FALMOUTH, Trelawny — REVEREND Seaton D Wilson, the founder of Spiritual Fortress Assembly in Falmouth, now the First Assembly of God, was among the 19 persons recognised by the church for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the ministry, during its 35th anniversary service on Sunday.

Alethia Seaton-Samuels, the Assembly of God’s executive secretary, in commending Rev Wilson for his commitment and dedication to the ministry, outlined the “many struggles” the then young pastor endured in his bid to get the church up and running.

“The journey of the church was one of faith, commitment and dedication of the pastor, members and friends who were exuberant to the call of God upon their lives,” Seaton-Samuels told the gathering.

She said the fellowship started during a crusade under a tent in Falmouth from April 29 – May 14, 1980, under the leadership of Pastor Wilson, which saw more than 200 people in attendance.

According to Seaton-Samuels, during the crusade 12 persons were baptised, seven of whom remained, and committed themselves to the fellowship.

She added that after the crusade a desperate search was made for a suitable place of worship.

“A garage was made available, but persons started to complain about the noise. Subsequently, the pastor contacted persons attached to the Elliston Wakeland Community Centre in Falmouth for the use of the building, but they were denied the opportunity, as the building was being used as a multi-purpose centre,” she explained.

She stressed, however, that the decision did not deter the “committed and faithful Pastor Wilson and his members,” who decided to continue the fellowship and to spread the gospel.

The group, she said, later began to worship under a street lamp, until they were accommodated at the dilapidated manse at the Anglican Church in Falmouth.

There they worshipped for several months despite numerous complaints from the membership about the deplorable state of the building.

Months later, Rev Dan Sheaffer, the pastor of the City Frist Assembly of God in Oklahoma City, USA, who was doing missionary work on the island, heard about the plight of Rev Wilson’s flock and decided to give a helping hand.

The members had by then named the fledgling church, Spiritual Fortress.

Rev Sheaffer subsequently purchased a property located on prime beachfront lands on Seaboard Street, Falmouth – now adjacent to the multi-million dollar Falmouth Cruise Shipping Pier – for the church.

Despite the lack of amenities at the old building on the property, Pastor Wilson and his followers vowed to continue their worship there.

In 1983 — through the instrumentality of Rev Sheaffer — a new building was constructed on the property.

On Sunday, Rev Wilson who pastored the church from 1980-1985, told the gathering that there were many obstacles along the journey in his quest to establish the ministry.

Arguing that the land on which the church is now situated “became the envy of businessmen”, Rev Wilson stressed that several influential persons in the town argued that a shopping centre would be more ideally suited for the location.

He added that there was also opposition from certain members of the Georgian Society who wanted a Georgian-style building to be erected at the site.

“…so they were retrogressive minds right here in the town of Falmouth who wanted to keep the town stagnant in the past,” a passionate Rev Wilson told the congregation.

He said that he was also told that there was no need for another church in Falmouth, and that he had no charisma, so the church would not succeed.

At one point, he stressed, there were threats to burn down the place of worship after he took a decision to destroy a jetty near the facility, where, he claimed, illegal activities were taking place.

Other awardees at the well-attended function were: Rev Seaton’s wife Jean; Rev Junior Rutty, who pastored at the church for almost 15 years, and his wife Otis; Rev Conrad Pitkin and his wife; Cornetta Daley and his wife; Alvis McDonald; Alethia Seaton-Samuels; Avis McDonald; Beverly Welds; Edna Thomas; Donorene HoSang; Mary Trusty; Winston Williams; Julette Duncanson; Everton Lawrence; Cynthia Forrest and Pastor Paul Reid.

First Assembly has a membership of roughly 135, but according to its pastor Rev Anthony Streete, the church, which has a very active mission outreach programme, welcomes more than 150 visitors at its service on Sundays.

Apart from the church service, a raft of other activities have been planned to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the First Assembly of God, Falmouth, .