Historical Sketch- The Northern Bahamas District Convention of The Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches
On November 28, 1987, the Superintendent, Rev. Dr. C. W. Saunders, called a special meeting at the Cathedral of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Bailey Town, Bimini. The meeting had a two-fold purpose; to formally organize the Nothern Bahamas District Convention of the Baha- mas Baptist Union of Churches and to formally appoint Rev. Dr. Keith Russell as Pastor of the one week old, Fellowship Union Baptist Church, Freeport, Grand Bahama.
The late Rev. Dr. Bruce S. Rolle was elected as the first President of this District. In attendance at
the meeting, were the following individuals:
- Rev. Dr. C. W. Saunders, Superintendent, The Bahamas Baptist Union
- Rev. Dr. Bruce S. Rolle, President- Elect, Northern Bahamas District Convention
- Rev. Urban Knowles, Third Assistant Superintendent, The Bahamas Baptist Union
- Rev. Dr. Irvin Clarke, Union Evangelist, The Bahamas Baptist Union
- Rev. Dr. Keith Russell, Pastor-Elect, Fellowship Union Baptist Church, Freeport, Grand Bahama
- Bishop Neil. C. Ellis, Public Relations Director, The Bahamas Baptist Union
The District got off to a great start with two churches, the Cathedral of Mt. Zion in Bailey Town, Bimini, and the Fellowship Union Baptist Church in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The annual District Conventions were held during October and alternated between the islands of Bimini and Grand Bahama.
The First Providence Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Neville Campbell and the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Reno V. Smith, both of Freeport, Grand Bahama, joined the fellowship thus swelling the number of churches in the District to four.
After many long years of fellowship with the two additional churches they severed their rela- tionship with the District, and today, the two original churches are still going on and holding the Northern District together.
Over the years, this District has experienced many growing pains; nevertheless, under the current presidency of Rev. Dr. Keith Russell, they continue to meet every October and the venue now is rotated between the islands of Bimini and Grand Bahama every third year.
The following persons have served over the years as Presidents in the various departments:
Parent Body
Rev. Dr. Bruce S. Rolle | Rev. Dr. Keith Russell | Bishop Reno V. Smith | Bishop Stanley Pinder
| YOUTH DEPARTMENT | WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT |
| Deacon Edris Rolle | Sis. Elva Ellis |
| Sis. Pauline Miller-Rolle | Sis. Joyce Evans |
| Sis. Nekita Campbell | Rev. Ella Charlton |
| Sis. Donna Duncombe | Deacon Autrey Russell |