Melissa victims worship under tents at site of destroyed church building
Published:Monday | November 10, 2025 | 12:34 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
The faith and resolve of members of the Porto Bello Pentecostal Worship Centre at Cornwall Court in Montego Bay, St James was on full display yesterday as they gathered at the site where Hurricane Melissa obliterated their church to give God thanks as they seek His guidance in pursuing a new beginning.
Under two small tents, which were enough to protect the 30 attendees –who came clad in casual wear – from the mid-morning sun, as they worshipped minus the trappings of electricity, the worship session, which was directed by the church’s Pastor Paul Thompson, was laced with themes of hope and renewal against a backdrop of giving God thanks.
“We, who are a church that is faithful to God’s calling, so regardless of the situation around us, we are here to give thanks and lift up our voices to God because He is good,” said Thompson. “With His guidance, we will rise up again and be even stronger than before.
“The church is not the building, we are the church and we are here. It would have been a total miracle if the church building had survived this Category 5 hurricane. What happened to the building, happened for a reason. We might not know the reason, but God knows the reason.”
According to Thompson, he is ready to move forward in faith, and he wants the members to be ready for what God has planned for them, because he strongly believes the best days are yet to come.
“As the Lord leads, we will follow, and I know the best is yet to come. As small as we are, we must pool our resources together to rebuild this church building and rebuild our lives,” he said.
In responding to claims by some detractors of the Jamaican Church, who have been claiming that Hurricane Melissa came specifically to shake up because of perceived moral failings, Thompson flatly rejected that notion, saying such arguments are without merit.
CHURCH IS GOD’S FAITHFUL PEOPLE
“I can tell you that what they are saying is wrong. The true church is of God, not against God,” he said. “As I said, the building is not the Church, the Church is God’s faithful people.”
In speaking to the assistance that has been coming the church’s way, Thompson said the 24 Pentecostal worship centres in the western region have been getting help from their parent body, and, like Gideon in the Bible, who was called to go up against what was seen as insurmountable odds, the church will prevail.
“We are the salt of the earth, so it is time for us to step up and be counted,” Thompson reminded the congregation. “What has happened to us is like the aftermath of a war zone, so my mission here today is to bring you hope.”
In terms of their immediate situation, Thompson said the compound is being cleaned up, noting that it was not the time to be worried or despair but to put hands and hearts together in the rebuilding because they cannot deny the fact that “God is good and will stand with them in a just cause”.
“Our original church building was completely decimated, and we now need to erect a temporary church. We have already acquired some heavy-duty tarpaulin, and we are expecting more help … we are just doing our part because we are confident that God will guide our path … . We shall rise again.”
During the passage of Hurricane Melissa, several churches across western Jamaica were badly damaged, including some historic structures that had been in existence for more than 100 years.