About Us

History of the Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction

 

In the year of 1989, the late Presiding Bishop James Oglethorpe Patterson with the approval of the General Board and General Assembly appointed Bishop Jerome Norman as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the newly created Barbados First West Indies Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Bishop Norman was consecrated by the late Presiding Bishop Louis Henry Ford.

 

Bishop Norman was the Founder and Pastor of the Full Gospel Mission Church of God in Christ in Jamaica, Queens, New York. This strong ministry in the South Jamaica area saw many souls saved, bodies healed and delivered through his ministry of prayer and deliverance.   Bishop Norman Married Mother Joni D. Norman July 16, 1949. Their union lasted for over 70 years.

 

God called Bishop Jerome Norman to the Missions field and he served as the Jurisdictional Missions President for the New York Eastern First Jurisdiction for Bishop Otha M. Kelly and Bishop F.D. Washington.  In the year of 1985, With the permission of Bishop F.D. Washington Bishop Norman explored the countries of Guyana and Barbados and became the overseer for those territories representing the Church of God in Christ with the help of the late Bishop Carlis Moody. 

 

Bishop Norman’s Inaugural Celebration was held at the Holiday Inn John F. Kennedy Airport with General Board Member, Bishop Levi Willis of Virginia as the Keynote Speaker. Bishop Norman served faithfully on numerous boards in the International Mission’s Department and was well respected in the chambers of the Board of Bishops under Chairmans Bishop J.H. Sherman, Bishop L. T. Walker, and Bishop John H. Sheard. 

 

Bishop Norman chose Mother Mary Brockett as the first Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women for the Barbados West Indies First Jurisdiction in 1990. Mother Mary Brockett was Installed and Consecrated as the Jurisdictional Supervisor by the late General Supervisor Mother Mattie McGlothen in November of 1990.  She represented the Barbados first West Indies Jurisdiction well in the International Department of Women and International Missions Department. Supervisor Mary Brockett went home to eternal rest on March 26, 2013. After prayerful consideration, Bishop Norman selected Mother Doris Smith as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Barbados First West Indies Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. 

 

Bishop Norman continued to serve God, his people, his local church, Full Gospel Mission Church of God in Christ and the Jurisdiction of Barbados First West Indies until the the Fall of 2016 when Bishop Norman requested to be emeritized as a Jurisdictional Prelate and to focus on his local church and family. Therefore, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake and the members of the General Board accepted his recommendation unanimously. Bishop Emeritus Norman went home to be with the Lord April 12, 2020.

 

In 2019, then Presiding Bishop Charles Edward Blake along with the COGIC General Assembly approved and appointed Pastor Arthur F. Mosley Jurisdictional Prelate of the Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction. Bishop-Elect Mosley was consecrated Jurisdictional Bishop by Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and the General Board on June 23, 2021. Bishop Mosley selected Mother Rozetta T. Allen as the Supervisor of Women for the Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction Women’s Department. Mother Allen was consecrated Jurisdictional Supervisor by the COGIC International Women’s Department General Supervisor, Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis on November 12, 2021.

 

The Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction is blessed to have the following Barbados churches, their pastors and church families: Overcomers Church of God in Christ, Pastor – Superintendent Pierson Scantlebury (First Lady Cheryl Scantlebury), Next Level Ministries Church of God in Christ, Pastor – Elder Glen Jones (First Lady Jackie Jones) and Husbandman Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, Pastor – Elder Johnny Samuel (First Lady Sheron Samuel). 

 

Under the leadership of Bishop Mosley and Supervisor Allen, the Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction has assisted the churches in Barbados in many ways. Pastor Jones lost his entire church in a fire. Resources were sent to Pastor Jones to assist in the rebuilding of his church. Funds were sent to Superintendent Scantlebury to assist with the repairs of their church van. Supervisor Allen oversaw the sending of 5,000 masks to assist the churches during the pandemic. Supervisor Allen also assisted Lady Scantlebury with her ministry to homeless men by sending supplies which were distributed to the homeless men. The Jurisdiction sent funds to Barbados to assist after the volcanic eruption which poured ash over the island covering many homes and streets.

Monthly prayer meetings are held with the Pastors and First Ladies of the Jurisdiction with Bishop Mosley and Supervisor Allen respectively. Jurisdictional-wide prayer meetings are held periodically which include members from churches in the United States.

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At the initiative of Bishop Mosley, the C.H. Mason Jurisdictional Institute for the Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction began in April 2022 and is led by Dr. David Jackson, Dean. The Institute offers an Online Certificate in Ministry. Courses include Old and New Testament Survey; COGIC Doctrine, History, and Polity; Leadership Principals and Time Management; Pastoral Care and Counseling; Women in Ministry; and Homiletics and Sermon Preparation.

Supervisor Allen leads a team in holding the Annual Barbados Missions Auction during which funds are raised to benefit the Barbados Jurisdiction. The Auction is fun and beneficial to the not only the Jurisdiction but others in Barbados needing assistance.

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To assist Bishop Mosley and Supervisor Allen in their leading of the Jurisdiction, the following Jurisdictional members were appointed to their various positions by Bishop Mosley and Supervisor Allen: Evangelist Shari Dunn, Jurisdictional Secretary, Elder Horace Marcell, Assistant Jurisdictional Secretary and Financial Secretary, Elder Terry Lee, Assistant to the Bishop, Elder Pierson Scantleberry, District Superintendent, Brother Billy Walker, Youth Department President, Evangelist Karieta Walker, Youth Department Chair Lady, Elder Johnny Samuel, Sunday School Superintendent, Sister Toni Redwood, Sunday School Field Representative, Elder Glen Jones, Missions President, First Lady Jackie Jones, Missions Elect Lady. Dr. Roosvelt Allen, Convocation Chairman. Women’s Department Officers include: Sister Evelyn Stewart, Administrative Facilitator, Evangelist Veda Collins/ Sister Temekia Singleton- Supervisors Armor bearer, Evangelist Veda Collins, Women’s Academy Administrator, Sister Kendra Lafleur, Finance coordinator, Amanda Mosley, Women’s Dept Public relations Chair, Sister Nadanine Maignan, operations coordinator, Mother Margaret Taylor, Barbados Foundation liaison, Evangelist Gail Dixon, Ministry Trainer and hospitality Coordinator.  

The half has not been told about the great things that the Lord Jesus Christ has in store for the Barbados First West Indies Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, Inc.