They’ve reached the promised land

It has been a long journey for the Open Door Christian Assembly — but now they have somewhere to call home.

Their story began more than twenty years ago when pastor Dean Smith and his wife, Jonelle, formed their own congregation with a few family members and close friends.

Over the last two decades the group has gathered and worshipped in primary school halls, gymnasiums and even workmen’s clubs as they looked for a more permanent base.

Now they have found a home at the old military mess hall on Tommy Fox Road in St David’s.

And this weekend more than 100 members and guests will gather at the church for its official dedication.

The congregation’s minister of music, Julian Johnson, who is studying in Boston, is flying in for the dedication service, where Bishop Vernon Lambe will be the guest speaker, on Sunday at 4:30pm.

Pastor Smith told the Bermuda Sun: “It has been a long road for us.

“At first we met at Harrington Sound Primary School when there was maybe just a dozen of us.

“After that we were at the Whitney Institute Auditorium, then the Harrington Sound Workman’s Club and more recently the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Robert’s Avenue.

“There has been a fair bit of moving, but our numbers have grown and everyone has stuck together.

“We are so happy that we have found somewhere we can call home.”

He added: “We started the Open Door Christian Assembly in 1991.

“I felt a calling to begin a new work.

“I come from a background of preachers — my dad and his mother were preachers and my two brothers are preachers so it is in the blood.

“We called it ‘Open Door’ because we are all about welcoming people into God’s grace.”

Crumbling

The Open Door Christian Assembly found the vacant property on Tommy Fox Road around two years ago.

But the structure was in a dreadful state of disrepair with walls crumbling, roofs leaking and old power sockets hanging out.

So for the last 24 months members have given up their own time to join forces with professional builders, electricians, painters and architects to tackle the extensive project.

They have transformed the dilapidated premises into a state-of-the-art auditorium, complete with a mother’s room, a multi-purpose hall for youth activities and a sanctuary.

Sunday services have always been upbeat affairs for the congregation — full of praise and worship with music.

But now they will be conducted from a pristine platform in the auditorium and the congregation’s band, which includes eight-year-old drummer, Sayon Hassell, have their own designated area.

Pastor Smith said: “I feel quite emotional whenever I walk in the door. It just feels right to us.

“When we first came here it was dark and wet.

“To see the work that has been done here is amazing.

“It is not just a place for us to hold our weekly services and prayer sessions, but also a place for activities for young people.

“We want to help them get off the streets and come in and have some fun.

“I think of us as a family and now we have a home.

“We are so grateful to all the people that have helped us along the way.”

The firms that helped renovate the property for the Open Door Christian Assembly include: Cooper and Gardner, Trinity Construction, GSC Air Conditioning, Telford Electric, EMB Carpentry, Anderlin Industry Security, Kingdom First Sound, Astwood Tiling, Furniture Flair, Architectural Paint Contracting and 21st Century Plumbing. n