Rev Dr Alston Henry dedicates Brooklyn church

THE CHURCH’S faithfulness in serving its community is key to economic prosperity in the community. This was a viewpoint proffered by the Reverend Dr Alston Henry, OD, at the dedication ceremony of the Rehoboth Open Bible Church in Brooklyn, New York. The church, a pillar in the community for 45 years, was celebrating the opening of its new multi-purpose building at 888 E56th Street.

Reverend Henry, a former president of the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals, and a former general superintendent of the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica, stated that the Rehoboth Church has a pivotal role in addressing social ills, such as crime and drug use. He said that the church is a monument meant to retake the territory for God.

“If the Church is going to meet the problems in society, it will need to put away ‘strange gods’, he further advised.

Henry cautioned the congregation against showing contempt for God and encouraged them to access God by their prayers and the demonstration of genuine repentance. He opined that repentance does not only affect the emotional, but it also affects the intellect. He posited the view that “prayer is where the action is and evangelism is picking up the results”.

The church, at its new location in Brooklyn, has now positioned itself to serve the community more effectively. According to its current senior pastor, The Rev Leroy Spencer, the church’s success is indicative of the support of the community, and it is the goal of the church to continue impacting the community holistically. He explained that lives must be affected spiritually, but the church must assist in empowering the community to improve their quality of life.

The new facility currently contains a 500-seat capacity sanctuary, but the leadership of the church is excited about the future, with plans to add other features, such as a kindergarten-junior high (K-8) school, a youth centre, a skating rink, and a basketball court.

Other speakers at the week of grand opening services included the Reverend Josh Grimes, regional executive director of Open Bible East Churches, USA, and Reverend Michael Hammond, ordained minister with the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica, theologian, and educator.

Founded in 1978 by The Reverend Easton Grant, a Jamaican native, the Rehoboth Church is now led by the reverends Leroy and Dalton Spencer, also Jamaica-born.