CARIBBEAN BAPTISTS HONOURED REV. VINCENT HOOD

"A founding member of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, an icon of the faith, a no-nonsense person and an erudite Baptist Pastor" was how the Rev. Vincent Wood was described by the Rev. Everton Jackson, Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the CBF as over three hundred Baptists from the Caribbean and Diaspora stood in the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in recognition of his sterling contribution to the CBF, BWA and CCP. "We laud you for your unflinching service defined by unswerving commitment, sustained integrity, and uncompromised faith," declared Rev. Mr. Jackson. In his over forty-five years’ service to the organization, the Rev. Mr. Wood served as President, Executive Member, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for CCP, member of the BWA Executive and General Council among other Committees.  A plaque was presented to him by the Rev. William Thompson, CBF President. In his response, Rev. Wood expressed his thanks to God for calling him into service. 

The occasion was the Baptists' Gathering, the closing feature of the Executive Meetings of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship held on October 26-27, 2016 at the Radisson Aquatic Resort, Barbados. On the night of October 27, representatives from the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, Haiti, Jamaica, the Bahamas, San Andres Island, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guadeloupe, Grenada and the United States of America shared worship with the Baptists of Barbados. The worship featured elocution, dance, and music. The guest preacher was the Rev. Karl Henlin from Jamaica who currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for CCP. 

In addressing the theme, "Jesus Christ, the Door," from St. John 10: 9-10, the Rev. Mr. Henlin challenged the congregation to see Jesus, the door, as the one who leads us into genuine freedom. He urged the Baptists from the region with their own unique cultures and worship styles to appreciate the fellowship experienced and enriched by accepting Jesus as the door who also leads us into a glorious future. 

The meetings were hosted jointly by the Baptist Alliance of Barbados, Barbados Baptist Convention and the First Baptist of Barbados. The Caribbean Baptist Fellowship was founded in 1970 and currently has approximately seventeen active member bodies drawn mainly from the English-speaking and French/Creole territories.