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.
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. .
