The Gospel Mission Assemblies of Dominica witnessed the ordination of their first Bishop of the Assemblies, Bishop Chad Prince.
The ordination took place at the Grand Bay Secondary School on January 2, 2011 at their annual Believers Conference. This was a momentous occasion since it was the first Bishopric ordination for the assemblies.
The Gospel Mission Assemblies have been ministering the gospel in Dominica for 69 years.
Bishop Prince, who is also the overseer for three churches, will oversee the 14 Gospel Mission Assemblies in Dominica. During the ceremony, Bishop Prince reiterated and affirmed that the basis of belief, doctrine and decisions will be the Holy Bible and the word of God.
The congregation was charged with the instructions to love and support their Bishop.
Bishop Prince is married to Marcille Prince. They have four daughters and a son.
We wish him God’s blessings and guidance.
Looking back over this page today I asked myself how all this talk about the Roman Catholic Church got into the discussion. I remember when I was a Protestant young person a Catholic priest was trying to convince me that the records would show he had been ordained a priest by a bishop who had been ordained a priest by a bishop who had been ordained a priest by a … …. all the way back to the apostles and finally to Christ Himself.
They call this apostolic succession.
Any Catholic priest who has studied church history knows in reality there is no proof it happened this way. But they BELIEVE it happened this way because in order to have the kind of church they have been taught they have it HAD to happen this way.
Actually the lines of so-called apostolic succession were blurred again and again. They were washed out time after time as far as any records are concerned.
Even though they tell us they are the church founded by Christ and the apostles the fact is the Roman Catholic Church of today is not the church of the first and second centuries. You only need to read your New Testament to know this.
What they have now is a patchwork. Century after century new doctrines, dogmas, and practices have been added, until they are left with an institution that does not remotely resemble what began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 in the first century A.D.
There have always been congregations of believers in Christ who have tried to follow the simplicity of the New Testament. Some have operated as independent churches. Others have joined together in co-operation one with another for practical purposes and are known as denominations.
I belong to one of these denominations. We do not believe we are the only denomination that is right. Other such groups hold the same precious Biblical truths. This is why we are able to fellowship and work together to some extent. What we see in the New Testament is what we believe and practice because this is what the churches of the first century believed and practiced. If we don`t find it in the Holy Scriptures we don`t accept it.
The word bishop means a superintendent or an overseer. It could refer to the leader of a single congregation. Or we can call the local leader the pastor and use the word bishop for the man who oversees a number of churches. In my own denomination in Canada we call our national leader the General Superintendent. In some countries he is called the bishop. All that matters is that people know who we are talking about and to what responsibility we are referring.
The fact that the Roman Catholic Church calls the man who rules a large number of churches the bishop of that area is of no interest to us. We are not copying them and we are not going to avoid doing something because they do it.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Pentecostal Evangelist.
I am sorry people who oppose the evangelical witness use Pastor Chad Prince’s appointment to the office of Bishop to vent their dislike of what the Gospel Mission Assemblies of Dominica stand for. They should rejoice over the contents and be less concerned over the packaging. Allow me to clarify a few points. The word bishop means a superintendent or a overseer. It can be used for the leader of a single congregaion. It can also apply to a person who cares for a number of congregations. In modern times it has become customary to call the local leader the pastor and refer to the person who superintends or oversees a number of churches as the bishop. We could continue to call him “pastor” but this would not identify him as the man who is over a number of churches. For years the Gospel Mission Assemblies of Dominica were led by a president or whatever other title they gave him. But as the movement grew and matured the pastors realized the title of president no longer properly described the spiritual nature of the man’s duties. A president is the chairman and chief administrator of a business. But in addition to this a bishop is an over shepherd of God’s people with spiritual responsibilities. The movement realized they needed something more than a president. Clearly the time had come for a bishop. It is only proper that he carry a title that tells the public what he is. As was duly pointed out this is a scripural position. Paul was bishop over a large number of churches. As the work grew he appointed Timothy as bishop of Ephesus and Titus as bishop of Crete. Bishop Prince did not make himself a bishop. He was chosen by his brethern. He was chosen because of his many years of faithul service to the Lord as a shepherd of God’s people. I encourage you to honour this outsanding minister for what he is: a special servant of God in these difficult times. He speaks with a prophetical volice to the nation! Sicerely, Rev. Donald Hill, Pentecostal Evangelist, and Director of Living Hope Ministries at http://www.livinghopeministries.ca
My goodness.All the bad tings that happenin in de world and all you want to make a fight about bishop and ordaining? Look around you na and check out de impotant things and concentrate on dem.
Hey Bishop Prince,I want to wish you all Jahs’ Blessing and Goodness as you continue to take the Good News into the dack areas of Dominica. Nuff Love….Frank….
For the record this is not the first person to head the Mission. that is the Gospel Mission Assemblies of Dominica. There were three other Presidents or Superintendent. Pastor Prince is the fourth man to head the Gospel Mission Assemblies. Please note that a bishop heads a local assembly. So according to the Bible the Gospel Mission Churches have other bishops. So maybe Pastor Prince may have to be called the ArchBishop or probably Pope.
Why should the ordination of a man to the service of God draw so much criticism? Rejoice, people; rejoice! Thank God. Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. Leave the religious bigotry aside. Think. Don’t be so narrow minded.
We are not narrow-minded!
we are just angry at the attempt of these self made ministers to undermine the authority of the Catholic church. This is a new tactic to make murkey the waters so that any gwengk out there is now a bishop, the effect of which is that the authority that the title carries is diminished, AND PEOPLE WILL NOW BE CONFUSED.
You guys are in the service of the evil one and you don’t even know it!
You guys cannot even see that the devil is using you to diminish the authority of Christ here on Earth.
Before there was one Bishop and many pastors fighting for position and dividing the people.
With this latest trick, there is going to be many Bishops and many pastors and nowhere for the people to run to to escape.
Long time ago you people said that the word Bishop was not in the bible. It was and invention of the Catholic church, it was evil, so LEAVE IT THAT WAY PLEASE!!
Several Gospel Mission churches were not in favour of this ordination. Obviously they know that the word bishop in the scriptures is the same as pastor or elder. (Phil 1:1-2). What these churches were interested in was the formal installation of a Superintendent but two or three churches includng the churches under his direct pastorship may have influenced the process. If people just simply stick to the scriptures all these things will be avoided.
Amen!! yes the scriptures! Also first timothy 3 says more! and he qualify for the name of bishop!
They never saw the scripture before? Lack of proper teaching and reading bible in isolation is what causing this today.
true my brother
thank you
i mean to say thank you to transparency
Congrats mr prince am very happy for u in the name of the lord Up here in the States i feel glad when someone from grand fond makes it big God will bless u Congratulations I want to see u when i visit D A from your cousin Maiah and d entire family up here
May God richly bless you Bishop Prince and may He grant you wisdom and understanding as you seek to lead His flock.
May I exhort you according to 1 Peter 5: 2: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
God Bless
This is what happens when you have no sound doctrines or dogmas. One year you hate the idea of Bishops, Next year you have bishops. Stop that, and come back home! The home Jesus founded. Catholicism!
Jesus don’t have any religion! The church is the body of christ! Not gospel not catholic not hindu,not muslim! The church is the body of christ! Those who are saved, those who accept Jesus into their hearts! READ THE BIBLE!
One of the greatest enemy of mankind, Catholicism. So many secrets hidden there.
MAY GOD BLESS U PASTOR
PASTOR CHAD PRINCE HOORAY HE IS A MAN OF HONOR
Congratulations and God’s richest blessings on you as you continue to minister God’s word
It is very interesting how Some evangelical churches have returned to the churches of their fore fathers……. i would encourage person before take such an office that they study the book of 1 Timothy chapter 3 and rightly divide the word of truth…. Not desiring the office for self gain… the word bishop is mentioned in 1 Timothy 3 it is the same word given to a pastor of a church.. please let us read God’s word closely and understand it … so the position that the brother holds is not that of a bishop.. he is the leader, president or superintendent of the mission the one that will look over or watch over 14 assemblies….. with the help of the bishops or pastors of the local assemblies…
last i dream of going back to catholic and today i reading that news .what a coincident
I wish you all would seek the Truth. There is one Truth…. seek it! The Catholic Church.
I remember as a little boy, Gospel mission would put big speakers by the road,, killing the name of Bishops,,, now they have bishop! Come on, just do what is right and follow the one truth! Will it take 500 years like the King James Version Bible?
On another issue, where did they get Authority to ordain? Did it just start today? What about laying of hands from the days of the apostles? Are you all the new apostles trying a new line of succession?
Hey, what about the time when there were two rival popes at the same time? Which one was the true apostolic successor?
what is with u people and catholic! it’s just a religion! Jesus is the one we should be talking about! one day we will all meet God and it will be a pity we can’t pee or shit ourselves!!
I thought that all those evangelicals were against the idea of bishops!
Now we making bishops here and there overnight. Some even calling themselves “Most Honourable…” before their name! The way people use religion for their own agrandisement is quite rermarkable.Where is the humbleness of that wayside philosopher Jesus of Nazareth in all this?
I am not a Roman Catholic, but at least their religious have to prove themselves academically and study and serve over many years before being accepted. And after all, it was their faith that had the original bishops in Antioch, Corinth and Ephasus etc……..so why do people leave that original faith and then go and create something that is an imitation of it? Let me take my Bible and go and start a church in Bioche papa!
definition of a bishop according to wikipedia: A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight.
defition of a bishop according to answers.com : A high-ranking Christian cleric, in modern churches usually in charge of a diocese and in some churches regarded as having received the highest ordination in unbroken succession from the apostles.
So for you to say that the evangelicals are against the idea of bishops is incorrect…
thinking idiot
–Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself
Thinking Idiot….
You are so right YOU ARE THE THINKING IDIOT!!! Because there was a time when the evangelicals considered Bisphop especially those linked with the Catholic church were ‘man-made’ things and not of God…so come again please.
If you had said that the evangelicals are now in line with the 21st century and getting with the program i would understand. But dont come and lie in an attempt to defend what you probably do not know.
Stupes
@thinking idiot,…what u give is dictionary definition of “bishop.” However your second definition has a a crucial sentence when it comes to “bishop” from a theological perspective and it reads “as having received the highest ordination in UNBROKEN SUCCESSION from the apostles” (caps, mine for emphasis).
Church history will show that the Catholic Church have always taught that Bishops are ordained through Apostolic Succession starting from the apostles of the New Testament(google Apostolic Succession). After the Reformation this idea was completely thrown out of the window by the later evangelical churches but was kept by the so-called ‘traditional churches’ (Anglicanism, Lutheranism and so on).
It is only in recent times has evangelical churches began getting into this again but hasn’t their line of succession broken?
What exactly is your point
Sincerely, Rev. Don Hill
Congrats to you Chad prince. God Bless!!!
Why dothese churches Condemn and lash at the Catholic Church and they copy the Catholic Church’s rites and practices? That is hypocrital. I don’t even know what is the war between religions.It’s how you live your lives that determine where you get to spend eternity…And the so called Christian churches whether Union or Missions are the same people who lash at the Catholic Churches. That’s not how Christians should behave!!! Dang!!!
But anyway “Bishop” Prince, I hope you can lead your people to follow Christ and hope you’re not like the filthy pastors and priests. God should be your light.
WAT! U ALL DON’T REALIZED THAT IN THE BIBLE!!! THE BIBLE!! FORST TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3!!! SO STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS!!! MY MY MY GOSH!! I’VE NEVER!!
i support u all the way disclaimer
its time these folks get theri own identity and stop copying catholics
and at the en of the day is they that giving catholics more fyah!!!
Thanks XXX dont know where mouth of the west come from
It in the bible and they preaching against it!!! Where u self come out nuh!
May God continue to richly bless you Bishop
YOU KNOW ITS REAL FUNNY HOW THOSE EVENGELICAL CHURCHES ARE BECOMING MORE CATHOLIC
I REMEMBER IN THE 70’s and 80’s the words like “ORDAIN” and “BISHOP” was blasphemy and evil.
I suspect these evengelicals started reading church history since then.
AND NOW IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO STEAL AWAY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
THEY HAVE COME TO REALISE THAT THE TERMS “PASTOR” AND “EVANGELIST” AND “ELDER” DO NOT COMMAND AS MUCH AUTHORITY IS “BISHOP” AND “PRIEST”
SO NOW EVERY DOG AND CAT IS BISHOP AND IS ORDAINED
NEXT YEAR I WAITING FOR THEM TO HAVE ACOLYTES
Strange, I am not Catholic but I thought the same thing….!
me too being a member of the gospel mission church for over 33 years
my heart was aching me this morning when i read this
where is PASTOR SI to se how tbn has changed our beloved church alas
is a good thing i’m not in DOMINICA to be under this kinda thing
oh by the way i have an idea who started all of this and it really hurts
Yah! After they alwyas hit the Catholic and condemn the their practices they copy it. Hypocrites…I agree with you Lord!
The Roman Catholic Church is the Mother Church of Christianity. Men like Martin Luther, for example, in the Catholic Church, came up with different ideas pertaining to doctrines, and so he left and went to form his own church–the Lutherian Church.
All of those different churches–denominations–Baptiste, Anglican, and so on were established by men who branched out of the Roman Catholic Church, for one reason or the other. But none of them can leave out the basic functions of the Roman Catholic Church, because it has been there from the beginning.
One of the biggest reasons, men left the Roman Catholic Church to run their own churches is because the Catholic Church does not allow her priests to get married–they must live a celibate Life. God is Holy and sex is of the flesh.
“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” 1st. Corinthians 15: 50 Paul is the one who taught that by the wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit. And Paul advised people to be like him, if they can maintain self-control, over the passions of the flesh, pertaining to sex and lust. Paul maintained a celibate Life all through the days of his life in this world. He wrote more than half of the New Testament, and he was a Roman.
A lot of people who are Roman Catholics do not identify themselves as Christians. I do not know how that misconception happened. But it is bad for the Church. Because since people do not think of themselves as Christians, they do not maintain the attitude and conduct of Christianity, because they do not allow God’s Holy Spirit to train and discipline their minds by faith.
But God is of mercy and compassion, He has chosen people from all walks of Life for Himself; He will save His people.
AMEN! Bro. Mouth of the West
Lizavier4jesus, as if in Acts 16:25 KJV said that the Diciples of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch, and according to you where the RC is the mother church of christianity?
You mean RC as followers of Jesus?
nowhere in the bible it says that priests have to deprive themselves of sex. nowhere in the bible says that christians have to be ruled over by priests it only speaks of bishops and shepherds. nowhere in the bible speaks of nuns etc etc. i can go on but i would be offending ppl and start turning this into a tl;dr post. so to make a long story short the RCC is basically perpendicular to the bible in doctrine. to me i don’t really care either any body who wears a robe or takes words from a 2000 year old book as anything other than philosophy can really gtfo
Listen here! I am a christian and a born again beleiver in Christ Jesus…When i was at the rally they didn’t just odain him by our own desire as a gospel mission assemble! 1 timothy 3 explains who is worthy of being called bishop! ok…read it…the king Jmaes version!
And frankly you catholic or gospel or pentecoastal can say what allu want…but as far as am concern the bible said at his name EVRY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD! God don’t have me on earth to battle or blast other religion frankly i think it’s a waste of time to even make nosie about these things! I go by the word of God…and his word is my weapon!
Based on the bible 1 timothy 3
I SAY CONGRATES BISHOP CHAD PRINCE AND MAY GOD USE YOU AND MAY WE NOT WASTE OUR TIME MAKING AGRUEMENT!
Amen!
That’s Awesome. Chad Prince is a man of honor and integrity and I feel sure that God will greatly bless his ministry. Best wishes Bishop!
Honour and integrity does not involve subterfuge