Promoting healthy families and biblical eldership in the Caribbean
As steel drums play calypso music on the Caribbean island that Gabriel Hyacinth calls home, Gabriel is busy training local church leaders and promoting healthy families and biblical eldership. He has spent most of his life in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago, teaching school and serving in various roles in his local church, including eldership.
Today, Gabriel—pictured
with his wife, Gemma—is representing Biblical Eldership Resources throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region, conducting marriage and family seminars, and training the next generation of church leaders.
How did you come to Christ?
I grew up with a Christian mother who insisted that I went to church meetings and Sunday school. I was exposed to the gospel at an early age. I knew I was a sinner and that the Lord Jesus paid the penalty for my sins on the cross of Calvary. I was aware that repenting of my sins and putting my trust in Jesus for the salvation of my soul was the only way to be reconciled to God. At age 15, at an evangelistic meeting, I came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and surrendered my life to Christ.
Tell us about your family.
My wife, Gemma, and I are blessed with three adult children, two young men and one young lady—all Christ followers. We are also blessed with three beautiful granddaughters.
What did your parents do to pass on the Christian faith to you, and how did you do the same for your own children?
My mother passed on the Christian faith to me by ensuring I was exposed to the gospel as much as possible. My wife and I did the same for our children, by teaching them by word and by example and taking them to church meetings, camps, Sunday school, vacation Bibles school and the like.
What principles do you teach in your marriage and family seminars?
I teach about God’s general design for marriage and family and issues like communication, conflict management, family finances, and parenting.
What led you to the various places you have worked, studied, and served?
I was born in Trinidad and Tobago; it is where I have spent most of my life and received my primary, secondary, and tertiary education.
For most of my life I have been a school teacher. I taught at all levels of the system. I also served as an elder at a local assembly.
I have always been interested in family life. Through the kindness of a Christian couple and other believers, I migrated to Jamaica with my family to pursue studies at the Jamaica Theological Seminary and the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, where I obtained a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. I returned to Trinidad and continued to serve as an educator, a counselor, and an elder. I subsequently migrated to New York City when my last son went there to attend college. There I served as a public school teacher and an elder at a local assembly.
I am now back in Trinidad, where I am involved in local assembly work, training of young leaders, and Emmaus Correspondence ministries.
Of all the ministries you’ve been involved in, which has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling to you?
This is a difficult question. I believe I am at the stage of my life where I need to be a multiplier. Therefore, equipping young elders is extremely rewarding and fulfilling. I thoroughly enjoy their enthusiasm and see it as part of succession planning. I also believe that healthy marriages make healthy families, and healthy families make healthy churches. As a result, I find conducting marriage and family seminars very rewarding and fulfilling. I get to utilize my training in education in both ministries.
What do you love about your local church and your role in it?
I love the intimate fellowship of my local church. It is a small assembly that has potential for growth. I enjoy teaching the adult Bible class.
What spiritual discipline has been most important to you?
I think the discipline of prayer has been most important to me. I love that I can bear up all the believers I serve, before the throne of grace, along with my neighbors, missions, etc. I sometimes struggle in this area, but it helps me maintain communion with my Father.
How do you sense the Lord working in the West Indies? How can we pray for you?
I think the West Indies is ripe for the gospel, and I see the potential for the region to change from being receiving churches to sending churches. I would like prayer as I seek to introduce Biblical Eldership Resources to other Caribbean countries and as I seek to get Emmaus Correspondence courses widely advertised and see both believers and unbelievers, including prisoners, pursuing the courses.