About Us

REVEREND DR. WINSTON G. SMITH

Rev. Dr. Winston Smith has been Pastor of Havenhill since 1976, and has been married to Fay since 1973. They have five (5) children and seven (7) grand-children.

PASTOR JASON ANDERSON

Pastor Jason Anderson has been the Assistant Pastor at Havenhill since October 2008 and has been married to Kamla since May 24, 2003. They have two (2) daughters.

ABOUT THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, divinely inspired; that it contains no errors in the original manuscripts and is preserved by God for us; it is authoritative for this church and each of us for every age.

ABOUT GOD

We believe that God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are one God. We believe God created the universe by His Power and Word. We believe that God is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever present.

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

We believe Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father into the world to save sinners. We believe that Jesus Christ was virgin born, sinless in life and mighty in words and deeds. We believe Jesus was both God and man, that He was crucified for our sins, and was bodily raised from the dead. He then ascended to His Father’s side where He is head of the church and intercedes for believers. We believe Jesus Christ is coming again personally, visibly and bodily to reign as Lord.

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is a person, is God, and has all the divine characteristics. He indwells all believers, baptizes and seals them at the moment of salvation. He fills them in response to confession of sin and surrender to Him.

ABOUT SALVATION

We believe that Jesus, through His death on the cross, provided salvation for all. However, to receive salvation one must repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ alone. The true believer is eternally secure and cannot lose his salvation. He may, however, lose his joy by sin and bring the loving discipline of the Father upon himself. All who have received Christ will at death depart to be with Christ in their spirits and at Christ’s return, receive a new body, which will be like His glorious body.

ABOUT THE CHURCH

We believe the church is a local body of baptized believers who have agreed together to worship Jesus Christ, edify the believers, evangelize the lost and minister to others. The church has two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion). Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life we have in Him. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Christ’s death and anticipates His Second Coming.

It all began in 1963 when Reverend James Green, a Canadian, with Baptist Mid-Missions and his wife Edna, began a Sunday School in Kingston Gardens. They later had to move the budding group to their home at 5 Swansea Avenue in Constant Spring Gardens.

On July 15, 1968, missionaries Reverend Dale Loftis and his wife JoAnn along with their children joined forces with the Greens to conduct a Vacation Bible School at the home of the Greens. Many young persons were saved that week. The Loftis family were later asked to take over the work that had been started in Kingston by the Greens. In September of that year, God divinely led them to a large house located at 16 Fairfax Drive. On Sunday, October 6, 1968, the Havendale Baptist Mission was started with Morning Worship Service and Sunday School. For His work, the Lord availed the following servants: Mrs. Edna Green, Mr. Bill Cummings, Mr. and Mrs. George and Hyacinth Bennett, and Miss Enda Smith. By November 3 of the same year, the team began evening services and a full week of activities which included regular prayer meetings as well as sessions for the choir and the youth groups.

On April 27, 1969, Havendale Baptist Mission was formally organised into a church. Seven candidates were baptised, and fourteen charter members signed the church roll. This constituted the membership of what then became the Havenhill Baptist Church. Rev. Dale Loftis became the first official Pastor of the Havenhill Baptist Church located at 28 Mannings Hill Road. A new church building was dedicated in a special service on Sunday, July 16, 1972. Pastor John (Jack) McKillop pastored briefly for a year (1972 – 1973), accompanied by his wife Mary during the Loftis’ short sabbatical.

In April 1976, the Reverend Winston G. Smith was called to serve as Pastor of the Havenhill Baptist Church, accompanied by his wife Fay, one toddler and an unborn child. Rev. Smith has led the fellowship with distinction, maintaining the focus of the church on Christ. Havenhill Baptist Church is thereby renowned for its unwavering preaching, teaching and study of the Word of God. During these years, Reverend Smith was ably supported in the ministry by six Assistant Pastors: Pastor Douglas Lawton (1984 – 1985), Pastor Patrick Harrison (1991 – 1993), Pastor James Richards (1994 – 1995), Pastor Gary Williams (1996 – 2001), Pastor Andrew Smith (2004 – 2007 & 2009 – 2013) and Pastor Jason Anderson (2008 – present).

Havenhill purchased land in Portmore to start a mission. The first service at Cedar Grove Baptist Mission was held on Sunday, February 4, 2001 after a two-week crusade which started January 21, 2001. Pastor Smith was the pastor and Deacon Paul Brown was assigned leadership responsibilities for the mission until August 2004. Pastor Gary Williams, then the Assistant Pastor at Havenhill, led the Mission from September 2004 until June 2007. Cedar Grove Baptist became an independent church on June 24, 2007. Pastor Gary Williams was officially appointed as Pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in January 2008 and has continued to present.

In 2017, Reverend Dr. Eral Lewis,  pastor of the Grace Christian Fellowship congregation, retired from ministry. Fourteen (14) members of Grace joined the Havenhill family, and they have since become actively involved in the church.

Our Mission:
To reach the unsaved with the Gospel, to equip them and our members through different ministries utilising the Word of God and prayer, towards accomplishing the Great Commission.
(Matt 28: 18 – 20)

Our Vision:
Every member a minister