In the Caribbean nation of Guyana, Pastor Richard faced repeated hardship growing up – his mother’s first husband abandoned them. Her second husband murdered her. Richard was constantly filled with anger and struggled to forgive. In answer to his late mother’s prayers, however, Richard gave his heart to Christ and heard God’s call to share the good news with everyone, especially those who had wronged him.

Later, when someone murdered Richard’s brother, his outlook was completely different. “By God’s grace,” Richard says, “I am filled with love for the men who did this.”

Pastor Richard has now led churches in Guyana for more than 13 years. He is an example of God’s transforming work in the Caribbean.

For many, the Caribbean sparks images of white-sand beaches, gently swaying palm trees, and crystal-clear turquoise oceans. The Bahamas, Aruba, or Turks and Caicos are popular destinations for cruise ships and thousands of sun-soaked tourists each year. The reality behind these postcard worthy images, however, is much more complex.

Beyond the cruise ship waterfronts and tropical resorts are communities with physical and spiritual needs. Behind the tourist marketing is a history of colonialism and exploitation that continues to impact people, young and old. Poverty, a lack of opportunities, and hopelessness exist alongside a deep spiritual longing.

The Caribbean School of Theology (CST), and its newest president, Justin Evans, are committed to serve these often-overlooked people and communities. “There’s a phrase that missionaries serving here have often used: ‘You have to get out from the shadow of the cruise ships,’” says Evans, an AGWM missionary educator. “When you do that, you really begin to see what the islands are like.”

By training pastors to lead spirit-empowered churches, Evans and the island-hopping seminary hope to meet physical and spiritual needs and make a lasting impact. “We want to see a church among every people group in every Caribbean community,” states David Speer, AGWM Caribbean area director. “CST plays a vital role in this vision by preparing leaders, pastors, and global workers.”

Evans has experienced God’s transforming power. Growing up in a broken home, Justin turned to drugs, alcohol, and partying. Through a persistent friend, however, he visited a church he had once vandalized. There he encountered God. “My life was radically changed,” states Evans. In less than a year after he accepted Christ, he evangelized his high school friends, began attending North Central University, and felt God’s call to missions.

Drawing from his personal experience, Evans believes that local churches and local pastors will lead transformation in the Caribbean. “I believe the local church has a huge part in transforming communities,” says Evans. “God’s Word is powerful, and it will transform the ministries and communities that grasp its truth.”

Training pastors to lead this transformation is not a simple task, however. The Caribbean challenges the traditional school model.

The geography, for instance, puts educators in a unique position. “We have to be creative because we’re training students from separate islands,” says Evans. “Getting them all together — or getting a teacher on location for these different islands — is a challenge.” Using a “mobile seminary” model, seven full-time missionary professors and eight adjuncts teach intensive block courses 3-4 times a year in the nations the seminary serves.

There is also an overwhelming need to plant more churches and to provide biblically trained pastors to lead these churches. “There is more teaching and ministry opportunities than we have personnel to meet these needs,” says Evans. “Most of these islands and nations are very small, but God loves the people there — they deserve a Spirit-empowered church."

While CST has served Guyana, Suriname, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, and Belize since the 1980s, Evans wants to expand to the islands and nations that lack adequate gospel access and Bible training opportunities. He wants to grow the student population from 175 to 500 and open new teaching stations on unserved islands.

One key to future growth is recruiting educators who will live in the Caribbean. For several years, CST was based in Springfield, Missouri. With Evans’s appointment in January 2025, the school moved to the Caribbean nation of Curaçao. Justin, his wife Jessica, and their two children, Toby and Savannah, serve on the island as AGWM missionaries.

These new educators can invest in each island community. “If we have [a missionary educator] who wants to teach for CST on a different island while working alongside a local church or ministry, then that’s great,” says Evans. “We’d have someone on the ground who could do ministry and training in person. It would open more possibilities.”

Despite the challenges, transforming Caribbean communities is worth any difficulty. “We are excited to see how God will use Justin as president of CST to train workers across the area,” adds Speer.

Evans and AGWM Caribbean missionaries are praying for the future. They are working hard to train a new generation of Spirit-empowered leaders. They are committed to a transformed Caribbean.

By Alex Goodrich