History of The Boulevard Baptist Church

Unveiling of the design for the new Chapel
The construction of the Washington Boulevard in the Pre-Independence era occasioned the build up of communities from Duhaney Park to Dunrobin during the 1960s. A small group of Hanover Street Baptist Church members living off the Washington Boulevard, met regularly at the home of Cyril Palmer. Rev. Luther Gibbs, serving as Pastor of Hanover Street, encouraged these members to become the nucleus for a new congregation for a church to be built on grounds donated by the authorities of Calabar. In 1969 a small building was erected on the property and Boulevard Baptist Church came into being with thirty-three (33) members. So rapid was the growth in membership that six years later, on September 11, 1975 Rev. Luther Gibbs accepted the call to the full-time pastorate of Boulevard. He immediately set his eyes on building a Chapel large enough to accommodate two thousand (2,000) people. The Chapel was built to accommodate large groups like Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) Assembly. The programmes, right from the start, were organized to facilitate outreach activities like dental care, legal aid, skills training, adult education, counselling, and care basket. Boulevard has also led the way in the establishment of Sunday School for the total population (all age groups) and in Media Ministry.
When the Rev. Luther Gibbs retired in 1990 the church sought and found a young man, Rev. Devon Dick, who was given the responsibility to fill the church by evangelism, develop an effective ministry to the youth and encourage participation of all members. Since then, he has accomplished more than was asked. The outreach of the church has extended to other persons through Jamal-type programmes, scholarships, care basket, singles ministry and Media Ministry. New dimensions focused on research, planning and implementation.
The Mission Statement of the church beckons all members to evangelism and mission. Group members have been on mission to Warsop, Rock River, Point Hill, Cuba, Guyana, England and, with a different focus, to the United States of America.
The establishment of adequate parking facilities, the expansion and dedication of the Luther Gibbs Building, the opening of a Library, improvement of lighting facilities, the expansion of improved electronic facilities are steps which herald the growth of a church with a vision.

Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new chapel (1977)
Milestones
1968 Church foundation laid; spearheaded by Rev. Luther Gibbs
1969 Second Sunday, February - Church opened with thirty-three (33) members
1969 July 4, Stonelaying Ceremony
1969 September 14, dedication of Boulevard Baptist Church and Christian Education Centre
1975 July 1, full-time Pastor called
1975 September 11, Rev. Luther Gibbs inducted as Pastor of the church
1976 Construction of the new Sanctuary began
1978 December - Sanctuary completed and officially opened; built to accommodate two thousand (2,000) persons
1980 April 6, launch of Sunday School for all ages.
1982 Launching of Outreach and Enrichment programme including skills training, dental clinic and Care Basket
1989 Celebration of 20th Anniversary
1990 Rev. Luther Gibbs retired
1990 Rev. Devon Dick inducted as Pastor
1991 Launching of Media Ministry
1991 Opening and dedication of Luther Gibbs Education Centre
1994 Celebration of 25th Anniversary - Overseas mission to Cuba
1994 Launching of Cyril Matherson Scholarship Fund
1995 Introduction of Sports Day
1995 Establishment of library
1996 Focus on Men
1996 Formation of Young Adults Group.
1997 Development of Five-Year strategic plan
1998 Mid-week Lunch Hour Evangelism
1998 Singles’ Ministry launched in May
1998 Prison Ministry launched
1999 30th Anniversary Service held in May
1999 Caretaker’s quarters built, kitchen upgraded and expanded, dental clinic refurnished, expansion of sanitation block
1999 Mission to Haiti, August 4-18, led by Rev. Fritzner Dunois
1999 Early Morning Service began in April on an exploratory basis
1999 Rev. Fritzner Dunois was accepted by the JBU in August, for pastoral training and assigned to Boulevard for a year under the supervision of the Pastor, Rev. Devon Dick.
1999 First Bogle Walk-a-thon held in October
1999 Expansion of Sanitation Block of the Luther Gibbs Education Centre
2000 Enid Miller Scholarship Fund launched
2001 Media Ministry expanded to radio in October
2001 Church sponsors for the first time, one of its female members, Sister Cherrine Abrahams, in ministerial studies at UTC in June.
2001 Building of Multi-Purpose Court
2002 Multi-Purpose Court dedicated in February
2002 Traffic Ministry launched in February
2002 Expressions Ministry launched in February
2002 The new organ, a Roger 905B and the new piano were dedicated in October
2002 Pastor’s book, Rebellion to Riot: The Jamaican Church in Nation Building was launched in October
2002 Sunday School Student’s Incentive and Education Programme (SIEP) launched at7 the Sunday School Anniversary Service in November
2004 Established Counselling Ministry
2008 Launch 40th Anniversary Celebrations
2008 Pastor Awarded PhD in Caribbean studies
2009 Celebration of 40th Anniversary – Gleaner Supplement, Banquet fo Members, Festival of Choirs, Heath Fair, Cruise, Home Coming Week (June 7-13) Walk through Community, Family Fun Day
2009 Mission to Turks and Caicos
2009 Publication of Rev. Dr. Devin Dick’s book The Cross and the Machete: Native Baptists of Jamaica – Identity, Ministry and Legacy
2010 1st Festival of Choirs
2010 BBC Netball Team received trophy for Outstanding Performance at Invitational Tournament in St Maarten in August
2011 Appreciation Service for Pastor Rev. Dr. Devon Dick for 20 years of outstanding service - March 27
2011 Ground-breaking for Kings Drive Townhouse Development
2011 Boulevard Baptist Women’s Federation 40th Anniversary
2011 BBC/Mt. Carey Radiothon & Fund-Raising Concert hosted by The BBC Senior Choir
2012 Computer Laboratory upgraded with donation of twenty new computers from the Universal Access Fund – February
2012 Computer Classes for adults from the community started with 13 persons
2012 Founding Pastor, Rev. Luther Gibbs, celebrated his 90th birthday on March
2012 Jamaica 50 Week-long Celebrations
2012 Eight Sound and Media Technicians commissioned in October
2012 The church’s monthly e-magazine (subsequently officially named BBC e-Voice) first published in July as a Jamaica 50 edition.
2013 Wheel chair lift installed for access to upstairs the Luther Gibbs Education Center
2013 Brother Derrick Sadler admitted to pastoral training at the United Theological College
2013 Pastor Confirmed with the Order of Distinction Commander Class by the Jamaican Government
2014 Plaque listing the names of the 32 foundation members was unvieled at the start of the 45th Anniversary Service
2014 First Aid Ministry Renamed to The Leleka Champagnie First Aid Ministry
2014 Kings Manor Housing Development completed and commissioned
2014 New Church Sign erected
2015 New Industrial Ceiling Fans installed
2016 Padding of the benches
2016 Church Sponsored Music Director to attend Choral Conducting Institute at Westminster Choir College

Plaque listing the names of the 32 foundation members