THE BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH

The construction of the Washington Boulevard in the Pre-Independence era occasioned the buildup of communities from Duhaney Park to Dunrobin during the 1960s. A small group of Hanover Street Baptist Church members living off the Washington Boulevard at the time, met regularly at the home of Cyril Palmer to plan and execute the building of a church. Reverent Luther Gibbs, serving as Pastor of Hanover Street, encouraged these members to become the nucleus for a new congregation for a church to be built on grounds donated by the authorities of Calabar. In February 1969 a small Cathedral like building was erected, using brick, steel and mortar, the roof was made of aluminum type sheeting, this building was erected on the property which was donated, The Boulevard Baptist Church came into being with thirty-three (33) members. So rapid was the growth in membership that six years later, on September 11, 1975 Rev. Luther Gibbs accepted the call to the fulltime pastorate of Boulevard Baptist Church. He immediately set his eyes on building a Chapel large enough to accommodate two thousand (2,000) people. The Chapel was built to accommodate large groups like Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) Assembly. The programmes, right from the start, were organized to facilitate outreach activities like dental care, legal aid, skills training, adult education, counselling, and care basket. Boulevard has also led the way in the establishment of Sunday school for the total population (all age groups) and in Media Ministry. When the Rev. Luther Gibbs retired in 1990 the church sought and found a young man, Rev. Devon Dick, who was given the responsibility to fill the church by evangelism, develop an effective ministry to the youth and encourage participation of all members. Since then, he has accomplished more than was asked. The outreach of the church has extended to other persons through Jamal-type programmes, scholarships, care basket, singles ministry and Media Ministry. New dimensions focused on research, planning and implementation.

The Mission Statement of the church beckons all members to evangelism and mission. Group members have been on mission to Warsop, Rock River, Point Hill, Cuba, Guyana, and England and, with a different focus, to the United States of America. The establishment of adequate parking facilities, the expansion and dedication of the Luther Gibbs Building, the opening of a Library, improvement of lighting facilities, and the expansion of improved electronic facilities are steps which herald the growth of a church with a vision.