Caribbean Light and Truth
1990 Article
Caribbean Light and Truth had its beginning in 1974 as a missionary endeavor of Salem Mennonite Church of Keota, Iowa. The purpose of the organization was to bring the gospel message to the people of the Caribbean Basin. The name is derived from Psalm 43:3: "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me." The first workers sent by the church in July 1974, were David and Nancy Stutzman and Daniel Stutzman, members of the Keota congregation. Daniel later married Judy Miller. Chosen by the church in Belize, Daniel was ordained to the ministry in 1976. As the number of believers increased, there was need for more ordained leaders, so in 1980 three native Belizean ministers were ordained. One more was ordained in 1987 and two in 1988. There were 14 ordained and lay leaders in 1987, with a total membership of 151. Services are held on a regular basis in 14 different areas. There are three schools organized and supported by Caribbean Light and Truth. To meet some legal requirements the organization has become incorporated in the state of Iowa as a nonprofit corporation, with the board of directors from the local congregation.
2010 Update
In 2010 the Caribbean Light and Truth had 13 congregations and 131 members:
| Congregation | City | State | Members | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguacate Mennonite Church | Aguacate | Belize | 15 | 1978 |
| Berea Mennonite Fellowship | Mafredi Village | Belize | 12 | 1976 |
| Bethel Mennonite Fellowship | Blue Creek Village | Belize | 14 | 1976 |
| Colombia Mennonite Church | San Pedro | Belize | 18 | 1977 |
| Corazon Mennonite Church | Corazon Village | Belize | 1989 | |
| Crique Jute Mennonite Church | Crique Jute | Belize | 12 | 1976 |
| El Mango Mennonite Church | El Mango | Guatemala | 4 | 2004 |
| Jordan Mennonite Church | Jordan Village | Belize | 12 | 1984 |
| Marble Ha Mennonite Church | Marble Ha Village | Belize | 7 | 1987 |
| Punta Gorda Mennonite Church | Punta Gorda | Belize | 16 | 1997 |
| Red Bank Mennonite Church | Red Bank Village | Belize | 7 | 1997 |
| Santa Cruz Mennonite Church | Santa Cruz | Belize | 4 | 1980 |
| Santa Teresa Mennonite Church | Santa Teresa | Belize | 10 | 1985 |
| Total | 131 |
Bibliography
Mennonite Church Directory 2010. Harrisonburg, VA: Christian Light Publications, Inc., 2010: 55-56.
Mennonite World Conference website.
Mennonite World Handbook Supplement . Strasbourg, France, and Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1984: 51.
| Author(s) | Wilford Stutzman |
|---|---|
| Date Published | September 2010 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Stutzman, Wilford. "Caribbean Light and Truth." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 2010. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Caribbean_Light_and_Truth&oldid=86530.
APA style
Stutzman, Wilford. (September 2010). Caribbean Light and Truth. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Caribbean_Light_and_Truth&oldid=86530.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 127. All rights reserved.
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