Passionate about the work of God and obedient to the voice of God, Everlasting Life Baptist Ministries was birthed in 2004, when Pastor Ronald R. Bastian was instructed by God to go forth, to the new work for which he was called. The Ministry opened its doors on Prince Charles Drive, two buildings east of The Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation, where it remained from inception to 2017. The first service at the new ministry was scheduled for September 5, 2004 but had to be rescheduled to September 12, because of hurricane Frances.
The name of the Ministry was birthed as a result of Pastor Bastian’s personal testimony of salvation and encounter with the Spirit of the Lord which drew him to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. Under Pastor Bastian’s leadership, the ministry has grown tremendously and has afforded him the profound opportunity to share the word of God with thousands over these past years.
Confident in the potential of the membership here at ELBM and guided by the hand of God, Pastor Bastian was led to ordain the first team of leaders in the ministry. The ordination service took place on May 31, 2009 and saw twelve members ascend to the leadership team of the ministry. Later that year, he would organize a gala banquet to recognize the committed efforts of leaders and members alike. This gala banquet was held on November 27, 2009 and saw twenty four individuals recognized for their hard work and commitment.
The ministry has seen tremendous growth over the years and is a proud witness of the love of God and the fellowship of the saints. In 2014, the church experiences yet another level of growth when after five years of prayer and fasting believing God for favor with our church property, we secured more than an acre of land on which we would the new Everlasting Life Baptist Ministries Edifice, Crisis and Retooling Community Center (community outreach) on Firetrail Road. Our new facilities were designed and will seek to continue to cater to the needs of the whole man, addressing spiritual growth and development, while also providing academic training and character building for our community stakeholders. Plans entail the construction of a sanctuary, residential woman’s center/ shelter, an academic training facility and computer room, food kitchen and clothing distribution center.
Plans for phase one of this vision were approved in 2015 and saw us celebrate our Ground breaking Service on April 19, 2015. With much excitement, construction began in 2016 and saw us complete the foundation. Work continued in 2017 under the watchful and determined eye of our Senior Pastor, who made construction his new vocation and by the end of the year, we would be at the belt course, solely on the commitment of the membership, void of any bank mortgage. We would pack up and begin our relocation west. On our way to Firetrail Road, we spent two years on Robinson Road, in facilities at R.M. Bailey Senior High School, where we saw the hand of God use our little and multiply it for His glory. God was up to something great! In April of 2019 led by our Senior Pastor, we headed west and occupied phase one of our vision, a debt free edifice, though not fully completed, our very own and everything was debt free! To God Be the Glory!
We continue our community outreach which will be enhanced by phase two of our vision which will see our community outreach facilities completed, allowing us to cater to thousands on an annual basis stemming from a place of refuge in times of need, to hot meals and clothing as needed. We are expecting supernatural manifestation in our ministry, as never yet before! God’s favor is upon our ministry and eyes have not yet seen, nor ears heard, what God has in store for His people!