Training
A healthy body of believers is founded on sound doctrine from God’s Word, developing disciples of Jesus Christ, and working to join God in His mission to all the nations. Caribbean Ministries Association (CMA) offers a Bible training program designed to assist the local church in becoming a thriving community of believers who are realizing all that God intended them to be and do.
As a multi-denominational training ministry, CMA also works to connect local churches to the larger body of Christ in each community to form networks of believers who are working together in God’s mission to build His people in His Word and send them out in the world.
The tenets of Bible training through CMA include:
Sound doctrine that is focused on the essential truths of God’s Word
Multi-denominational involvement of Christ-followers who are actively involved in the learning process and building strong relationships with other believers
Conservative, evangelical Bible teachers who are well equipped in the Scriptures and experienced in Christian ministry
Curriculum that develops students in their understanding of God’s Word and in their ability to utilize their spiritual gifts in serving the body of Christ
The goal of CMA is not to be the local church, but to assist her in equipping God’s people with God’s Word by providing Biblical training that is relational, relevant, accessible, and affordable.If you would like to get involved by teaching, please let us know via our Teaching Application.
Eluthera
What is known today as Caribbean Ministries Association (CMA) began in the late 1980s as a series of short-term mission trips from Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Eleuthera, Bahamas.
A few years later in the early 1990s, the vision of establishing a Bible training facility to equip pastors and church leaders on the island was birthed.
The Eleuthera Bible Training Center (EBTC), a 7,000-square-foot training center, was constructed in Eleuthera over an eight-year period by visiting mission teams and local volunteers, culminating with a grand opening in the spring of 2002.
In 2004, EBTC graduated its first class of pastors: 10 bi-vocational men representing seven churches and five denominations from the island who persevered through 500 hours of courses in Biblical studies over a two-year period. Since that inaugural class, seven more classes encompassing 90 church leaders have completed their course of studies and have graduated from EBTC.
Training in Eleuthera continues today with 5-6 courses offered each year on subjects like Bible Study Methods, Old and New Testament Surveys, and Bible Doctrines taught by visiting pastors and seminary professors from the U.S. in two-week modules.
Interesting in teaching pastors and church leaders in Eleuthera? If so, please fill out this on-line form.
Freeport
God’s work is often a process, but that process is always accomplished in His perfect timing. In 2001, when Paul and Lisa Voss were serving with CMA in Eleuthera, they were introduced to a man named Kevin Knowles. Kevin is an itinerant evangelist from Freeport who travels all over the Bahamas. When he first heard about the ministry of CMA and its work to provide Bible training for pastors and church leaders, there was some conversation about bringing this to the island of Grand Bahama. Over the next several years, there were further discussions and visits to Freeport to see what God might do there through CMA, but nothing came to fruition during that time. God was not done though.
In 2008, the Lord finally paved the way for CMA to partner with Kevin to promote and officially begin Bible training through the Caribbean Bible Institute in the city of Freeport. There were 10 people from three different churches in that first class on Bible Study Methods. The following year, in 2009, Brad and Alicia Fox were sent from Eleuthera to Freeport to serve full-time in further developing the ministry. God has been so faithful in building sound relationships and bringing outstanding students into connection with us.
As more people get involved in Bible training from the city of Freeport, the Lord has also expanded opportunities for people from other parts of the island to get involved. As He allows our influence to grow, we look forward to the day when church leaders from every part of this island will be students of God’s Word through the Caribbean Bible Institute. We ask you to join us in praying for men and women of God who love Him deeply, lead their homes faithfully, serve the church, and make disciples of all the nations.
Cuba
Since CMA was established more than 15 years ago, the ministry’s leadership has prayed for God to open the doors in Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean and home to over 11 million people.
With new foreign relationships available with Cuba, CMA is excited about how God has orchestrated details and made connections for us to have a growing ministry presence there now.
In connection with our missionaries, Carl and Kathy Most, we are coming alongside Cuban churches and leaders, as they prepare their leaders through out the country for more effective ministries.
The six Missional Church Courses that CMA offers are being well received, and are inspiring churches across the country to boldly leave the safety of their church walls and strategically reach out into their surrounding towns. We are hearing exciting reports of incredible impact in the lives of those society often considers the least, the last and the lost, as these leaders, and their churches, share with the Good News of the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
St. Maarten
In 2008, God opened the door for CMA to expand Bible training beyond the Bahamas to another island in the Caribbean, St. Maarten, located in the French West Indies. Like the Bahamas, this part of the Caribbean lacks training options for church leaders.
Through a connection with a local national missionary on the island, the Caribbean Bible Institute (CBI) in St. Maarten was birthed in 2009. The first group of students was made up of local pastors and church leaders from a variety of churches on St. Maarten, and have gone on to rightly divide the Word for their congregations since graduating in 2011. Our second class graduated in January 2013.
Training in St. Maarten continues with 5-6 courses offered each year on subjects like Bible Study Methods, Old and New Testament Surveys, and Bible Doctrines taught by visiting pastors and seminary professors from the U.S. in two-week modules.
Through a key partnership with Hillside Christian Academy, CBI hosts the classes at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian campus in Phillipsburg. God continues to grow and expand CMA’s influence in St. Maarten and the surrounding islands of the French West Indies.
Abaco
CMA’s vision is to provide Bible training to pastors and church leaders on every island where training is not available. Abaco, the third largest Bahamian island in terms of population, lies in the northern Bahamas 180 miles east of south Florida. On the big island of Abaco, Marsh Harbour is the third largest city in the Bahamas. CMA national missionary, Kevin Knowles has been ministering in the churches in Abaco for many years. The church leaders and the local Christian Council have been asking CMA to expand their Bible training in Abaco for several years, but due to a shortage of missionary staff we have not been able to do so. Our prayer was that God would raise up workers for His harvest for this island.
In 2015, God answered this prayer. In September 2015, the Luttrell family moved to Marsh Harbour to establish and lead a training ministry in the Abaco islands. Our first class began in January 2016, with 11 pastors and leaders from six different churches. CMA looks forward to many years of fruitful ministry as we come along side the churches in the Abaco’s, equipping and establishing their leaders in God’s Word.
If you are interesting in teaching pastors and church leaders in Abaco? If so, please fill out this on-line form (link to form) or contact Bill Luttrell at bill@missioncma.com.