Twenty-five years ago when the Lord called Gordon and Loretta Soutar to begin the work of Open Door Believers Chapel, he moved the hearts of friends near and far to come along side them and support the work. Dickie and Loretta had found the church that the Lord had shown him in a dream, but they would need $30,000 to secure the purchase. Gordon and Loretta emptied their savings and Mrs. Heidi Gutierrez and Ms. Florence Dillett lovingly gave the balance to secure the purchase of the building. Roy Bowen counseled Mr. Soutar on the importance of doing everything in black and white, so he went ahead and took care of the cost of all the legal aspects of the transfer. So, the land and building was legally secured and a mortgage was signed for Open Door Believers Chapel. There was now one looming problem, Dickie and Loretta who had used all their savings to pay towards the downpayment, were now unable to pay the first mortgage payment. God showed his hand of blessing and Raymond Arnold, a friend from Stan Creek stepped in and gave the first mortgage payment. Bill Hunter, Dickies close friend in Jamaica, and a constant support over the last 25 years, began to spread the word that Dickie had started a work; when Mr. Harris heard this he gave the first set of communion cups and trays to the church. Open Door had only been keeping services for a couple months when Dr. Martin from His Servants Ministry came to a service, this visit was the start of a long and blessed friendship. He saw that Dickie was singing from a karaoke machine with 4 mics plugged into it using a jack, he couldn’t believe that a such a powerful worship service was being done through that. So, seeing the need he gave the first amplifier and speaker to the church. Some years later he would once again donate another set of speakers to the work. And many years later Dr. Martin, his son Ricky Martin along with His Servants Ministry would give a gift that would be used to secure the purchase of the parking lot next door.
Ever since the doors were opened on that September morning the giving of the saints covered not only the payments for the mortgage but also supported the expansion of the building simultaneously. At this time Mr. Mark Valesquez and his family were fellowshipping at Open Door. Mr. Mark was a contractor, and he took on the Levitical responsibility of building the house of the Lord. The one condition that Dickie had was that services must never be stopped because of construction. Mr. Mark made this happen. He built the new church building, around, beside and over the old building and not once was services ever canceled.
My Father’s House on Central American Boulevard is another building that the Lord has allowed us to be stewards of. This much needed space houses the Bible Society, a ministry dear to the heart of Dickie Soutar. Ms. Mariane Smith who fellowshipped with us before she passed away along with Mr. James Petrie from Compassionate Heart Alliance who still visits us every year; asked our assembly to be the stewards for the building. It has been an ever daunting task but one that is a blessing.
Camp and Vacation Bible School are major components of the fabric and identity of Open Door Believers Chapel. Dr. Lucas Henry and his wife Zelena have been ministering to the spiritual needs of our campers for over 20 years and their local assembly Sanford Chapel in North Carolina has given faithfully to the camping ministry. 13 years ago the Lord brought the First Baptist Church of Elijay into the folds of our assembly. They did a couple years with us and after that they began to do VBS in other parts of the city, but they always supported our VBS with much needed materials. From this partnership, lifelong friendships have been forged on individual levels with John and Debra Jones and with Josh Moyer; as well as a church partnership between both assemblies. 10 years ago, we met Ryan Foust and his team from Thrive Indianola Church in Iowa and an immediate bond was formed. From this kingdom connection we’ve been blessed both personally and as a church by friendships made with sisters Karen and Kathy and with Ryan who support our VBS, our productions and our back-to-school drive.
Over the years as the church-fellowship tide has naturally ebbed and flowed, and persons have come and gone, the Lord has still moved the hearts of his people both here and abroad to give free will offerings to the work. Our diaspora has been faithful in their love and support and prayers. Marigold Williams who was once a member of our ladies committee migrated to the states several years ago but has faithfully supported our camping ministry. Even our young people that have gone away send gifts for the work. We can call on our diaspora from Taiwan to bring needed items for camp. We can call on our diaspora in America to order and send down a movie just to show at camp. We are never far from the minds and hearts of our members that have moved away.
The prayer of the leaders of Open Door Believers Chapel has always been that the Lord would carry on the work for a thousand generations or until He comes; this will happen because the biggest supporters and partners of the work are the believers at Open Door believers Chapel. The saints at Open Door Believers Chapel have hearts of flesh that are soft to the voice of God and to the gentle leading of His Spirit. They give freely and willingly to support the various ministries and needs of the assembly; this has ensured and will ensure the continuous work that the Lord has started. The Lord’s work and his people will continue to grow because of the powerful men of God that have taught us and edified the body of Christ over the years. Able men of God from our midst, men of God from Spanish Lookout, Sand Hill, Shipyard, Cayo, Stan Creek, and Belize City. Men God from around the world; America, Canada, Bermuda, Jamaica, Curacao, and Siere Leon.
Partners, Friends and Saints of Open Door Believers Chapel thanks for your love and support for the past 25 years of ministry.