Induction Service - First Isthmian Baptist Church
On Saturday August 27th 2006, I was Inducted as Pastor of the First Isthmian Baptist church, colon Panama.
It was a solemn liturgy adopted from the standard practice in JBU churches, and completely planned by leaders of the church. It came as a surprise when I began making inquiries, to learn that they had gotten this information and had gone ahead with the plans.
Even with certain cultural twists, it still felt a lot like home. The preacher was Rev. Everton Jackson, pastor of Calvary Circuit of Baptist Churches, Montego Bay, Jamaica. He also brought greetings on behalf of the JBU. Except for the different faces, it was hard to tell this was not Jamaica.
Both pastor and congregation were challenged to see afresh how God works in ways that generally confound humanity. We were challenged to desist from trying to impose our standards upon God, and using these standards as rules to exclude from the Kingdom of God, those who are different from us. We were invited to look again at the people and circumstances that God has used throughout history, and learn that God tends to select from, and identify with the marginalized, and otherwise outcasts in society.
With loud amens, and affirmative cheers sounding across the church, I wondered who could miss the relevance of the message to the Panamanian context that was now receiving its first ordained woman in a Baptist pastorate.
One sister from the Central Panama Baptist Association who brought greetings quoted from Esther 4:14b to support the idea that like Esther, who knows, I might have come to Panama “for such a time as this”. For some reason, it sounded just a little bit terrifying. Thinking about the passage, I’ve heard it in Jamaica over and over again in similar settings. Maybe, now that I am far away from home with unfamiliar issues, I suddenly felt like a lot of water was rushing upward and I was in too deep(?)
The sister’s greetings also include a list of vacant churches in Central Association that needed pastoral oversight, and a petition that I give some assistance to them whenever I could. She hinted that I might want to stay after my time was up! Now that was completely unexpected sentiments and the reaction of Rev. Jackson was well noted. 
Generally, it was an occasion of blessing and deep reflection. I met some of my Baptist colleagues for the very first time including one elderly minister who got stuck in traffic for 2 hours on the bus while making his way from Panama city ( 1 1/2 hours drive away from Colon). It was an evening of thunderstorms and he came anyway. I was deeply touched.
The Ecumenical spirit was also alive as the ministers from the Methodist and the Church of God were also present. This was remarkable considering there is no active Ministers Fraternal. However, there is a good rapport with the church and again this was part of the legacy of the regard for my predecessor who returned to Jamaica.
In some ways, the service gave some indication of later developments. I take it one day at a time…
Peace,
Marvia
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December 12th, 2006 at 3:23 am
Just reading this I realise you step in deep water, but nah sah, you not in too deep. Still trying to picture the expression on Rev. Jackson’s face… Look like u got a warm welcome with the assurance of cooperation and support.
December 20th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Thanks for the vote of confidence Derry! Did I mention that I can’t swim? What a wonderful thing that the Holy Spirit works miracles in our lives. I know for sure who keeps me afloat:-)
December 8th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
[...] the sister said at my Induction Service, who knows, I might have come here for such a time as this. Personally, I would rather not be in [...]