HISTORY OF TEMPLE OF FAITH

Odsan Pentecostal Church (as it was known), was established in 1985 in the community of Odsan, along the Cul De Sac -Bexon highway, under the leadership of Revs. Rudolph and now deceased Lucille Harris of Bethel Tabernacle, San souci Castries. The church started as a small wooden structure with its initial congregation being some of the members of Bethel Tabernacle, who were residents of Odsan and its environs.  Deceased brothers, Jacob Pascal ad Deterville, assisted in pastoring the church and laboured tirelessly in the harvesting and nurturing of the precious souls who came into the kingdom. Soon after its construction, the church was dedicated. The sound of the song “The Little Church in the Wild Wood” as it was melodiously sang by the few excited members, echoed in the neighbourhood as it was carried by the wind. Like the early church, God added to the church daily, and the membership grew.

In 1988, Bro. Johnson Laffieuille was appointed as the Lay Pastor of the church. The gospel was shared through nightly open air meetings and house to house evangelism and so, the church continued to grow both spiritually and numerically. However, not without challenges; a few years later, there was a “break away” ” by the lay pastor and the majority of the members, leaving a small remnant of about 12 behind. Bro Jeffrey Flood who was also a stalwart of Bethel was sent to assist with the leadership of the church.  After the completion of his studies at the West Indies School of Theology, Pastor Hillary Emilien, a former member of the Babonneau Pentecostal Church was appointed to pastor the church in 1997. Nevertheless, the remnants who were left behind continued to struggle though with much disappointment and grief for the parting of their loved ones and comrades. They ran with the vision of their pastor and his wife Emily and supported them whole heartedly. God kept true to His promise “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. Again the church continued to multiply and it was not long before the empty church benches started to be occupied again by new members. The presence of God was rich in the “little church” the members recalled and God moved in a tremendous way.

 Pastor Emilien resigned from the church in the year 2000 and Brother Elijah Marquis and his wife Brenda immediately took up the leadership until November 2001 when Pastor John Joseph and his wife Juliette were inaugurated. The deterioration of the small wooden church over time, coupled with the growing membership, increased the need for a newer and bigger building. In light of this, a larger wooden structure was erected in 2004. Construction of the present church commenced in 2006 with as little as $2000.00 under the capable supervision of one of its members, brother Frederick Popo. With much toiling, commitment and sacrifice of Pastor, congregation and numerous teams headed by Pastor Sam Miesky, the first phase of the building was completed in 2008 just in time to host the first Old Year’s Night Service. Persons, not only from the church but all over the community flocked the church that night for they too were excited. The building continued and on November 8, 2009, the church was dedicated and renamed “Temple of Faith” because it reflected the power of faith in transforming a little battered building to a magnificent temple. Since then, the church has grown to a membership of approximately 323. Temple of Faith’s is committed to evangelizing the loss, disciplining the flock by facilitating the functioning of their gifting bringing the saint into full maturation.