HISTORY OF BBAC

True to form, Bishop Allison's move to Kingston was like most things he did in his life, Suddenly without warning, and seemingly without forethought. Without consultation with his wife and unworried by the responsibility of providing for a sizable household Bishop Allison moved his ministry to Kingston. In hindsight, he must have had a plan for the future, for his family. By his own admission however, his single, earnest burning desire was to preach the word and the Lord had pointed him to Kingston

 

All other considerations became secondary in the face of this unction. He was supremely willing to sacrifice all just to follow the Lord and to obey his leading. The Lord had aimed him at Kingston. He was willing to forsake all to go. The matter was not up for discussion. He could not be swayed, he had no second thoughts. He was going at all costs.

 

His first foray into Kingston in 1951 was in response to an invitation from a cousin in Kingston, to come and preach at a church meeting that was being hosted. His first message in Kingston came from Ephesians 4:4 and it served notice to that parish and to Jamaica, that oneness Pentecostalism was in resurgence. An Apostolic champion was born that day as Luther expounded the simple yet unyielding truth in the text, 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism’. This was to become his creed and a hallmark of his ministry. Returning to Clarendon that night he laboured under a strange burden. The burden of souls in Kingston and Jamaica; a need was slowly evolving within him. A need like none he had ever felt; the need to reach souls across the island with the true unvarnished gospel of Jesus Christ and to certify this gospel with the signs and wonders that followed his ministry. Through the same cousin, he met Mother Bailey, the remarkable woman of God who was even then establishing the Rehoboth ministry in Jamaica; a ministry led by his own mentor, Bishop Carr. Mother Bailey, an astute woman, prophetess and pastor, saw the ministry in the young Allison. Recognizing in him a kindred spirit and led by the Holy Ghost to support his ministry, she loaned him £50 precious pounds to begin his work along with some sound advice for starting out.

 

Spurred by this evidence that God was opening effectual doors for his ministry, Luther entered quietly into negotiations to sell the lands bequeathed to him in Clarendon. Netting £100 for this sale he entered into a rental agreement with a homeowner on Crescent Road in Kingston 11 to hold services there. During this time, he commuted between Clarendon and Crescent Road, coming to the Crescent Road location on the first Sunday of each month and having prayer meetings on some days of the week.

 

The church then was little more than a tent on a small square of land at the bottom of Crescent Road, about 200 metres from where Crescent Road met Spanish Town Road. Invariably, after a night service he would end up sleeping at the church. To say the location was not ideal would be an understatement. Mother Doris Moffat, a surviving saint from those early days, remembers there being about 5 or 6 persons at prayer meetings and about 12 at the Sunday services. She remembers the location being besieged by flies and the latrine being very close to the rude structure in which they worshipped. With no flooring, proper ceiling, or walls the saints endured the elements, the dust, noise and other annoyances.

 

Significantly, she remembers the jubilee they felt when the newly ordained Elder Allison made his long journey from Clarendon to lead worship at the church; the hope they felt when he prophesied that they would one day sit in a marble church with all the modern conveniences they could wish for. Somehow the work and evidence of the Holy Ghost through this little man of God more than made up for the sufferings they endured. For the authority and anointing power of the Holy Ghost which had caused thousands to marvel at his services in Clarendon, was in no way reduced at his services at Crescent Road.

 

In 1960 an event occurred at the Crescent Road Church which was to have lasting impact on the church, on Luther and on the Ministry. It is only in retrospect that this event is seen for what it really was. It was God's direct intervention for the strengthening of Luther's Ministry and for the growth and expansion of the church. It started quite innocuously. After living at Crescent Road for a while, Raphael Crawford was drawn to the service being held by Luther Allison at the lower end of the road. Something in the operation of the small man who was ministering captured his attention. He stood there quietly, hardly aware of the passing time. The altar call came and Pastor Allison made an appeal to Raphael to come to the altar for prayer. Though he was impressed with the ministry of Luther Allison and felt the first stirrings of interest, Raphael Crawford declined as he had been drinking and was reluctant to approach the altar smelling of alcohol. Something had been born in him from that first look however and he could neither deny nor forget it. He felt strangely drawn to the Ministry of Pastor Allison and needed to experience more. A few days later Raphael returned to the Crescent Road church and again he was called by Luther. This time however, Luther came to where Raphael was sitting, laid his hands on him and prayed for him. This was all it took Raphael Crawford surrendered to the Lord that day and became a standard bearer and right hand man for the prophet.

 

With the coming of Raphael Crawford, the ministry at Crescent Road expanded and Luther Allison became a known person among Pentecostal pastors. Bishop B.S.E Dyer has the distinction of being one of the persons who first met Bishop Allison while he was ministering at Crescent Road. The meeting appeared to have taken place in Bishop Allison's final year at that location and this event dates the actual move to Oakland Road." In 1962 I met this man at Crescent Road. I listened to him preach the gospel and I never forget it (Bishop Dyer, 2002)

 

As time was to illustrate, Crescent Road was never to be more than a launching pad for the ministry of Luther Allison in Kingston. Ironically, for a man who cared about money it was issues related to money that led to his eventual eviction from that location. "While he was at Crescent Road something happened and that woman landlord put out bishop Allison for the church was in her yard. I was living at Crescent Road in a two pound board room and I had to take him in and leave my single bed and give Bishop Allison refuge. And the bed is so blessed. Up to now I have the bed (Raphael Crawford, Nov 2008)

 

This speed and willingness with which the saints led by Raphael Crawford rallied around their pastor in his time of need was to continue throughout the ministry. Somehow. God had surrounded his prophet with persons who were charged with his safety, comfort and well being. Their total loyalty and commitment to the ministry was to ensure its growth and expansion. If the mission at Crescent Road was truly the launch pad for the later ministry in Kingston, then the saints who attended this launch must be seen as the patriarchs and pioneers that they really were. "I had my little bicycle selling fudge and icicle and when I ride and come down here (Oakland Road), I saw the sign for sale. For when they put him out the saints rent a room on Delamere and put him. And when I came down here and saw the sign I asked how much they were selling for." (Raphael Crawford, 2008)

 

It was in 1962 that the Oakland Road experience began. Here it was that the saints entered into arrangements with Mr. Proverbs to purchase the lot and a little zinc and board shed was erected with a dirt floor.

 

For the saints it was paradise. Finally they had an opportunity to purchase a permanent location for the church. Service began immediately with the saints braving the dust and other small inconveniences that were ever present at the location. “We had a little shed with dirt floor and we build that little place. We were so little that we couldn't pay for it so we start to throw five shilling a week partner to pay for the place and when the man see that we really out to buy the place it was surprising to him.” (Bishop Raphael Crawford, 2008)

 

From the Trashie Minnies and the streets of Mocha Clarendon, the plywood and tarpaulin of Crescent Road, the verandah of Delamere Road to 3 Oakland Road. It seemed nothing much had changed. The first structure was zinc and board and as there was no floor, worship was a dusty affair. A lot had changed however. 3 Oakland Road was the place where Gad had led Luther and the saints. Like Moses they had experienced the bitterness of Mara and had passed through the Wilderness of Sin. Oakland Road was the promise.

 

Through his disappointments, the Lord had assured Luther that he would establish him in Kingston and that the people that he would draw to him would work to build the church, And as Luther preached and worked miracles, God drew them. They came and they stayed. Sometimes one member of a family became converted or received healing and eventually the entire family came. For most it took just one look. One touch from the man of God and they were willing to join the Ministry. Presently, the church which started at Oakland Road in 1962 with less than 20 members has a membership in excess of 700 persons.

 

Over the sixty years of its establishment at 3 Oakland Road the church has grown tremendously and today stands as a lighthouse in the Kingston 11 community. As times changed, the church demonstrated the resilience to embrace change and to become a change leader. Today, it serves the community through its commitment to Early Childhood Education, vocational skills training, scholarship programme, community development in the Whitfield area, CSEC and remedial classes, soup kitchen for the indigent and a vibrant Outreach Department.

 

As the church looks back, it is motivated to embark on another journey. The lessons from the past are well learnt and the membership is empowered to excel in this new dispensation.

 

The story continues...