Heavenly Highway Church History, Growth, and Vision

By Rev. Phillip Pusey

To God be the glory for the things He has done. The power and presence of the Lord has always been clear at Heavenly Highway.

The history of the Heavenly Highway General Baptist church is one that is rich and changing. Its history dates back to the time of Reverend Albert Russell and his wife, First Lady Louise Russell, in the year 1965. Initially the church started out with a small congregation. The physical structure was that of wooden walls with a thatch roof and small board benches. Rev. Russell lived on the church grounds with his wife. He was a skilled baker who specialized in baking spice buns, ginger bulla and ‘kuup kuup’. These he sold from time to time by a place called Pen Gate in the community. The community people gave him their support.

Heavenly Highway Church buildingHowever, as time passed on, a transition was made and Reverend Lloyd Hall was sent to continue on the foundation that was laid by Rev. Russell. Rev. Hall with the help of his wife, First Lady Donna Hall, Deacon Wendell Ford, sister Gloria Campbell secretary and sister Sonia Mignott treasurer, the church was led into another phase. Mention must also be made of the involvement of the missionaries such as Brother John Hibbs, his wife, and Brother Terry Howser as well as other missionaries from America that were pivotal in further establishing and assisting this denomination here in Jamaica.

The ministry continued to build and grow, and its membership grew from the thirties to the sixties. The church was also re-roofed courtesy of Brother Terry and his team. This was a huge blessing for which the congregants were extremely grateful and appreciative. As time advanced Rev. Hall was called upon to pastor another General Baptist church and so he handed over the reins to Rev. Phillip Pusey.

Rev. Phillip Pusey and First Lady Sis. Pusey were given the mandate to lead Heavenly Highway into the 21st century. Rev. Pusey’s first stint began in the year 2003 as Minister Pusey, when he was under the tutelage of Rev. Hall. Then in the year 2006 he became the pastor of Heavenly Highway General Baptist. They took over when the church was in transition mode from having a pastor of over twenty years and when the world itself was shifting from the nineteenth century into a new dispensation-the 21st century. As they embarked on their new responsibilities they sought to build on the foundation that was laid spiritually, numerically, structurally and socially. Continue reading

Let's Celebrate Advent

Let’s Celebrate Advent

By Franklin R. Dumond, Congregational Ministries Director

Long before Christmas became a commercial event that began appearing in retail outlets alongside Halloween, the church developed an approach to Christmas that made it a season of anticipation and preparation in the weeks before the holiday.

As a young pastor, I remember struggling with how to fit all the favored carols and all the special programs of Christmas into the one Sunday before December 25 traditionally given to Christmas celebrations in my rural home church. Then I stumbled onto Advent and learned not only the joy of anticipation and celebration, but also the beauty of preparing a congregation for that special time of the year.

When Is Advent?

Advent DatesAdvent is the season marked by the four Sundays before December 25, climaxing with Christmas Day and the wonderful good news, “unto you is born a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

Many churches mark Advent by using an Advent Wreath composed of greenery and five candles. Artificial greenery is much preferred over live greenery, which may present a fire hazard in the later weeks of Advent. Pillar-type candles give the safest use of candles, as only rarely do they drip or spill.

Lighting the candles one each Sunday allows children to excitedly count the Sundays before Christmas as one candle burns on the First Sunday of Advent, two on the Second Sunday of Advent, three on the Third Sunday of Advent, and four on the Fourth Sunday of Advent to remind everyone that Christmas is almost here!

Many churches will use traditional themes of Advent, but I always enjoyed using Advent to tell the Christmas story in small parts. As a Baptist pastor I always found telling the story of Christmas leading up to the birth of Jesus was well-received by the congregation and a special treat for the children who hurried to the Advent Wreath for the Children’s message. Because I used a nativity set with a variety of figurines, the children could help place one or two figures in the scene each week as we explored the Christmas story.

Two special features easily added to the season could be a Hanging of the Greens service on Sunday evening, December 4. While we never used this event to actually decorate the church, we often used it as a song fest we called “Songs of the Season” with both religious and traditional Christmas music and readings. One of the later Advent evenings also lends itself to “Carols, Candles, and Communion.”

Even if you are not using Advent in your church it is worth using the Sundays of Advent to mention some aspect of the Christmas story. The more often Christmas is connected with the church the more often we are able to develop and reinforce a Christian worldview.

Even worship plans and sermon themes that are not related to Advent can be given an Advent flavor by adjusting an illustration or changing a song title. While some church leaders do not believe Christmas deserves 1/12 of the annual emphasis in a church, others who recognize the overwhelming significance of the Incarnation believe that the message of Advent cannot be restricted to just one month of the year.

Go ahead and cancel Christmas this year but don’t forget to celebrate Advent

James and the Giving Bottle

James and the Giving Bottle

By Pattiy Thornton, Women’s Ministries Director

James TurnerThere is usually only one thing that attracts young men to the Women’s Ministries display at Summit. The candy bar. Chocolate, jelly beans, licorice, and more right there for the scooping.

But on the first day of the 2016 Summit, an 11-year-old boy made his way eagerly to the exhibit hall, looking specifically for our booth. Better yet, he was looking even more specifically for a place to put his water bottle.

This wasn’t any old water bottle. And James Turner isn’t any young lad. James attended the Missions & Ministry Summit last year, and several missionaries spent some time there with the children talking about the children in their own lives.

James’ heart was bitten by the missions bug. Women’s Ministries had just started a new campaign, asking people to fill water bottles, a giving bottle, with dimes. A full bottle would mean $100 for ministry. His mom shared with us that he saw our display and thought, “Hey, I can do that!”

Oh, yes he could. He was a radical dime saver. He asked for change in dimes in stores. He asked relatives to empty their purses and pockets of dimes and drop them in his bottle. He scooped up loose dimes between cushions. He even had his mom post a request on Facebook when he doubted his ability to fill the bottle up in time for Summit.

There was an indescribable glint in James’ eyes when he carried that bottle over to Hope and Vicki while they were getting ready to open up shop. His giving bottle was the first in the bucket, and he received the very first thank you gift from Women’s Ministries. He may not have been thrilled about the cool “Be You, Bravely” tote bag, but when Hope threw some extra candy and an empty Tervis cup into the mix, he was happy.

Actually, I don’t think James cared a bit about the gift. He had accomplished his goal – a sacrificial offering that stemmed from a heart of love. Thank you, James, for the example.