History of Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church

"From Struggle and Conquest To Victory And Praise"

"So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his ands."-

The history of the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church parallels that of ancient Israel from the call of Abraham the Patriarch through the Exodus to Canaan and in the sharp similarity in the geography of the area with that of Palestine.

As the word of the Lord came to Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees, so did many of the inhabitants residing in the city of Kingston where they worked and worshipped.   They obeyed and responded to the call to get out by faith into the land of Portmore, St. Catherine.

The struggle had begun with many commuting to the city daily and on Sabbaths by public transportation, a tedious and challenging experience.  Others worshipped in a small Gregory Park church, which soon proved inadequate to acommodate the phenomenal growth of Portmore due to urban sprawl.

The necessity and demands for a church in the area grew stronger.  A call was made for all the Seventh-day Adventists in Portmore to meet at Lot 364, Passage Fort, the house of Bro. Harold Sookie on January 12, 1977.

Pastor D.E. Kent and K.C. Henry Conference representatives met with members and the decision was taken that the group be named the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church and that the first Sabbath service be held on January 22, 1977.

The faith of the brethren was tremedous.  Although there was no church building, nevertheless they set the date in faith believing that God would provide a place right on time. God did reward their faith and the Port Henderson Community Centre became available between the hours of 9:00a.m. to 12:00 noon on Sabbaths.

You would have had to be at that first church service to understand the thrill, the indescribable thrill that the worshippers felt as they journeyed towards the cut-stone building.  The walking feet seemed to be responding to the rhythm of the great Christian hymn

Onward Christian Soldiers Marching as to war with the cross of Jesus Going on before Christ the royal master Leads against the foe Forward into battle See his banners go!

As the worshippers entered the stone-cut building, the very presence of the Lord hallowed the place; all experienced the feeling a sweet, sweet spirit in the place as Sis. Yvonne Gregory opened her mouth to utter the first words and there was joy unspeakable for, here in Portmore, history was made, as the flag of Adventism was unfurled. Sabbath May 14, 1977 saw the formal organization of the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist church by the then President of the Central Jamaica Conference, Pastor Edwin Hyatt.  Twenty-four members whose membership had been received from their former churches were noted to become the 171st (excluding the Conference church) in Central Jamaica Conference.  The following Sunday, fourteen persons were baptized at the sea and the Portmore Church from this small begining, like little drops of water was to come forth with oceans of souls for God's kingdom.

The early days were characterized by love and oneness. This was no exaggeration.  Portmore Church became synonymous with caring, sharing and helping.  So many activities were done by young and old together. Sharing the faith, cooking in the open outdoor, praying together, conducting outreach programmes together, visiting shut-ins together even crying together.  The `church with a difference', `the church in the wilderness'; whatever the name chosen, Portmore had a unity which stands in the memory of every one who experienced it.

There are other memories too.  Treasured memories.  We cannot forget the enthusiasm of the first leader Bro. Harold Sookie.  We recall citizens with table tennis rackets in hand at the doors of the community centre where we worshipped, waiting to enter as we left at noon.