The Caribbean's Contribution to Adventism in the United States

The historical record is clear that the slave traders traversed the frigid waters of the Atlantic to bring slave cargo to America from the "Dark Continent of Africa." The passage from Africa to America went through the Caribbean Sea among the Isles of the West Indies, as the slave ships sailed to Jamestown, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina, where the slaves were sold to the highest bidders.

Centuries later, the same passage experienced a different kind of traffic. A free "breed" of people - the sons of slaves - made their way to work in the fields seeking souls for the Kingdom of God and to proclaim the Gospel of Freedom found in Jesus Christ.

Between the years 1880 and 1890, the Seventh-day Adventist faith was first introduced to the Caribbean on the island of Jamaica by William Arnold. As the work grew, Mrs. Margaret Harrison pleaded for additional help. In 1892, Albert J. Haysmer and his family were sent to Jamaica as missionaries. The first Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized with 37 members, and by 1896 the number grew to 300. Among the converts were ministers of other denominations who, in many instances, brought their entire congregations into the Adventist faith.

"Brother" Haysmer later left the island and settled in Huntsville, Alabama, to teach at the newly established Oakwood Training School for Blacks. While there he invited many West Indian workers to join him in America to give impetus to the work and to broaden their horizons. Many West Indians arrived in America immaculately dressed like British statesmen. They were readily identified by

Mrs. Etta Littlejohn

their hickory-striped trousers, their cutaway coats, their winged-tipped collars, the pride-blossom ties and the buckled-down spats for their patent leather shoes. They wore Homburg hats and capes, which they wrapped around themselves after preaching on Sabbaths. They were articulate and assertive with a presence of Holy Boldness! To this day, it seems these men are without peer.

Many of our prominent African-American clergy are descendants of West Indians. Dr. Charles E. Bradford’s mother, Mrs. Etta Littlejohn, and Dr. Eric C. Ward’s father are Barbadians. Dr. Calvin Bradford Rock, the nephew of Dr. Charles E. Bradford, has deep roots in Barbados. The J.H. Laurence family hails from St. Kitts.

The following individuals from the Caribbean have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Seventh-day Adventist work in the United States and beyond.

James K. Humphrey (Jamaica), founder of Harlem’s #1 Adventist Church, now called Ephesus, is believed to be the greatest preacher the denomination has ever produced. At the turn of the century there were only a few thousand Seventh-day Adventist believers in America. James Humphrey reportedly had an average weekly attendance of over 600 (one-sixth of the entire Black Seventh-day Adventist membership in the United States).

J. H. Laurence (St. Kitts) was known to hold an audience spellbound for hours as he evangelized across America. So graphic and dramatic was his preaching that when he left a town, entire families would uproot and leave with him hoping to be present when "the Day of the Lord Came."

D. B. Reid (Jamaica), a former Pastor of Hanson Place Church, was a man of distinction. He was a "Pastor’s Pastor." He was "grace" personified. He possessed a style and flare for the pulpit which is still copied and modeled today. He was one of my mentors, and to this day, I am proud to call him "Papa Reid".

Elder J.G. Dasent

A.N. Durante (one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica), J.G. Dasent (the first president of a Regional Conference (Lake Region, 1945) in America), A.G. Wellington Clarke (one of the greatest literature evangelists ever), Charles Frederick Phipps (established the work in Ohio), John Manns (pioneered the work in Georgia), M.G. Nunez (first Black in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to author a book. He also established the work in Texas and Louisiana), W.D. Forde (strengthened the work in Gary, Chicago and Michigan), J.C. Crichlow (preached throughout the Carolinas), R. Osterman (the first ministerial graduate of Oakwood College), I .O. Irons and G. E. Peters (former Presidents of Northeastern Conference), R. Hope Robertson, F. E. Roy Jefferies, A.T. Maycock, and Matieu Bermingham (evangelists), merit special mention as we celebrate Black History Month.

Elder George Brown

Pastor George Brown, the former president of the Inter-American Division was voted to become the President of the World Church (The General Conference) in 1990, but declined. He was born in the Dominican Republic, but grew up in Trinidad.

Whether we are African-Americans, West Indians, Hispanics or come from mainland Africa, we know that "In Christ there is no East nor West, In Him no South or North, but one great fellowship of love, throughout the whole wide earth." It is an indisputable fact that the ministry of individuals from the Caribbean has proven to be a blessing for the advancement of the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on all continents.

-- Written by M.A. Bob Mounter
Pastor Mounter is the 13th Senior Pastor of the Hanson Place Church and was born in Guyana.
Special thanks to Dr. C.E. Dudley for his contributions to this article.