In 1962, a few of the fundamental Baptist missionaries serving in St. John, St. Croix , St. Thomas and Puerto Rico met on the island of St. John at the invitation of Pastor George Starling for a Bible Conference and missionary fellowship. There was preaching and Bible teaching plus a wonderful time of prayer. After one of the prayer meetings, there was a powerful discussion regarding the need of the need of the new ways to reach more people on our respective islands, and to reach out to other islands in the West Indies with the Gospel of Christ.

It was most evident to us that we needed a Bible training institution established in the islands to train the young people that God was calling into His service. As a result of the prayer meeting on St. John, the Lord directed us to jointly plan a Bible institute. Since there were classrooms available for classes at Calvary Baptist Church plus cottages at Camp Fortuna that could be used to house the students, St. Thomas was chosen for the location of the new school. Missionary Clyde Simpson suggested that the school be named Bluewater Bible Institute. In the beginning, the Bible school was a two-year institute.

However, it only took about two years to realize that the students needed more training than we could give them in two years. As a result, a three-year Institute began. Soon after that time, a four-year Bible college was instituted.

During an annual WIBF conference, it was agreed that another joint effort should be the establishing of a missions agency. The Caribbean Baptist Mission was established. The mission is now incorporated, and the name changed to Caribbean Baptist Partners.

The annual conference became known as the West Indies Baptist Fellowship. The fact that the conferences have continued for all these years is a testimony to God’s blessings. Time will not permit me to speak of all the conferences since 1962, but each have been a blessing.

The fellowship grows in numbers as churches are planted and pastors learn that their people will receive strength and encouragement from fellow believers and sister churches. The WIBF conference is not a denomination; every church is an independent self-governing body. As the name designates, it is a fellowship of Baptist churches that have joined hearts and hands to accomplish the task given by Christ to His church in a better and faster way. We must covenant together to do all we can to prevent any false doctrine from becoming a part of the fellowship, or the ministries, or institutions that are jointly sponsored. Our Baptist distinctiveness must continue. Amen.