Visionary wants to rekindle Christian education

Judy Delfene Williams

Tuesday, March 9, 2004

Christian visionary, Judy Delfene Williams, will soon be releasing her first book, Rekindling The Flame Of Christian Education.

Ms Williams, who, with the assistance of Pastor Al Ebanks, founded International Seminary in 2000, has made a career out of teaching the gospel.

She graduated from the Cayman Islands High School in 1974, obtaining employment with the Cayman Islands Government as a Postal Assistant. 
In March of 1983 she joined the staff of Texaco Caribbean Inc, as an Executive Secretary, thus beginning a career in the secretarial field, which extended over 15 years. Her secretarial career culminated after attaining the position of Executive Secretary to the Managing Director of Ansbacher Cayman Ltd where she worked for several years.

Ms Williams had a quest for knowledge and constantly pursued further education. Among her achievements are a Word Processing Teaching Diploma from Joint Examining Board in the United Kingdom when she studied at Southwest London College, various Theological Diplomas from International Seminary of Plymouth, Florida and a Bachelor in Religious Education from Christian Bible College, North Carolina.

In the early Eighties, Ms Williams began attending "Church on Hospital Road," which is now Agape Family Worship Centre. At the "Church on Hospital Road" she became actively involved in various areas of ministry including that of Sunday school teacher. 

She accredits her motivation towards the things of God to a favorite expression which she uses frequently: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last". 

Ms Williams, fondly called 'Judge Judy' by her many students at International Seminary was just like any other good executive secretary, until God revealed to her His divine purpose for her life. 

She answered the call to full-time ministry in August 1998 when she resigned from her secretarial career and became a full-time Bible scholar at Caribbean Christ for the Nations (CCFNI) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

At CCFNI she received teaching from Christian Educators such as Rev Dr Glenn Galtere, Rev Deborah Galtere and Dr P J Lawrence. Shortly after that she accepted an opportunity made possible by the Galteres to study at the International Seminary Satellite Class. 

It was during her time of study with the International Seminary that the vision for a similar institution in Cayman began to burn in her heart. Ms Williams envisioned a ministry called "Maranatha Resource Training/Center," where people would be trained for ministry or in becoming effective church leaders who would make a spiritual impact on the lives of people both here in the Cayman Islands and in other nations. 

Ms Williams graduated in the summer of 1999 from International Seminary Satellite Class in Jamaica with a Diploma of Practical Theology. At her graduation, she had the privilege of meeting Rev Jim Byers, the Director of Satellite Classes and was quick to share her vision with him.

The Cayman Islands chapter of the International Seminary opened its doors to forty-two students in a Sunday school classroom at the Agape Family Worship Centre in 2000. In December of that same year, 41 of those students graduated receiving their Diplomas in Practical Theology. A year later, International Seminary moved to its new location, The Maranatha Resource/ Training Center.

Ms William's ultimate goal is to see the establishment of a Christian College in these Islands, one that will offer training at all levels of Christian education up to and including graduate degrees. To date some 118 students have graduated from the International Seminary Satellite Classes.

Ms Williams is the ninth of 12 children born to the late Ashton and Amy Gould. She was raised in a family where strong Christian values were enforced and made her commitment to serve the Lord at the age of 16.

She became a member of the New Testament Church of God, which was then located in the Rock Hole area of George Town. 

She is married to Anthony Williams and is the proud mother of three sons, Lehron, Lorin and Joshua. When not busy lecturing at the seminary, Ms Williams engages herself in family activities.

Back...

Click here for reader comments...