Cavaliers Adventist Church Rededicated With Renewed Call to Mission

A dark and stormy afternoon could not dampen the spirit of a small gathering at the Cavaliers Seventh-day Adventist Church, where members and guests celebrated the rededication of their renovated sanctuary on October 25, 2026.

 

As Songs such as “We Have Come This Far by Faith” rang out, the congregation reflected on a journey that began more than eight decades ago and a restoration project sustained through years of challenges, prayer and sacrifice.

 

Outgoing pastor Robert Francis was a picture of pride as he welcomed those gathered for the service, held under the theme “Strengthening Faith, Spreading Hope”, and that pride was shared by Pastor Melvin Francis, president of the East Jamaica Conference, and Pastor Karl Archer, executive secretary of the Jamaica Union, who, together, cut the ribbon, marking a new chapter for the congregation.

In his keynote message, Archer urged the church to embrace a mission that goes beyond preaching simply as a witness. God’s love and desire for all people to be saved, he said, demand that believers preach desperately for salvation too.

 

The message echoed the vision expressed in the church history presented by Sister Detisha McLeod: the renewed sanctuary should be “not a fortress to retreat into, but a launchpad for gospel mission,” carrying hope and comfort into the surrounding community and beyond.

Roots in faith and perseverance

 

The congregation traces its beginnings to 1942, when Wilhelmina Harvey visited the Everton Park Seventh-day Adventist Church, as directed by the Holy Spirit. Through a confluence of seemingly random events, and support that seemed providentially prepared, she later started a branch Sabbath school at her home in Star Apple Tree, Cavaliers.

 

In 1945, she again sought help from Everton Park members to build a bamboo booth at her new residence on Burnt Shop Road. That group rapidly increased in both number and spatial need and was formally organised into a company on December 5, 1948, with a standing attendance of 23.

 

The early believers braved numerous setbacks. One particularly disastrous one was the 1951 storm known as Charlie which destroyed their bamboo structure. Between 1959 and 1960, members banded together to excavate a hillside and erected a building at “Buck Up Corner”, the church’s present home.

A sanctuary restored

 

The latest restoration began in 2019 under Pastor Brian “Action Shaw” Shaw. The work included the construction of a retaining wall, removing the old roof, improvements to the worship facilities and the completion of the children’s department.

 

Again, the journey was not easy. For a time, the main sanctuary was largely uncovered, and worshippers had to gather in a small section to the side that had a slab roof when rain fell; yet faithfully gather they did. The COVID-19 pandemic brought further disruption. Pastor Andre Clarke helped rally churches in the Florence Hill district for a fundraising concert, while Robert Francis and the congregation pressed on with the work. Elder McCullum was a key driver of the construction effort that sees the church in the state of completion that it is in today. And Elder Kirk McLeod, his wife and a small group of members helped keep the doors open and reconnected with members during the difficult times.

 

The history also acknowledges the East Jamaica Conference’s support for replacing the roof, as well as the contributions of contractor Wilfred Dixon and his team, donors, families and members who gave their time and resources.

 

For the Cavaliers congregation, the rededication was both a celebration of how far they had come and a commitment to the work still ahead: strengthening faith within the church and spreading hope beyond its walls.