Whatever is well acquired in one generation, can be easily lost in the next generation, if care is not taken to preserve it. We realized that God has done and is doing something extraordinary in the world in Jesus Christ, and with which the Haitian Baptist Church of Lynn is associated. This short historical overview of the acts of God in our midst is presented to highlight the journey of this church. We pray that it will serve as a testimony and inspiration to future generations and other believers in praise of the glory of God's grace.
In 1986, God's providence had pushed Pastor Joel Demosthenes to move from Allston Brighton, a suburb of Boston, where he lived with his young family, to come and reside in Lynn, a coastal town in Massachusetts.
In 1988, Officials of the Massachusetts Association of American Baptist Churches, called TABCOM, which is a branch of the American Baptist Churches United States denomination, had learned through Washington St. Baptist Church that a growing number of Haitian immigrants were establishing themselves in the northern coastal region of New England. They contacted Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church in Waltham where pastor Joel was a member of the pastoral leadership. A vision was then shared to consider the viability of a Church project in Lynn to reach Haitians living in the region. Pastor Joel was commissioned to lead this project.
During the summer of 1988, Pastor Joel started a home Bible study with a Haitian family. Very quickly a small and growing number of interested parties began to attend the study. A small fraternal communion was formed in October 1988 with the members of the Bible study to initiate a Church project. This small fellowship began meeting at the Washington Street Baptist Church. She was surrounded by a steering committee composed of Pastor Joël Démosthène, Pastor Eric Nelson of Washington Street Baptist, Pastor John French of First Baptist church of Stoneham, Pastor William Kelly Grimsely of Salem First Baptist Church and by Pastor Jim Grant, Executive Director of the Association of American Churches known as TABCOM. The small fraternal communion had submitted to the steering committee a Plan of Evangelization, Edification and Mission under the Acronym PEEM, by which non-believers would be evangelized, and believers would be trained to be disciples and in turn sent to evangelize.
In 1990, the number of people in the communion increased by 80 people. Then the steering committee judged that the hand of God was in this work. The Church was therefore officially formed and accepted as a branch and affiliate of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and the United States.
In February 1990, The Essex Street Baptist, (ESBC), which owned the building located at 84 Essex Street ceased to operate, having been reduced to 6 elderly members. ESBC dissolved, closed its doors and transferred its property titles to TABCOM. Learning of this, EBHL made a request to the Association for a lease of the premises, which was granted. The building was leased for $1 per year, on the condition that EBHL make all repairs necessary for the operation and maintenance of the Building. The repair works started during the spring and were completed with a dedication service on October 14, 1990.
In 1991, following a coup d'état in Haiti, there was an exodus of Haitians by boat to the United States. Many Haitian refugees were then collected by the Coast Guard and detained at the American Guantanamo Base in Cuba. HBCL responded to a call from the Immigration Service regarding helping a number of fellow Haitians refugees to relocate to Massachusetts. HBCL became the sponsor of many of its refugees who came to settle in Massachusetts, and welcomed a group in Lynn which increased the number of the congregation. It was for such a time that God had placed HBCL in this strategic position to help some compatriots who without this ministry could have been deported back to Haiti.
Touched by the growth of the church and its ministry, the Association of American Churches asked Pastor Joel Demosthene to serve on their Central Committee for the planting and development of new baptist churches in Massachusetts. She asked EBHL to sponsor and guide the planting of new American churches in Massachusetts. Through its pastor's involvement on the Committee, and his financial support and mentoring, EBHL influenced the planting of 17 Haitian, Cambodian, Hispanic, Brazilian and English-speaking ethnic churches throughout Lynn, Boston, Somerville, Brockton.
In 1997, EHBL made a purchase offer to TABCOM who agreed to sell them the Building. After payments were satisfied, the property titles were handed over to EBHL. HBCL filled out papers for incorporation. A petition was then made to the Massachusetts Secretary of State which was approved. HBCL became a non-profit religious corporation.
In 1999, The church broke away from the American Churches denomination and became an independent church following a doctrinal disagreement over homosexuality. HBCL disagreed with the practice of TABCOM and the American Baptist Denomination USA to continue to maintain Affiliation with churches affirming and confirming members and ordaining to the pastoral office pastors practicing the homosexual lifestyle.
Our works for God are not our works but the work of God through sinners to whom he has given grace. They are written with the thought of preserving the memory of how God has equipped us and worked in our lives over the years.
Everything hasn't always been rosy. Our History includes good and bad things. And we feel a certain pain regarding our weaknesses, our failures, our mistakes. Humbly we confess our sins of not being at times what God wanted us to be and what we should have been. We beg forgiveness from God and forgiveness from those who have been hurt by us throughout the history of this church.
These words are also written to challenge all to believe that the Church continues to be purified by the Lord Jesus Christ and is in process of becoming without blame when He appears. However, despite its faults, its weaknesses, its imperfection and its sins, it remains the only entity that can proclaim the word of truth, the gospel of salvation to condemned sinners. She alone can proclaim the message of God's grace in Jesus Christ, who, according to the scriptures, died for sin, was buried, and rose again to grant repentance, forgiveness of sins and eternal life to anyone who believes in him. The Church alone can make an eternal difference in the lives of men. The church remains the instrument by which God chose to make known to men his saving love, and to make known to the angels the infinitely varied wisdom of his intelligence.