{"id":21431,"date":"2024-05-01T08:18:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T13:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openbiblemessage.org\/?p=21431"},"modified":"2024-05-01T08:18:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T13:18:33","slug":"a-finely-woven-tapestry-seventy-years-in-trinidad-and-tobago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openbiblemessage.org\/es\/2024\/05\/a-finely-woven-tapestry-seventy-years-in-trinidad-and-tobago\/","title":{"rendered":"A Finely Woven Tapestry: Seventy Years in Trinidad and Tobago\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s small geographical footprint and population of just 1.4 million, Open Bible\u2019s influence has left a significant impact both nationally and globally, contributing to Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s social, civic, and healthcare realms (the founding of the Acropolis Medical Centre<\/a> being a primary example). OBSCTT boasts nearly one hundred churches, numerous kindergartens, a private high school, INSTE, and a Bible college with three campuses.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Open Bible church members worship together as they celebrate their 70th anniversary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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\u2019 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.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s success in Trinidad. Through prayer, the churches and missionaries worked together as a team \u201cso the devil couldn\u2019t divide us.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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