Meet the Elders
Since 2004, our church has followed a leadership model we see prescribed for our benefit by Scripture. The “elder-led” approach provides us with sound guidance from biblically-qualified men. First Baptist Church polity (church government) emphasizes that all of the elders are pastors of the congregation with our senior pastor, Thabiti Anyabwile, being first among equals. Some of our elders are employed by the church, though most work in secular jobs. All elders meet the stated qualifications for this office as laid out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. They meet regularly to pray and provide spiritual oversight on matters concerning the church.
Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, is a native of Lexington, North Carolina (U.S.). He is the happy husband of Kristie and the adoring father of two daughters, Afiya and Eden, and son, Titus. He began serving as elder/senior pastor in August 2006. He served previously as an elder/assistant pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (Washington, DC) and as an elder at Church on the Rock (Raleigh, NC). Thabiti holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in psychology from North Carolina State University. A former high school basketball coach and bookstore owner, he enjoys preaching, reading, sports, and watching sci-fi films.
Bentley Robinson, Assistant Pastor, born and raised in a Christian home in Jamaica and the son of a Baptist preacher. He is the husband to Maureen and father to Amanda and Joanna. Came to live in the Cayman Islands in 1989 as an auto air conditioning technician at Wheels Cooling Centre. In 1998 he worked for 6 and half years as a prison officer at HMP Northward where he also led a prayer/bible study ministry with his wife. After sensing God’s call on his life along with the gracious support of the church, he attended the Moorlands Bible College in the UK, where he did 3 years of pastoral/evangelistic training, graduating with a BA Degree in Applied Theology. Bentley has a passion to see peoples lives changed through the preaching of the gospel. He enjoys his wife’s lovely cooking and spending time with his 2 lovely girls.
Shane Foster is a native of the Cayman Islands; however he has a strong family heritage in Jamaica and he was born in Kingston Jamaica. He is happily married to Kimi, and the proud father of 3 sons, Taylor, Harrison, and James. He went to school in Cayman at Cayman Prep School then on to Southwest Miami High, and then Webber University. Shane has been working with the Foster Family Group of Companies since 1986. The family established business in Cayman in 1964. He is the Managing Director of Progressive Distributors Ltd. He joined the FBC family in May 1992. He has been a faithful teacher in the Sunday School Ministry for the 5 and 6 year olds for many years. He enjoys Scuba Diving, Fishing, Boating and Gardening.
David Jorge, Pastor of Worship was born in Havana, Cuba. He is the ever-grateful husband to Kathy and amazed father of Jonathan! He has served as a Pastor of Worship since 1983 in churches in Los Angeles. He has joyfully served this Body since 2001. In another life he was an arranger/ orchestrator/conductor/musician in L.A. for a bunch of stuff. The passion of his life is to help people connect with God-right now through worship. In his spare time he enjoys rebuilding islands after hurricanes and helping lead churches to a Biblical model of leadership. Diving with God’s underwater creatures ranks a close second. David Jorge, Pastor of Worship was born in Havana, Cuba. He is the ever-grateful husband to Kathy and amazed father of Jonathan! He has served as a Pastor of Worship since 1983 in churches in Los Angeles. He has joyfully served this Body since 2001. In another life he was an arranger/ orchestrator/conductor/musician in L.A. for a bunch of stuff. The passion of his life is to help people connect with God-right now through worship. In his spare time he enjoys rebuilding islands after hurricanes and helping lead churches to a Biblical model of leadership ranks a close second.
Garnet Harrison. Garnet married Carolyn Joy McCaslin on December 17, 2005 and is still honeymooning in the Cayman Islands. Garnet has lived in the Cayman Islands since February 2001 and currently works as the Deputy Auditor General of the Cayman Islands Audit Office. Since arriving in Cayman from Canada, Garnet has been actively involved in various ministries at FBC - from teaching Sunday school, to leading men’s bible study groups, and helping out with Childrens’ Church. Garnet grew up in a strong Christian family in a small rural town in the province of Saskatchewan. Garnet accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour when he was 4 years old and continues to pursue God so that he may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Garnet loves all types of sports, but especially hockey and misses the snow and ice which brings back fond memories of playing hockey out on the pond, street, or whereever he could find a place to play. .
William McTaggart II, was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica. His dad is from Cayman and mom from Jamaica. He is married to Judy and together they have three sons: William III, Brett, and Matthew. He is a partner and Managing Director of the family business, “Uncle Bill’s Home Improvement Centre”, which had its humble beginnings in 1964. He began working there full time in 1976, and had worked part time until then. He grew up going to school in Cayman at Cayman Prep in Cayman, and in Jamaica at Surbiton Prep School, Campion College and Knox College. He went to the Cayman Islands High School for ‘A’ level studies. William started attending FBC in 1986, and was baptized and became a member in 1987. His wife Judy has taught the 2 year old Sunday School Class for the last 14 years, and William has always been very involved in the Sunday School ministry. He is a private pilot and enjoys flying, boating with his family, and sharing the experience with others.
Duncan Nicol is originally from Scotland. Although he and his wife Morag, have been part of FBC since they first arrived in Cayman in 1992, he still gets called the “Scottish elder” (which has, of course, nothing to do with his accent!). Probably seen by some as the typical conservative Scot, and by others as having gone native, he has the joy of being married to Morag for over 15 years and of being the father of Matthew and Iona. Growing up in a strong Christian family, Duncan’s biblical and evangelical perspective has been shaped by the preaching of the likes of John Stott, Dick Lucas and Eric Alexander, as well as by Scottish exports like Alistair Begg. He has the dubious distinction of being a lawyer, possibly redeemed to some extent by being in public service with the Government as Director of Cayman’s Tax Information Authority! You’ll find him hanging out with his family, enjoying good food and wine, traveling and listening to music, especially classical or jazz. In his remaining spare time he is current chair of Cayman Keswick and preaches at FBC!
