Published On:Thursday, March 18, 2010

BY JIM LAWLOR

THE CHURCH that St Paul founded at Corinth was not the only congregation that had divisions in the membership.

The Abundant Life Bible Church, Nassau, was another church that came into being due to such a division in membership. The reason given was that the idea of a pastoral ministry at that time was not accepted by the Brethren Assemblies in the Bahamas.

As a result newly appointed Pastor Ed Allen, along with a number of members of the Grace Community Church held meetings in the Teacher's Union Hall on Bethel's Ave in Stapledon Gardens. Eventually property was purchased in Churchill Subdivision, the present location, from Brother Hubert Rolle, who at that time was a member. The transfer to the unfinished building in Churchill Subdivision had the same effect as the rush of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - the membership skyrocketed and people from many walks of life came to join the fellowship. After the completion of the new church, the street on which the church is located was changed by the government and named Abundant Life Road, which gave the inspiration for the name Abundant Life Bible Church.

The life of the new church began in October of 1979 with 38 people as charter members and became independent and accountable to no denominational head. The church has a pastor and is administered and served by a Pastoral staff of full-time ministers. They are assisted by a Committee of Deacons and numerous departments and committees of the church. Ever since its inception Abundant life Bible Church has sought to live up its character of being "God's workshop" on Abundant Life Road.

The church is led by Senior Pastor Dr F. Edward Allen, J. P; Th. D.D its founder, and three other dynamic associate pastors. They are: Pastor Gil Maycock BSc. M.A: Youth Evangelism, and Coordinator of Church Ministries Pastor Algy Malcolm: Visitation Pastor and Television Counseling. Pastor James Knowles: Church Business Administrator

Assisting the pastoral leadership are six deacons who are committed to the physical and social aspects of the ministry. They oversee the 30 plus ministries of the church and their functions and report quarterly to the pastoral staff.

The present building was erected in 1995, and holds a commanding position in the religious community.

Abundant Life Bible Church is guided by New Testament principles as recorded in their Statement of Faith. This Statement of Faith also reflects in a sense their Constitution in miniature form under the Presidency of the Holy Spirit. They are in the form of a creed:

1. We believe in the Bible as being the inspired Word of God.

2. We believe in the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that they are co-equal with each other.

3. We believe in Jesus Christ as being true man, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe that He was true God and that He died for our sins, rose for our justification and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. We believe in His High Priestly work at the Throne of God, and that He is coming again.

4. We believe in the Holy Spirit as being co-equal with the Father and the Son, That He is a Person and indwells in each believer to empower him for dynamic and successful Christian living and service.

5. We believe that man was made in the image and likeness of God. That he sinned and is in need of God's salvation.

6. We believe in the resurrection of the dead unto everlasting life, and sinners to the judgment and condemnation. We believe in the ordinances of the church: Baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper; that the church is composed of those people who are saved by God's grace.

These are some of the important tenets of our Faith as based upon God's infallible Word.

The Church has an outreach in Home and Foreign Missions. Our Home Missions consists of two radio programs and one television program, as well as support native missionaries and projects in Nassau and the Family Islands. The Foreign Missions ministries cater to missionaries in India, Africa and the Caribbean.

The members of Abundant Life Bible Church consider it a joy to have you visit their Website. They welcome you to it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as they also welcome visitors from abroad to visit Abundant Life when visiting Nassau. They consider that at Abundant Life sincere worshipers receive the maximum of God's abundant life blessings. They feel that visitors will be inspired, empowered and strengthened by the preaching of the Bible, the Blood and the Blessed Hope from "God's workshop" on Abundant Life Road.