unexpected turn

A few years later, his life took another unexpected turn when he entered the Jamaica Open Bible Institute to study theology. He was only 20 years old.

"On graduating, I returned to Montego Bay and took pastoral responsibility for the Mount Salem Open Bible Church," he said.

After years of committed and fervent service, the 61-year-old veteran pastor is giving up the position of general superintendent of the more than 10,000-member Open Bible Standard Churches (OBSC) of Jamaica. He did not seeking re-election at the annual convention of the OBSC now on at its national complex in Twickenham Park, St Catherine. He has already served two separate terms, or 14 years, at the helm of the growing denomination. Rev Hugh Elliston has been elected General Superintendent and will take office on April 1.

The Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica is celebrating 60 years of service to Jamaica. Reminiscing on its growth, Rev Henry said there is much to be thankful for. He said the organisation has evolved, considerably, in many respects since the founding missionaries first set foot in Montego Bay in 1949.

Over the last 30 years, there has been almost a doubling of the membership in the churches, nationally, with some 52 congregations across the island.

By Rev Henry's estimate, this includes at least about 65 per cent women and 35 per cent men, with at least 50 per cent of the church population under 35.

The denomination has also been able to establish seven basic schools, one kinder preparatory school and a highly-respected theological training institution.

November 2006: Dwight Shelley, deacon at the Boulevard Church of the Open Bible (left), looks on while Rev. Dr. Alston Henry, general superintendent (second left), receives a donation from Mr. Milverton Reynolds, general manager Jamaica Mortgage Bank (right), and Janet Hines, director of finance. - Contributed

According to Rev Henry, the acquisition of a national headquarters complex in St Catherine, and the setting up of a disaster relief supplies facility, have also been noteworthy Open Bible accomplishments.

In wider evangelical circles, OBSC of Jamaica has been a founding member of the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals and the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches, as well as the National Religious Media Commission. The denomination is also a shareholder and co-founder of the religious radio and television stations, LOVE FM and LOVE TV.

Rev Henry, however, admitted that there is much more work to be done. Although he will no longer be at the forefront of the executive of OBSC of Jamaica, Rev. Henry said the church's mission will undoubtedly continue with much zeal. He said, as a matter of priority, the church has intensified its efforts to reach the nation's children and young people who are increasingly being bombarded with messages and lifestyles that run counter to biblical principles.

He further views the end of his term as general superintendent as an opportunity to concentrate more on his role as pastor of the Washington Boulevard Church of the Open Bible, where he has been for more than 30 years.

"God has been good to me, life has been good to me," he told The Gleaner. "I hail from humble beginnings and I have had great opportunities."

Rev Henry said he has been blessed with a great family — three daughters, five grandchildren and an outstanding wife, Eneth, who is also a minister.

He has encouraged Jamaicans to remain steadfast and hopeful, even in the face of a deepening economic crisis and a surging crime rate.

"We must not lose sight of the fact that the present difficulties are also presenting some significant opportunities, but opportunities that will be missed if we are not looking for them," he advised.

"Now is a good time if you are looking to buy a house. There are good opportunities if you are looking around to go into business. Surviving and making it in this environment requires new thinking, some of the old paradigms aren't going to cut it anymore."

Rev Henry said he is very hopeful about the nation's youth and believes Jamaica's prospects for the future are bright.

"I am not pessimistic at all."

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com

June 2007: Students of Obistan Kinderprep, a school run by the Church of the Open Bible, 12 Washington Boulevard, perform at an event. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer