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I Didn’t Die!
By David Ridgway
It was a Friday, with just over a week until Christmas, when I realized I wasn’t feeling well. My wife, Rose, and I were planning to host a Christmas party for her side of the family that evening. Not wanting to expose anyone to COVID, she suggested I get tested at a nearby place that offered free testing. I received negative results about forty minutes later, so I assumed I just had a cold or the flu. I stayed up in our bedroom that night so as not to expose anyone to whatever it was. (It turned out it was COVID, and six people got it. Thankfully none were seriously ill, and they all recovered).
Saturday I lay in bed all day coughing. Sunday I stayed home from church, and I never miss church. I own my own pest control business, and on Monday I had an important job to do that I felt couldn’t wait. I tried leaving the house, but I couldn’t walk ten or fifteen feet without gasping for air. Totally exhausted, I had to go back home. Rose immediately took me to the hospital, MercyOne West in West Des Moines, a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa. There I tested positive for COVID. I was told that I was dehydrated and my blood pressure had tanked. They gave me an IV and got my blood pressure back up in an acceptable range and early Tuesday morning sent me home, telling me to rest.
I kept getting worse. By Wednesday I was having difficulty breathing, so Rose took me back to the hospital and they admitted me. I was thinking, “I’m in the hospital. They will take care of me, and I will get better.”
Instead I went downhill fast. I was having trouble breathing even though they kept increasing my oxygen. I was up to 75 liters, but my blood stream was absorbing less and less. I was starting to lose consciousness, unaware of what was going on around me. Since Rose had also tested positive for COVID, she couldn’t visit me.
By Christmas I was in bad shape. My mother came to see me. At that point I was 99 percent sure I was going to die. In my mind I could see a passageway up in the corner, and I knew that was death’s door. I kept drifting closer and closer to that passageway. I knew that if I reached that passageway, I would be dead. I would pass from this life to the next.
I thought, “I can’t control this; I can’t stop this. I’m in my 50s and I still have a lot I want to do. I have a lot of responsibilities – my home, business, family, and church ministry. This is really happening.”
It was scary even though I know I’m saved and going to heaven. It reminded me of that song Mark Lowry sings, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (But Nobody Wants to Die)”.
On Christmas the doctor called my wife and tried to prepare her. He said, “Dave has the worst kind of COVID. He has pneumonia and a respiratory infection with it. He has a rough road in front of him and probably won’t survive.” They decided to transfer me to the main hospital downtown in the middle of the night.
Even though the next morning was a Sunday, our church, Journey Church of the Open Bible in Urbandale, wasn’t holding service in order to give staff time off with their families for the holidays. Rose had been keeping our pastor, Darrick Young, apprised of my condition and he would alert the prayer team and other leaders. After receiving the alarming news of my condition Pastor Darrick called down to the hospital to see if he could visit me. Without hesitation they told him, “Yes, you should probably come.”
I remember hearing his voice and was aware he was praying for me, but I don’t remember much about the visit. He later told me that I was somewhat responsive and agreed with him in prayer.
When people in the church got word of my condition, several of them dropped what they were doing and gathered at the church to pray. Pastor Darrick called Rose at home, put her on speaker phone, and prayed with her. When she mentioned that my daughter Natalie, a nurse who happens to work at Mercy, was with me at the time, Darrick called Natalie’s phone. She put me on speaker, and I could hear people praying for me. I don’t remember it but was later told that I kept saying, “Hallelujah.” At that meeting they also organized a 24-hour prayer chain. I’m still amazed that people stopped what they were doing during a holiday and gathered to pray for me.
God blessed me with Dr. Wilcox, who I’ve been told is the best doctor for treating COVID. But the news he gave Rose Monday morning was not good. He said, “Dave is in a downward spiral. If we don’t get him on a ventilator in fifteen minutes, he has zero chance of survival. His organs will shut down.”
Rose said, “We have five kids. Can I have them call him before you do that?”
He answered, “Sure, have them call right away. I’ll have the nurse put it on speaker phone.”
I vaguely remember hearing their voices. I now realize they were telling me goodbye.
After that, they sedated me, paralyzed me, and put me on the ventilator. As horrible as my experience had been to that point, this is when the real nightmares began. I wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone. You’re in a drug-induced coma, but your mind is still active. I was given the most powerful mind-altering hallucinogens. It was horrible.
As soon as I heard the doctor say, “Let’s start it up,” geometric figures appeared all around me, moving and shifting shapes. It made me nauseous. Then creatures started to appear out of nowhere: rats and animals and horrible things, so many things I can’t describe. Thankfully my mind has erased a lot of it. It reminded me of the time in the Bible when Jesus was fasting for forty days and then Satan took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world.
It felt as if the Lord took me up and showed me the nations of the world and how evil, full of sin, and lost man is. I saw any and every kind of sin there is: lying, stealing, rape, murder, incest, and genocide. I saw all the evil and it was throughout every country in every nation of the world, even down to the animal kingdom. (You know how animals murder and prey on each other.) The evil had invaded even the earth itself. I saw mountains sinking down into the ocean because they were corrupt. I remembered that when Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed even the ground.
I saw a common thread, and it was greed. People will do so much evil for money. They will kill for money, propagate pornography, gamble, steal, and lie. I thought of the verse that says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, NLT).
When they put you on the ventilator, they place you in a prone position on your stomach for sixteen hours and then flip you onto your back for the other eight. It’s kind of a big deal when they flip you. It takes six to eight people. I had IVs, a blood pressure cuff, oxygen sensor, catheter, and all kinds of tubes and wires, and they had to make sure nothing got pulled or pinched or kinked. They don’t even want a wrinkle in the sheet because they don’t want to create pressure points that would cause bed sores.
My daughter Natalie would pop in from time to time before or after her shift to see how I was doing although I wasn’t aware of it. One morning she happened to come in while they were flipping me. She has seen the flipping process a hundred times before; she’s even helped with it. But when she saw them doing it to me, a limp, practically lifeless corpse, she couldn’t watch. She had to leave the room.
Pastor Darrick organized a gathering at my house Thursday evening for people to come to pray. Rose was at the house with our two younger kids who still live at home. Dozens of people from at least four churches joined together in corporate prayer at the house. I just saw the video of it this week. When I think of all the people praying for me, I’m overwhelmed.
That was Thursday night. Amazingly, the next morning, Friday, the doctor called Rose and said, “I think we’re going to take him off the ventilator because he’s making overall improvement.” (Originally they had told her I would be on the ventilator for seven to fourteen days; this was day five.) After they pulled me off the ventilator, I regained consciousness. It was still kind of scary because I wasn’t out of the woods yet, but I was getting close to the edge!
On New Year’s Day, ten days after I was admitted to the hospital, Rose was able to come visit me. When they told me she was coming, I could not remember what she looked like. Then when she came in, she was wearing a gown, hair covering, and face mask so all I could see was her eyes. I still couldn’t think what she looked like! But when she spoke, it all came back.
During those dark days, when nurses would come in to take my vitals, I would reach for them because I was so lonely. I didn’t want to die alone. The nurses would hold my hand for a couple minutes and then have to leave, and I wouldn’t see them for hours. Time just seemed to come to a stop. Even after I got off the ventilator, drugs were still affecting my mind. If I closed my eyes the horrible hallucinations would come back, so I tried to keep myself awake for two days. If I even blinked, the hallucinations were right there. Eventually I started having hallucinations that, although strange, were not as bad.
Finally on day three after coming off the ventilator, the hallucinations were fading. I was feeling better, so they moved me to my own COVID room. A nurse asked me if I wanted an ice chip, and having not eaten or drunk for two weeks, it sounded so great. I had lost thirty pounds, mostly muscle. I was so weak. When I was under, I would dream of cold drinks and lemonade. And then when the nurse asked if I wanted a whole cup of water, I was overjoyed. It tasted like living water!
After giving me the water, the nurse leaned over and said, “David, I just have to tell you, you are the only person I’ve seen that was unvaccinated, that sick, and on the ventilator that long and lived.” (A lot of people don’t come off the ventilator; it’s considered a last-ditch effort.)
The doctor concurred with the nurse, saying, “You are a very, very rare case.”
He was shocked I survived. I think a lot of the doctors were surprised. I was surprised. They moved me to a regular room, and that’s when I realized, “I’m not going to die.”
Even though I was as weak as a kitten, I now had hope. I was able to eat some pudding, which I love! The next day they started bringing me three meals a day. These became the highlight of my day. I’ve already put on twenty of the thirty pounds I lost.
When I first got to my own room, I was so weak I couldn’t even sit up. I couldn’t even push the button to move my hospital bed, turn on the TV, or call the nurse. When they tried to help me sit up, all my oxygen alarms went off. By the next day they helped me to stand, and I walked across the room with a walker, even though I soon returned to bed, exhausted. The next day I walked down the hall. The doctor was telling me I would probably get out of the hospital by the weekend.
Reflecting on Dave’s experience, Darrick Young, his pastor, said, “The turnaround in Dave’s body from near death to life was nothing short of miraculous. Dave, Rose, and their entire family have been quick to give glory to God for Dave’s healing, and they have expressed incredible gratitude to those who stood with them in prayer. God healed Dave, but he touched our whole church.”
Pastor Darrick Young
On Thursday morning, he said, “Would you like to get out of here today?”
I assured him that I would love that! I did not want to spend another night in the hospital. The beds are not comfortable. I still had all the wires and tubes, and they would come around the clock and take blood six to eight times a day.
By 8:00 that night I was home, having spent eighteen days in the hospital. I was on oxygen at first, but after a week slowly weaned myself off. I rested and got stronger the second week. By the third week when Sunday came, I said, “I’m going to church.”
That was my first outing. And the next day I went back to work and ended up working several hours. I keep getting stronger and stronger. I thank God I’m alive. My brother-in-law calls me nearly every day and the first thing he says is, “Praise God, Dave; you’re alive.”
I couldn’t get over the fact that all those people were praying for me. There were probably thousands, even beyond Iowa. There really is power in prayer. God heard their prayers and answered them. I’ve had prayers that weren’t answered the way I thought they would be, but this strengthened my faith, knowing God hears our prayers. He might not answer the way we wish, but His ways are better than ours.
God must have something for me to do; He’s not done with me yet. At first I thought that I needed to do something great for God. But when I started back teaching Royal Rangers (an activity-based, small-group ministry for boys) again, I saw a dad of two of the boys who goes to a different church. He had not heard about my ordeal, so I told him about it, wondering aloud what God had for me to do. He was shocked and amazed by my story and later sent me an email.
Part of it said:
I have experienced God helping me connect with my family better at Rangers that carries over to a better connection during the week. You have been doing Rangers for so long it may seem routine or even a little repetitive. But let me assure you that God is working through you having an impact on us . . . . You will never know how thankful I am for those two hours on Sunday when I get to come hang out with you guys and my kids. . . . You may not see it, but the impact is profound.
The vision I had while on the ventilator showed me how lost this world is, how much work we Christians have to do. I know as we get closer to the return of the Lord that sin will abound, but we can do something about it if we remain faithful to what He has called us to do.
About the Author
David Ridgway is the owner of Midwest Pest Management. He and his wife, Rose, began attending Journey Church of the Open Bible in Urbandale, Iowa, soon after it began ten years ago. Dave serves as a Journey partner, elder, and volunteer in various areas. He has been a Royal Rangers leader for 23 years and serves on the district staff. He has served as the Outpost Coordinator for Outpost 101 since it was formed at Journey Church nine years ago.
In 2017, my husband Dyecol and I were asked to be the interim pastors of Word of Life Open Bible Church in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Little did we know that our two weeks as interim pastors would turn into seven years and counting. After accepting the call to be the permanent pastors, we moved to Lehigh in September, right after Hurricane Ivan had hit. There was no electricity in the city, and it felt like we were moving into darkness and chaos. I didn’t realize we were also moving into the rest of our lives.
Dyecol and I had never had children together. Shortly after our move to Lehigh, we saw a billboard for an adoption agency. Dyecol went to the agency’s office for more information, and it wasn’t long before we were taking a class on adoption. The instructor of the class emphasized how much greater our chances would be to adopt through fostering, and pretty soon we got our first call to foster a three-year-old girl named Isabella. I will never forget seeing that scared little girl walk through our doorway. I scooped her up in my arms, she laid her head on my shoulder, and my future was sealed.
We’d had Isabella for only a month when we got a call for a second little girl, Maria. Maria’s sister Ruby would join her a few months later, and not long after Ruby, we got a call for a fourth child, our first newborn. This baby was only six days old and had been born addicted to drugs. We were told her parents didn’t want her, and we became excited that this baby might become ours. We attached, weaned her off drugs, and she began to thrive. It was then that her biological father decided that he wanted her. As difficult as this was, it was further complicated by the fact that our hopes of adopting the other girls fell through around the same time. We were shattered. This taste of parenthood had convinced me that I wanted to be a mom again, but fostering was too difficult. I told myself, “Never ever again!” Until I got the next call.
Sometimes God walks you through a process of loss and then He dumps blessing on you when you least expect it.
“Ms. Walker, I have a little girl for you….”
“I don’t know, we’re taking a break.”
“Ms. Walker, I’m telling you, you’re going to want this little girl.”
(Deep Breath.) “Okay.”
Our case worker brought over this ten-year-old little girl with big old grandma glasses, fuzzy hair, and the cutest smile. That little girl walked into our lives, and she has changed us forever. Her name is Anna-Tae Walker, and she became our first adopted daughter. Two months later, we were introduced to our daughter Heavenly. We loved her from the moment we saw her. Sometimes you just know. I said to my husband, “She’s not leaving.” True to my word, Heavenly AND her brother Joshua became ours through adoption.
Sometimes God walks you through a process of loss and then He dumps blessing on you when you least expect it. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t have the first little girls we tried to adopt, but God said no. He knew who our kids were.
Despite my having three adopted children, I continued to take new placements. My first experiences fostering almost broke me, but as I continued to say “yes” to each new child, God reinforced my heart with His strength. Instead of shrinking with each loss, my heart grows bigger as I watch family reunifications. God has gifted me with the capacity to love and to lose.
One night as I was lying on my bed, the Lord gave me a word: “Walker’s House of Hope.” I told my husband, “This is what we’re going to name the house where we raise the children God brings to us.” We started praying, “Lord, if you give us a bigger house we will take more children.” At that time, we had seven children in a three-bedroom house. It wasn’t long before the Lord provided us with a four-bedroom house.
God has gifted me with the capacity to love and to lose.
I got the call almost immediately: “Ms. Walker, we have a sibling group of three.”
“You know I have seven children, right?”
“Yes, Ms. Walker, but you were born for this.”
Immediately the voice of the Lord came to me, reminding me of my prayer. He had given me a bigger house; I was obligated to fulfill my promise. So, we ran out and bought another bunk bed.
Today, we have ten children: three adopted and seven fostered. Every day after school, I hear ten voices at once, beautiful chaos. Each time I say aloud, “I have ten children,” I can’t believe it – not because it’s too much, but because it feels comfortable. When I dream about the future, I see myself with even more children, running around a big property and coming in to eat dinner around our huge kitchen table. I have found my calling, and I am believing for God to gift us with the house that’s as big as my heart.
I had a sign made that hangs in our current home: “Walker’s House of Hope.” When I look at it, I say to God, “This is not it. But this is it for now.”
Seven years ago, we moved to a city that was in chaos and darkness. Today, we live in a home of chaos and light. And as I look around my busy kitchen table, I have never been more excited about the rest of my life.
About the Author
Taneasha Walker
Taneasha Walker is currently co-pastoring Word of Life Open Bible Church in Lehigh Acres, Florida, with her husband Dyecol. She serves on the Southeast Regional Board as an At- Large member. Taneasha has gained experience in every area of ministry, using this knowledge to effectively care for the local church body as well as the children that have been entrusted to her. She is passionate about prayer, utilizing it in every endeavor. In her free time, Taneasha’s hobbies include reading, singing, and traveling.
In 2024 Open Bible Standard Churches of Trinidad and Tobago (OBSCTT) commemorates its platinum anniversary: seventy years of faith, strength, and community. Symbolically, Trinidad and Tobago’s Open Bible story unfolds as a finely woven tapestry, blending diverse threads and vibrant and intricate patterns to form a beautiful piece of art. For seven decades, God has woven OBSCTT’s narrative, skillfully blending elements like missionaries, innovative outreach, powerful prayer, unified discipleship, embrace of revival, and the vibrant people of Trinidad and Tobago. Each thread, even if seeming inconsequential, plays a distinctive role in contributing to the magnificent tapestry of their journey.
Situated in the South Caribbean Sea, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago boasts a rich cultural and religious diversity reflecting African, Indian, European, Chinese, and other influences. Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and indigenous beliefs are all practiced there. Despite Trinidad and Tobago’s small geographical footprint and population of just 1.4 million, Open Bible’s influence has left a significant impact both nationally and globally, contributing to Trinidad and Tobago’s social, civic, and healthcare realms (the founding of the Acropolis Medical Centre being a primary example). OBSCTT boasts nearly one hundred churches, numerous kindergartens, a private high school, INSTE, and a Bible college with three campuses.
From its beginnings in 1956 under missionaries Kaare and Jean Wilhelmsen, OBSCTT had an emphasis on global outreach. Beginning their outreach in the neighboring country of Grenada in 1971, the churches in Trinidad and Tobago continually expanded their reach, eventually planting churches in South America, North America, Africa, and Europe. Trinidad and Tobago is also the home of Global Missions’ School of Global Leadership (SGL). The founding fathers and mothers of OBSCTT were full of missionary zeal and implanted this passion into the DNA of the churches. Today, it is a vital part of their identity.
From the first missionaries, the Wilhelmsens, to the present-day Lumbard family, thirty-eight Open Bible missionaries have served on the islands. These missionaries laid a robust foundation and equipped capable local leaders. Today, the relationship of local leaders with Open Bible’s Global Missions is a uniquely collaborative partnership. This collaboration and sense of unity was part of the foundation set by the missionaries from the very beginning. Dr. Don Bryan and his wife Ruth were missionaries in the founding days of Open Bible in Trinidad and Tobago (1956-1970). Dr. Bryan spoke of how togetherness was key to Open Bible’s success in Trinidad. Through prayer, the churches and missionaries worked together as a team “so the devil couldn’t divide us.”
Prayer was a unifying and foundational value in the churches. In particular, the Thursday morning Mountain Movers’ prayer meetings at the San Fernando church echoed Acts 19:11: “God did extraordinary miracles…” (NIV). Miracles were the norm, transforming lives as blind eyes were opened and demons cast out. Powerful proclamation of the gospel and God’s evident presence often led to entire families committing their lives to Christ, bringing explosive growth. Seventy years later, the powers of darkness persist but continue to be confronted in prayer services in many churches.
Recognizing the value Trinidadians placed on education, missionaries perceived a Kingdom opportunity and established Open Bible High School (OBHS) in 1967, emphasizing both academics and spiritual development to a student body from diverse faiths. At one time OBHS’s enrollment was the largest in the history of private schools on the island.
Open Bible Institute of Trinidad (OBIT), founded in 1956, continues to train Christian leaders for pastoral, missions, and evangelism ministries. It incorporates theological and uniquely practical training that is an engine for outreach and discipleship. In the early days, student teams went to outlying areas each Thursday to practice the skills they learned in Bible school. There they held outdoor meetings, connected with and discipled Mountain Movers attendees, gathered others and started Sunday schools, and baptized new converts. Their “practice” ministry began birthing new churches, and five of the first six OBSCTT churches were started by the students while still in school!
Just as there are many Open Bible missionaries woven into the OBSCTT tapestry, so Trinidad and Tobago is woven into the tapestries of the missionaries themselves, leaving an indelible mark on their lives. It wasn’t just the great food found on the islands that made an impression! More significantly, it was the relationships they formed there that shaped the missionaries. Many of the following missionaries have joined the “great cloud of witnesses,” but others share some of their stories (click HERE to see video interview clips): Kaare and Jean Wilhelmsen, Minnie Bruns, Don and Ruth Bryan, A.E. and Ginny Mitchell, Margaret Crandall, Dora Turner, William and Donna Whitlow, Robert and Wanda Moon, Ed and Betty Wood, Weldon and Rosetta Davis, Melvin and Barbara Kelderman, Tom and Helen Clark, Clayton and Suzanne Crymes, Leona Janzen (Venditti), John and Nadine Simmons, Phil and Priscilla Newell, Dan and Mardell LeLaCheur, Harvey and Alys Klapstein, Grant and Miriam Sickles, and Mike and Pamela Lumbard.
Symbolically, Trinidad and Tobago’s Open Bible story unfolds as a finely woven tapestry, blending diverse threads and vibrant and intricate patterns to form a beautiful piece of art.
The most vibrant and prominent threads in the tapestry God is weaving for Open Bible Standard Churches of Trinidad and Tobago are the nationals themselves. The 2 Timothy 2:2 principle of entrusting the work to others who will pass it on to others has been a key to continued growth and expansion. The names are too many to share, but here are just a few of the local ministers who have led with distinction over the years: Revs. Dr. Benjamin Agard, Charles and Charmaine Alexis, Keith Armoogan, Desmond Austin, Carlyle Chankersingh, Munroe Cox, Vicram Hajaree, Leroy Haynes, Dr. Andy and Ann Marie Homer, Benjamin Hunte, Calbert Mark, Romaish Mohan, Raule Reid, Cecil and Debbie Quamina, Errol Ramdass, Fitzroy Griffith, Jr., and Junior Yuille.
Rev. Dr. Benjamin Agard, National Elder-Director of OBSCTT, credits the preaching of the gospel of Christ and Him crucified – from the earliest of days until now – as a key to numerical and spiritual growth throughout OBSCTT’s history. The focus on the cross remains central to their identity. Minister Ann Marie Homer summed it up this way: “Just the fact that you can walk into any Open Bible church on a Sunday morning and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached in truth is a major accomplishment. We have not shifted.”
Seventy years later, in this celebration of their platinum jubilee, we join with Open Bible Standard Churches of Trinidad and Tobago to look back at the tapestry God has woven through them and to celebrate His good work. Today, OBSCTT’s story reaches not only the islands of Trinidad and Tobago but extends to the uttermost parts of the world. As it says in Psalm 2:8, “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” (NIV). Such an incredible inheritance and a rich legacy – we can only imagine what God will do next!
About the Author
Tammy Swailes
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Global Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education, and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
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UN TAPIZ FINAMENTE TEJIDO: La Biblia Abierta de Trinidad y Tobago celebra setenta años de ministerio
Las Iglesias Estándar de la Biblia Abierta de Trinidad y Tobago (OBSCTT, por sus siglas en inglés) conmemoran en 2024 su aniversario de platino: Setenta años de fe, fortaleza y comunidad. La historia de la Biblia Abierta de Trinidad y Tobago se desarrolla simbólicamente como un tapiz finamente tejido, en el que se mezclan diversos hilos y patrones vibrantes y complejos para formar una hermosa obra de arte. Durante siete décadas, Dios ha tejido la historia de OBSCTT, mezclando hábilmente elementos como los misioneros, el alcance innovador, la oración poderosa, un discipulado unificado, la acogida del avivamiento y el pueblo vibrante de Trinidad y Tobago. Cada hilo, aunque parezca insignificante, desempeña un papel distintivo que contribuye al magnífico tapiz de su trayectoria.
La República de Trinidad y Tobago, ubicada en el Mar Caribe Sur, cuenta con una rica diversidad cultural y religiosa que refleja influencias africanas, indias, europeas, chinas y de otros lugares. Allí se practican creencias cristianas, hindúes, musulmanas e indígenas. A pesar de la pequeña extensión geográfica de Trinidad y Tobago y de su población de tan sólo un millón cuatrocientos mil habitantes, la influencia de la Biblia Abierta ha dejado un impacto significativo tanto a nivel nacional como mundial, al contribuir a los ámbitos social, cívico y al de la asistencia médica de Trinidad y Tobago (un ejemplo fundamental es la fundación del Centro Médico Acrópolis). La OBSCTT cuenta con casi cien iglesias, numerosas guarderías, un colegio secundario privado, INSTE, y un instituto bíblico con tres sedes.
Desde sus inicios en 1956, bajo la dirección de los misioneros Kaare y Jean Wilhelmsen, la OBSCTT hizo hincapié en el alcance global. Las iglesias de Trinidad y Tobago, que comenzaron su labor en el país vecino de Granada en 1971, fueron expandiendo su alcance en forma contínua hasta llegar a plantar iglesias en Sudamérica, Norteamérica, África y Europa. Trinidad y Tobago es también la sede de la Escuela de Liderazgo Global (SGL) de Misiones Globales. Los fundadores de la OBSCTT estaban llenos de celo misionero e implantaron esta pasión en el ADN de las iglesias. Hoy en día, es una parte vital de su identidad.
Desde la familia Wilhelmsen, los primeros misioneros, hasta la actual familia Lumbard, treinta y ocho misioneros de la Biblia Abierta han servido en las islas. Estos misioneros fundaron una base sólida y equiparon a líderes locales competentes. Hoy en día, la relación entre los líderes locales con las Misiones Globales de la Biblia Abierta es una asociación de colaboración única. Esta colaboración y sentido de unidad fue parte de los cimientos establecidos por los misioneros desde el principio. El Dr. Don Bryan y su esposa Ruth fueron misioneros en la época en que se fundó La Biblia Abierta en Trinidad y Tobago (1956-1970). El Dr. Bryan habló de cómo la unidad fue clave para el éxito de la Biblia Abierta en Trinidad. A través de la oración, las iglesias y los misioneros trabajaron juntos como un equipo «para que el diablo no pudiera dividirnos».
La oración fue el valor unificador y cimentador de las iglesias. En especial, en la iglesia de San Fernando las reuniones de oración de los Movedores de Montañas de los jueves por la mañana hacían resonar las palabras de Hechos 19:11: «Dios hacía milagros extraordinarios…». (NVI). Los milagros fueron la norma, transformaron vidas al abrir los ojos de los ciegos y expulsar demonios. La poderosa proclamación del Evangelio y la evidente presencia de Dios llevaron a menudo a familias enteras a entregar sus vidas a Cristo, lo que trajo consigo un crecimiento explosivo. Setenta años después, los poderes de las tinieblas persisten, pero siguen siendo confrontados en los servicios de oración de muchas iglesias.
Los misioneros, reconociendo el valor que los trinitenses atribuían a la educación, vieron una oportunidad para el Reino y crearon en 1967 la Escuela Secundaria de la Biblia Abierta (OBHS, por sus siglas en inglés), que hacía hincapié en el desarrollo académico y espiritual de un alumnado de diversas religiones. Llegó un momento en que la matrícula de la OBHS era la mayor de la historia de las escuelas privadas de la isla.
El Seminario de la Biblia Abierta de Trinidad (OBIT, por sus siglas en inglés), fundado en 1956, sigue formando a líderes cristianos para ministerios pastorales, misioneros y de evangelización. El seminario incorpora una formación teológica y práctica única que constituye un motor para la evangelización y el discipulado. En sus inicios, los equipos de estudiantes se desplazaban cada jueves a las zonas periféricas para poner en práctica lo aprendido en la escuela bíblica. Allí celebraron reuniones al aire libre, se pusieron en contacto e instruyeron a los asistentes de los Movedores de Montañas, reunieron a otros e iniciaron escuelas dominicales, y bautizaron a nuevos creyentes. Su «práctica» del ministerio comenzó a dar a luz nuevas iglesias, ¡y cinco de las primeras seis iglesias de la OBSCTT fueron fundadas por los propios estudiantes mientras aún estaban en la escuela!
Al igual que hay muchos misioneros de la Biblia Abierta entretejidos en el tapiz de la OBSCTT, así Trinidad y Tobago está entretejida en los tapices de los propios misioneros, dejando una huella indeleble en sus vidas. No fue sólo la magnífica comida de las islas lo que les impresionó. Más importante aún, fueron las relaciones que entablaron allí las que dieron forma a los misioneros. Si bien muchos de los siguientes misioneros se han unido a la «gran nube de testigos», otros nos cuentan algunas de sus historias (haga clic en los enlaces para ver los vídeos de las entrevistas): Kaare y Jean Wilhelmsen, Minnie Bruns, Don y Ruth Bryan, A.E. y Ginny Mitchell, Margaret Crandall, Dora Turner, William y Donna Whitlow, Robert y Wanda Moon, Ed y Betty Wood, Weldon y Rosetta Davis, Melvin y Barbara Kelderman, Tom y Helen Clark, Clayton y Suzanne Crymes, Leona Janzen (Venditti), John y Nadine Simmons, Phil y Priscilla Newell, Dan y Mardell LeLaCheur, Harvey y Alys Klapstein, Grant y Miriam Sickles, y Mike y Pamela Lumbard.
La historia de la Biblia Abierta de Trinidad y Tobago se desarrolla simbólicamente como un tapiz finamente tejido, en el que se mezclan diversos hilos y patrones vibrantes y complejos para formar una hermosa obra de arte.
Los hilos más vibrantes y prominentes en el tapiz que Dios está tejiendo en las Iglesias de la Biblia Abierta de Trinidad y Tobago son los propios nacionales. El principio de 2 Timoteo 2:2 de encargar la obra a personas idóneas que la transmitirán a otros ha sido clave para el crecimiento y la expansión continuos. Son demasiados nombres para mencionarlos a todos, pero he aquí sólo algunos de los ministros locales que han dirigido con distinción a lo largo de los años: Reverendos Dr. Benjamín Agard, Charles y Charmaine Alexis, Keith Armoogan, Desmond Austin, Carlyle Chankersingh, Munroe Cox, Vicram Hajaree, Leroy Haynes, Dr. Andy y Ann Marie Homer, Benjamín Hunte, Calbert Mark, Romaish Mohan, Raule Reid, Cecil y Debbie Quamina, Errol Ramdass, Fitzroy Griffith, Jr. y Junior Yuille.
El Rev. Dr. Benjamín Agard, Anciano-director nacional de la OBSCTT, da merito a la predicación, desde los primeros días hasta ahora, del evangelio de Cristo y de este crucificado, como la clave del crecimiento numérico y espiritual a lo largo de la historia de la OBSCTT. El enfoque del mensaje de la cruz sigue siendo fundamental para su identidad. La ministra Ann Marie Homer lo resumió así: «El solo hecho de que usted pueda entrar en cualquier iglesia de la Biblia Abierta un domingo por la mañana y escuchar el verdadero evangelio de Jesucristo predicado, constituye un gran logro. No nos hemos desviado».
Setenta años después, en esta celebración de su jubileo de platino, nos unimos a las Iglesias Estándar de la Biblia Abierta de Trinidad y Tobago para mirar hacia atrás, al tapiz que Dios ha tejido a través de ellos y celebrar Su buena obra. Hoy, la historia de la OBSCTT no sólo llega a las islas de Trinidad y Tobago, sino que se extiende hasta los confines de la tierra. Como dice el Salmo 2:8: «Pídeme, y te daré por herencia las naciones, y como posesión tuya los confines de la tierra.» (RVR-60). Qué herencia tan increíble y qué legado tan rico: ¡sólo podemos imaginar lo que Dios hará a continuación!
Sobre la autora
Tammy Swailes
¡Tammy Swailes es una apasionada de la educación cristiana multicultural, por lo que trabajar con el Seminario Bíblico Global INSTE para discipular y equipar a los líderes en toda Europa y más allá encaja a la perfección! Tammy ha vivido en Europa desde 1999 (primero en Hungría y ahora en Ucrania). Antes de eso, vivió en Japón, así como en Spokane, Washington. En la actualidad se desempeña como directora regional de INSTE en Europa, colaborando con los programas de INSTE en cinco idiomas. Tammy tiene una licenciatura en Misiones y otra en Educación Cristiana, y una maestría en Estudios Interculturales. Algunas de las cosas que más le gustan a Tammy son la fotografía, el buen café, las experiencias multiculturales y el perrito Yorkie de la familia.
