Memories of Eugene E. Gibbs, (1928 - 2007)

Share a special moment from Eugene E.'s life.

Coincidence?

April 24, 2011

Imagine this-The first time Bennie & I meet in NYC is on the anniversary of your death-totally unplanned? Now that is no coincidence, this is destiny. You brought us together in life and still doing it in 'death' I know you will never die-You Live On-Love You Daddy!

March 12, 2011

Visiting Ministers : Rev/Dr. P. Bonaparte, Rev. Mitchell, Bishop Fletcher, Rev. Agnita Andrews, Rev. R. Gibbs, Rev. M. Christopher, Rev. Vivian Smith, Pastor Hermilyn Smith, Pastor Antoine, Rev. Cyrus and Others

March 11, 2011

Pastor Eugene Gibbs

When I pastored in St. Vincent in the 1960’s and 1970’s, I was privileged to meet this blessed servant of God. From the first day Eugene and I met, we knew that a lifelong meaningful and profitable relationship had begun between us, our families, and our churches.

Eugene and I were so close, we even looked alike. What a gentleman in every sense of the word he was. We both learned many things from each other, but the greatest lesson learned by us both was to never take for granted nor despise anyone God puts in our lives. After all, the reason we are alive in the earth is to build good relationships.

When this is truly done and we are gone, our lives continue in all those with whom we share our values. Eugene is alive in all of us.

By Rev. Dr. Isaac A Soleyn

Pastor of Evangel Temple

Brooklyn, New York

March 11, 2011

Dr. Bishop Alister R. Penny and family, and the members of Liberty Church of God, Toronto, express our condolences to Sister Hannah Gibbs on behalf of her great lost and all of the Gibbs family members on this sad occasion.

As I reflect on the journey of this legendary soldier of the cross, I realize how indebted I am to him for where I am in my Christian journey today. His unimpeachable lifestyle, robust zeal, uncompromising stance, invigorating love for God and his commitment to holiness are attributes that keep inspiring me in my walk with God to this moment. Pastor Gibbs, as he is affectionately called, has always been an inspiration and encouragement to me. He would often greet me with a pleasant smile and always inquired about the wellbeing of my family.

Pastor Gibbs' decision to immigrate to the Island of St. Croix allowed me the distinguished opportunity to succeed him as Dean of the Grenada Bible Institute and eventually to assume the pastorate at the Boca New Testament Church of God in Grenada. His leadership at the local Bible Institute, though stern and firm at times, was needed to help prepare us for the ministry ahead. He was a man who understood his times and knew what to do. On behalf of all of the graduates of the Grenada Bible Institute I would like to say a special thank you pastor Gibbs for such tough love.

He is leaving behind another stalwart of the faith who is going to miss him dearly; however, she will not be forgotten by the community of faith. Her infectious joyous spirit and contagious laughter will continue to help cheer us along life's road. His example of shared leadership in ministry with his wife Sis Gibbs, has also served as a model for most of us to emulate.

I know that the Christian community will miss the wisdom, courage, strength, influence and integrity of this genuine man of God, but we are grateful for the great contributions and indelible impact that he has left in his life time.

You have fought the good fight and have finished your race and have kept the faith so a reward awaits in heaven.

March 10, 2011

Dear Sister Gibbs,

I am deeply saddened by the lost of your dear husband, Pastor Gibbs (my first Pastor). Just a few days ago I was told that he had passed away and I was shocked and heart broken that I did not get another chance to see him face to face. The Kingdom has received another great vessel.

Although Pastor Gibbs was a serious and intensed preacher, I can still remember some of the funny moments during his preaching that gives me a good chuckel once in a while. For instance, I remember having to go to those old time opening air meetings where Pastor Gibbs was preaching, and during this one time of his message he shouted out " And God said Aaadddaaaaammmm!!!!!!.." and then he would pause. Then all of a sudden, during that pause and stillness of the night a man's voice on top of the hill shouted back " Yyyeeeeeesssssss!!!!!!!!". Then Pastor Gibbs would continue " Where art thoooouuu!!!!!!!?" And then the man"s reply was, " Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh coooommmiinnnng!!!!!!!!!!!" That had most of us in "stitches" that night".

Another time was during a Sunday morning service, he would be flowing, sweating, shouting under the anointing and would discretely walk down from the pulpit (almost croucned over...crawling) and say, "if you continue to live in sin you will split hell in FOUR HALVES!!"

But in all seriousness, the preaching of Pastor Gibbs has changed my life tremedously to the point where I received a solid foundation and grounding from the Word of God and his ministry that even today as a pastor myself, my life and ministry is greatly impacted. He was a great gift to the body of Christ.

Although he will be missed, his legacy will live on inside of all those who knew him best and those whose lives he has touched. He was very humble and easily entreated. I will miss him dearly and my prayers are with you sister Gibbs, and the Church. May God continue to bless and comfort you during this time of mourning!

Love,

Rev. Kifflin M. I. Frederick

March 10, 2011

Tribute Pastor Eugene Gibbs

It was right after the birth of our first child 23 years ago that we became acquainted with Pastor Gibbs. I can only tell you that acquaintance was divinely appointed. I know Pastor Gibbs blessed many people’s lives, but the love that he showed to my family seem unparalleled.

It was under his leadership that my husband and I were led to know God in a totally different way to the way we were taught about Him. Pastor Gibbs encouraged us to have a personal and an intimate relationship with God. The leadership in this man saw the gifts that God had placed on our lives and he nurtured those gifts and helped us to mature in God. I know without a shadow of a doubt that my pastor loved us very much.

During our new converts classes, his wisdom helped instill in us a need to be careful of people who name the name of Christ so that we did not become disillusioned when we became a part of any body of believers and had to be exposed to “life in the church”. To me that was very important in my early Christian walk or else today, I may never have known God the way I do. I may have been content to live a sloppy Christian life and not walk in the fear of the Lord.

I was blessed to have Pastor Gibbs baptized my husband and I on the same day. God blessed our lives with five children and our home with four because He in His sovereignty chose to take one away without her coming to our home. Pastor Gibbs dedicated each of our kids to God and I vividly remembered the dedication of our first daughter when he asked both her Dad and I “Do we promise to bring this child up in the fear and admonition of God” and we answered yes. To me that was a serious promise; a promise I could not keep if I did not know and live in the fear and admonition of God for myself. So that was the beginning of the changing of the guards.

Today, am grateful that question was a part of the infant dedication ceremony. Because it got my attention and by the Holy Spirit helping me, I made good on it. We had lost a baby at birth and in the ensuing pain and agony of the following months, I vowed never to have another baby. Pastor loved us and prayed for us. About one year after, I began to pray to God to bless me with another baby and through a word of prophecy from a sister in our congregation, we confirmed that God had indeed answered my prayer. He did it through our son, Gabriel. Gabriel grew so very attached to Pastor Gibbs and somewhat wanted to be so much a part of what this man portrayed, when we put his very first suit on him for church one Sunday, Gabriel shocked us by asking: “Do I look like Pastor Gibbs?” Sometimes he would take up his bible and pretended to be Pastor Gibbs by preaching at our home. Such an impression this man had placed on this child. Today, Gabriel is 18 years old and still walks before God in His house.

He shared the birth of our children with us; in their infant sicknesses, Pastor was always there for us. I recall right after Hurricane Hugo a curfew was imposed. Junior, our first son became extremely sick. Pastor came by as he promised he would and when he saw the state of the child he stayed with us past the curfew time and it was way after mid-night when he said his final prayer and proceeded to leave. I remember his parting words to us: “I leave the Lord with you all and pray for me as I go because the curfew is already in effect”. God took him safely home without any interjections.

He was a part of the sorrowful times of our lives too. My Dad had become ill and died shortly after. Although he had never set foot in our small church home at Peters Rest, he had come to know Christ as Savior prior to his death and his funeral was conducted at our church. It was Pastor Gibbs who presided over his beautiful homegoing.

He conducted the funeral, he also performed our wedding. We have a very beautiful picture of Pastor Gibbs administering our vows to us and it is a picture we cherish very very much. We will cherish it even more now.

It was under his leadership that I grew and flourished as a Christian. Even though we moved away, like the natural children we raise, I always lean on the way I was brought up under his leadership. We have visited many congregations, and sometimes when we want to decide should we accept or follow some things, we always think about what he would have done. Would that meet his approval? Which scripture would he point us to so that we are able to make wise choices or decisions.

Sometimes when he would write to us, he always used the salutation, “Yours through Calvary”. I am so glad that Calvary made us joint heirs. I am so glad that he was there for us. I am so glad that God in His divine providence had our paths crossed and granted us a greater promise that we shall be together again in a land where there is no sudden death; there is no lingering suffering; there are no more tears; no more sadness nor parting words. Where there will be agape love among brethrens and we would be able to enjoy the world that Adam’s fallen race robbed us of.

One of his favorite songs was “When I’ve gone the last mile of the way”. I still see him on a Wednesday night or on a Sunday morning when that song was sung, nodding his head, stomping his feet and swaying his body. Pastor Gibbs, you have walked the last mile of the way and one day we too will walk that last mile. We look forward to joining you over there and see the master show you his glory as you reap the fruits of your reward. Good night.

Love The Gilbert Family

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

March 10, 2011

Bishop Eugene Ezekiel Gibbs

March 11, 1928 – April 23, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

March 10, 2011

Eugene Gibbs is one of nine children born to Orelia Francis-Gibbs and Peter L. Gibbs of New Hampshire, St. George’s Grenada. He received his primary and secondary education in Grenada.

At the age of 17, he accepted the Lord as his Savior. Due to the devastation of Grenada by Hurricane Janet in 1955, he migrated to Trinidad in 1957. There in 1958, he enrolled at the Victoria Institute in Port-of-Spain to study Architectural Drawing. He later gave up that field of study in order to prepare for the ministry.

He later enrolled in the Open Bible Institute of Theology at Les Efforts, West San Fernando in January of 1959. Two and a half years later under the advice of Rev. A. E. Justice (Overseer of the New Testament Church of God), he applied to the New Testament Church of God Bible School and graduated in December 1961. He was installed as the pastor of the Punah Village Church near Princess Town, Trinidad and was there for one year and four months before leaving to do evangelistic work in Grenada, St. Vincent, Barbados, St. Lucia and Jamaica respectively.

He moved through the various ranks of ministry in the Church of God in the following order: 1962, passed the Exhorter’s exam; 1964, Licensed Minister’s exam and 1968, The Ordained Minister’s exam.

During his evangelistic mission in St. Vincent in late 1963 to 1964 he met and fell in love with Hannah Richards, a teacher and member of the Georgetown Church. Rev. Darnley Herbert joined them in marriage on August 20, 1966. Their union was not blessed with biological offsprings but they were able to nurture several children, namely; Veron Richards, Bennie James, Jennifer Charles and Judith and June Richards. They also shared their home with Millicent Richards, Raphael Gibbs and others.

In 1965 (during his second evangelistic trip to Barbados), Rev. T.R. Moore (Superintendent of the West Indies for the Church of God), met with Eugene and asked him if he would accept the position to pastor and become the District Overseer of the churches in Grenada. At the time, there were only two New Testament churches in Grenada. He accepted and performed those duties for approximately 13 years.

Evangelism was still the main thrust of his ministry; therefore, he started several new congregations. With the assistance of Rev. Stephen Mohammed (Principal of the Bible School in Trinidad at the time) he also started the Grenada Bible Institute. He relinquished his position as District Overseer to devote himself fully to the Bible School. When he left Grenada there were six established churches and three mission stations.

He was offered the position to pastor a mission congregation at Peter’s Rest St. Croix, which he accepted. On January 1st 1983 he assumed that responsibility. Services were then being held in a warehouse-rented space at 7A Peter’s Rest. The pastor’s residence was also rented but by 1987 the church was able to complete payment on two acres of land, which was priced at $25,000.00. Today this congregation has a building and a parsonage that was physically built by Pastor Gibbs, some of the church members and other brethren. The church was dedicated in 1991, and the parsonage in 1996. Although many lives have been changed and saved through his ministry in St. Croix, the congregation has been a migratory one and many of the brethren have traveled abroad. In 2003, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which weakened his physical strength and led to his retirement on March 31, 2006 after 23 years of service.

Today, many of the students who graduated from the Grenada Bible School are still in active pastoral ministry in various parts of the world: some of his spiritual sons and daughters include Bishop George Best (St. Thomas) Bishop George Fletcher (National Overseer of GDA), Bishop Albert Johnson, Reverends: Agnita Andrews, Albert Cyrus, Vivian & Hermelyn Smith, Paul Alexander, Glennis St. Bernard, Matthew Jeremiah & Evadney Andrews-Bartholomew (GDA); Bishop Alister Penny, Kifflin & Calvert Frederick (Can); Rev. Phillip Bonaparte MD, Bishop Raphael Gibbs, Reverends: Joseph Antoine, Christopher Peterkin, Jude Thompson, Fidelis Andrews, Christopher Butler, Gifford Clement, Isaac Mitchell & Desmond Allard (US).

Bro Gibbs as he was affectionately called was consumed with a passion to know and teach the Word of God to younger men and women to challenge and equip them for the ministry. Pursuant to this passion he enrolled in the bible school taught by Dr. Hugh Connor at the Church of the Nazarene Golden Rock. When Dr. Connor was leaving St. Croix he referred Pastor Gibbs to the Covington Theological Seminary, Rossville, Georgia. Pastor Gibbs followed through and was privileged to graduate In July 2006 with honors (Cum Laude) receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. Faithful until death, he has gone to his eternal reward. His favorite saying, “God is a Good God, and the devil is a bad, wicked devil”.

March 10, 2011

May 3, 2007

Mrs. Hannah Gibbs and Family

HAND DELIVERED

Dear Sister Gibbs and Family:

It was with a sense of loss that we received the news of the home going of our Brother Eugene Gibbs. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues in ministry and by those persons so richly blessed by his leadership.

Bishop Gibbs has been a prophet, hearing from God and sharing His message of judgment and forgiveness. He has been a pastor and preacher, shepherding and feeding the flock with unmatched compassion, bold courage and biblically-based leadership. All of us stand on the shoulders and build on the foundation of those who paid the price to go with the gospel. I am thankful for the prophet, preaching and pioneering ministry of Brother Gibbs. We pay high tribute to him and honor to him knowing that his ministry and spirit will always be with us as an example of total commitment to Jesus Christ and His church.

Your husband was an extraordinary minister who served the Church of God with great loyalty and commitment as a national overseer, pastor, evangelist, teacher, and Bible school dean as well as a convention speaker. His dynamic and pivotal leadership in Grenada as National Overseer will continue to reap benefits for the Kingdom of God for years to come.

Please know that you and your family will be remembered with great concern in our prayers. We weep with you, but not as those who have no hope! Take comfort in knowing that Bishop Gibbs is now in the presence of God, “resting from his labors.”

Sister Gibbs, we appreciate you for being a faithful and loving companion to your husband. You served courageously and successfully in ministry with him. Now an all-wise God has received him to Himself. That same God, however, has not forsaken you. He remains absolutely faithful and sufficient for you and your family as you go on from here. Trust Him!

DeRosa and I are praying for you and your family that the Holy Spirit will comfort and sustain you.

Sincerely,

G. Dennis McGuire

General Overseer

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