‘No one church can preach the gospel all over the world; therefore we all have to work in a collective effort for the fulfillment of prophecy’. These were the words coming from Pastor Victoriano Pomare-Mc Laughling who is responsible for the Cayman Brac SDA churches as he joined others pastors and members from other churches in the ground breaking ceremony of the All Nations United Pentecostal Church of the Apostolic Faith (UPC) on Monday, 30 April.

Other distinguished guests sharing in the celebration were Deputy District Commissioner (DDC) Mark Tibbetts, Chief Inspector of Police for the Sister Islands Patrick Beersingh, and Pastor Audley Scott from the Hill Side Chapel Church.

Pastor Audley Scott mentioned that eighteen years ago he and his members went through the same experience of ground breaking and said the church body will feel even better when they actually move into the building.

Representing the government, DDC Tibbetts expressed his congratulations to the church body on their achievements. He urged the church to continue on their community development efforts and said he hoped the church would continue to grow and prosper. The UPC Brac detachment started in the year of 2002 when prayer meetings, fastings and teachings were being held in the living room of Evangelist Maylyn Beckford. Later the mass attendance outgrew the space of the living room, thus the need developed to seek external assistance for a church on Cayman Brac.

It was at this time contact was made with Bishop Dr Dolbert Clarke who is the head pastor for UPC and he quickly embraced the idea for the commencement of a Brac church. In 2003, Bishop Dr Clarke organized a team for two nights of crusade at the Aston Rutty Centre to launch the church. After many attempts and deliberation an establishment was rented at Foster’s corner, which holds a capacity of forty members. The first Sunday morning service was held there on 28, August 2003.

Through the efforts of prayer and commitment to God, a section of land was purchased off Song Bird Drive on the Bluff where the church will be built. Currently meetings are held under a tent which was erected in 2006, and construction of the building is expected to commence shortly. All necessary paperwork has been approved and materials are already on the ground.

According to Minister Courtney Morrison, the building construction is expected to last for six months and would be able to seat one hundred and fifty members. It will be built to withstand a category five hurricane. “The church will also be used as a shelter in case of an emergency,” he added.

The church is well supported by head pastor Bishop Dr Dolbert Clarke and other members from Grand Cayman. This was evident at the ground breaking ceremony as all made it possible to pay tribute to the venture by taking a trip over to the Brac for the ceremony.

Offering his comments, Chief Inspector Beersingh stated that he was delighted to be a part of the joyous celebration and that he knows the power of a church in the growth of a community. He also said the church has his full support as key partner in the community.