In America, during the early years of the nineteenth century there were two significant political and human struggles. In one arena, Britain and America were at war (The War of 1812) over the issues of free trade and sailors' rights. In the other arena, black enslaved persons who were hemmed in by discrimination, inhuman treatment, and human injustice were struggling for their personal freedom and liberation as a people. During the War of 1812, many slaves found freedom by running away to the British forces. The British accepted them as refugees, but some of the able-bodied men were commissioned as marines in the British Navy. At the end of the war, these refugees and decommissioned soldiers were settled in the British colony of Trinidad. There they given land in the country districts of the island and there they began a new significant chapter in their lives by settling and developing the hinterland. But their lasting and most significant contribution was the expression of their Christian faith as they planted churches in their communities. They moved from servitude to human masters to personal freedom and servanthood in Christ. Usually the mission outreach to new areas across the world had the committed supportive network of agencies with financial and human resources. In Trinidad, these American pioneers were on their own without the resources of any mission agency, but they expressed their Christian faith by planting churches that would become the Baptist denomination. You have to admire their passion and commitment. They were poor and uneducated, they lacked formal theological training, but they were not dissuaded from the commitment to preach the gospel. Because of their commitment, they have left a legacy of Baptist denominational faith and witness. Out of their work, there are three significant Baptist groups were formed: Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago (BUTT), The Independent Baptists, and the Spiritual Baptists. This historical survey tells the story of the growth of the BUTT in Trinidad. This brief historical survey highlights the contextual struggles of politics, religion, denominational rivalry, education, theological perspectives and mission partnerships. In spite of missed opportunities, problems and challenges, the Baptist denomination was established and it has survived.
About the Author: Victor Anthony "Ken" Cadette was ordained to the Christian ministry and accredited as a minister of the Gospel by the Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago in 1969. His preparation for the Christian ministry took him to the St. Andrew's Theological College in San Fernando, Trinidad; the Calabar Theological College, which later merged with other denominational seminaries to form the United Theological College of the West Indies, Jamaica; the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis Indiana; and the Palmer Theological Seminary, where he earned a doctorate in the area of Congregational Transformation. Ken has served in a number of pastorates in his native Trinidad and Tobago. He was instrumental in planting two new churches - Bon Air Full Gospel Baptist Church in Arouca and Bethany (now Anablepsis) Mission in Chaguanas. He also served as Pastor of the St. John's Baptist Church in Port of Spain. After migrating to the USA, he was Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of New Market in Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. A committed Baptist and gifted administrator, Ken has served as President and later General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago. He was also President of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, in which he earlier was Chair of the Communications Department and Secretary of Christian Education. In the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, Ken was Chair of the Congregational Renewal Ministry. In the Baptist World Alliance, Ken occupied the roles of Vice Chair of the Communication Commission; Chair of the Worship and Spirituality Commission; and member of the General Council. A media practitioner, Ken produced and hosted weekly religious television programmes in Trinidad and Tobago. He was a presenter in a series of videos produced by the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship; and he worked both as a news reporter at a radio station, and as a member of the production crew at a television station in Indianapolis, USA. An ecumenist, Ken was Christian Education Youth Editor for the Caribbean Conference of Churches. A theological educator, he also served as a lecturer at the St. Andrew's Theological College in San Fernando, Trinidad. When he is not involved in the ministry of the church, he loves to play golf, music and is a volunteer with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.