History
What is known today as Caribbean Ministries Association began in the late 1980’s as a series of short-term mission trips from Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Lighthouse Baptist Church in the settlement of James Cistern in Eleuthera, Bahamas. After experiencing first hand some of the struggles of these believers, the church elders began to ask for additional help.
Over the course of the next decade, with the assistance of leaders in the local Brethren assemblies in Eleuthera and Nassau, the concept behind Eleuthera Bible Training Center (EBTC) took shape, culminating with a grand opening in the spring of 2002. In 2004, EBTC graduated its first class of pastors: 10 bi-vocational men from the island, representing 7 different churches and 5 different denominations, who persevered through 500 hours of coursework in biblical studies. Each one testifies of how much better equipped he is to shepherd the people of God in Eleuthera.
In 2005, CMA added Nicaragua missionaries, Carl and Kathy Most who were involved in youth leader training in partnership with the Nehemiah Center in Managua. Since then, Carl and Kathy have seen this training expand and multiply to other parts of Nicaragua, including León and Esteli.
Today CMA has expanded to many islands and countries throughout the Caribbean and Central America, and continues to look toward the future of providing accessible and affordable theological training.
In addition to and in support of the training ministry, many short-term mission teams have served (and continue to serve) in ministry. These multi-faceted avenues of ministry include teaching English as a second language, Vacation Bible schools, drama, construction projects, sports evangelism, and more.
We Believe…
In one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, equal in power, glory and essence; (Deut. 6:4; Num. 6:24-26; Isa. 48:16; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:18-20; John 14:16,17,23,26; 15:26)
In the person of Jesus Christ, God’s unique Son who was God manifested in the flesh, and gave Himself as the supreme sacrifice for man’s sin, satisfying God’s justice against sinners, and is alone the only way of salvation; (John 1:11,12; 6:37; 8:28,29,36,46; Luke 9:51; 10:17; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 1:1-3)
In the Holy Spirit, who reveals Christ, convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment; who regenerates, sanctifies and seals forever those born again through faith in Christ; (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7-11, 13-15; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 4:30)
In the Bible, God’s written word – inspired, wholly true and without error in the original manuscripts; (Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; Psalm 119:89; 2 Tim. 3:16,17)
In sin as the state of all humanity, inherited from Adam, causing the consequence of death, and from which man cannot save himself; (Gen. 6: 12; Rom 3:23; 5:12; 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 John 5:19; Eph 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Gal. 2:16)
In salvation as the free gift of God by grace through faith in the substitutionary death of Christ, and His subsequent resurrection from the dead; (John 1:11,12;14:6; Mark 1:15; Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5-7; Rom 3:20-28; 4:16-25; Gal. 2:16; 3:24)
In the eternal security of all true believers; (John 1:11, 12; 3:14-18, 36; 14:16; 5:24; Rom 8:16-18; Titus 3:5-7; Heb. 13:5, 6; 1 John 5:11-13; Rev. 6:9-11)
In the Church, universal and local; (Matt. 16:18; John 14:16; Acts 2:1-5; Heb. 10:25; 2 Cor. 5:17)
In the personal, imminent, and victorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ; (1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:1-10)
In the responsibility of all true believers to live in a state of readiness for the Lord’s return – living faithfully and in purity in light of the teachings of Scripture. (John 15:16; Rom 12:1, 2; Gal. 5:16-23)