Green Turtle Cay (Bahamas) collection

Collection

Identifier: M0031

Staff Only

Green Turtle Cay COG organized 1913 300dpi, jpg

Scope and Contents

Included in this collection are original, handwritten ledgers, as well as use copies of original ledgers, concerning the early ministry at Green Turtle Cay.

Dates

1913–2013

Conditions Governing Use

This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use any digitized or otherwise copied material from our holdings for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.

Biographical / Historical

A century ago Missionary Carl M. Padgett established the Church of God on Green Turtle Cay, a small island in the Bahamas. Now the oldest continuing Church of God outside the United States, the local church was set in order on July 24, 1913. Church Historian David Roebuck and the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center participated in the congregation’s centennial celebration, which began on Pentecost Sunday.

The first ministry of the Church of God outside the United States occurred when Bahamian Edmond S. Barr and his American-born wife, Rebecca, arrived in Nassau in November 1909. Robert M. and Ida Evans, along with Carl Padgett, joined them the following January. Robert Evans and Edmond Barr reportedly visited Green Turtle Cay in 1911 resulting in the conversion of Mira Roberts and the establishment of a mission there. Later appointed as national overseer, Carl M. Padgett returned to the tiny island in 1913 and set the church in order on July 24 with eight members.

The congregation took the name Miracle Church of God as a testimony to the miraculous way in which its current facility was purchased, furnished, and expanded. The Bahamian government had placed a freeze on borrowing money, but after much prayer the freeze was unexpectedly lifted when property became available to the church in 1991. Members and friends responded generously to the ministry vision which allowed the church to be furnished and the mortgage paid in less than five years. Bishop Johnny T. Lowe has served as pastor for the past 19 years during which the congregation has grown significantly.

The congregation began their centennial celebration on Pentecost Sunday with a week of special services. Speakers included former World Missions Director Douglas LeRoy; National Administrative Bishop John N. Humes; North Metropolitan (Florida) Pastor Degrando Franks Jr.; World Missions Coordinator of Education and Publications Bill George; North Cleveland Church of God Pastor Mitch Maloney; World Missions Director Tim Hill; Church of God Historian David G. Roebuck; Administrative Bishop Earl Harrison; and General Overseer Mark L. Williams. An additional service was held on July 24 with Bishop Jerry J. Jeter, who is the Lead Pastor of RiverLife Church in Bradenton, Florida.

Also as part of the centennial celebration, Pastor Lowe presented the early financial records of the congregation to Dr. Roebuck for safekeeping in the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center. These will be added to the Green Turtle Cay Collection at the research center. In 2010, the Miracle Church of God donated to the research center the records of their business meetings, which date back to 1913. Dr. Roebuck commended the congregation for the extraordinary effort they have made to maintain their records. The original records are now being preserved in archival quality conditions at the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center. The center has scanned the early minutes and provided a copy to the Miracle Church of God for their ongoing use.