J. A. Leo-Rhynie: Faithful servant of God and Outstanding Leader

Rev. & Mrs. J. A. Leo Rhynie 

 

Joscelyn Alphonso Leo-Rhynie was born in Salt Spring, St James, on June 13, 1908. He attended Salt Spring Elementary School, Montego Bay Boys’ School and Cornwall College, where he distinguished himself in cricket and football. He grew up in the Mt Carey Baptist Church. At his ordination service, Mr Leo-Rhynie spoke about how, when he was about 5 years of age, he improvised a pulpit from which he would preach “to a small number of people, about 12, including some East Indians.” At the age of twelve, he resolved to “yield his life truly to Jesus to serve Him altogether in thought, word and deed.” This took place during a service arranged for children at Salters Hill Baptist Church. The preacher was Rev. W. D. Brown. In 1920, Rev Glaister Knight administered his baptism at Second (now Calvary) Baptist Church in Montego Bay.

Leo-Rhynie spoke often of the formative influence upon him of the Sunday School and the Christian Endeavour movement. At the age of 14, he survived a challenging experience while swimming in a river in St James. This played a part in his eventual decision to respond to what he regarded as a divine call to enter the Christian ministry.  

Leo-Rhynie entered Calabar Theological College in 1927, aged 19 and, after graduation, he was ordained to the ministry on October 24, 1932, during the JBU General Assembly meeting at Second Baptist Church. This seemed providential since the ordinand was to go on to make a great contribution to ministry within JBU, at the local and national levels. Officiating at the service was Rev J. T. Dillon, JBU Chairman. Rev David Davis, Tutor at Calabar Theological College delivered the charge to the ordinand. In his sermon, Davis explored the relationship between being a worker together with God and being an ambassador for God and the implications of these for the way a minister’s duties are carried out.

Leo-Rhynie’s first pastoral charge was the Bellas Gate circuit in St Catherine. In 1934, while he was serving in this circuit, he met and married Winnifred Chin, who became the mother of his children and a true partner with him in ministry.

Leo-Rhynie left Bellas Gate for Morant Bay circuit in St Thomas where he served for three years. In 1949, he commenced his ministry in the Mt. Angus circuit of Baptist churches in St. Mary and served there until 1958. The Mt Angus church described him as “a faithful minister of the Gospel.”

In 1958, the Leo-Rhynies commenced service in the East Queen Street circuit of churches. Leo Rhynie was the first Black minister of the church. In this pastorate, where Mr Rhynie remained until his retirement, he realized the heights of his giftedness as a pastor, preacher and church leader.

Leo-Rhynie is remembered for his incisive and powerful sermons, his wit and humour. The congregation at East Queen Street treasured Leo Rhynie’s ministry. Over the years, the church organized several events to celebrate Leo Rhynie’s work. At his tenth anniversary in 1968, Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) President, Rev. Clement Gayle, presided and among those bringing greetings were Rev. Azariah McKenzie, JBU General Secretary; Rev. Atherton Didier, president, Jamaica Council of Churches; the  Rt. Rev. J. C. Swaby, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese; the Rt. Rev. Samuel C. Carter, Auxiliary Roman Catholic Bishop of Kingston; the Rev. C. A. Thomas, General Secretary of the United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman; the Rev. Donald Monkcom, Dean at the United Theological College; Mr. Milton Rodriques, Commissioner of the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation, and Mr. Harrington Fairweather, on behalf of the congregation. The list of presenters signalled the level of respect Leo-Rhynie enjoyed within the local ecumenical community. In 1964, Leo-Rhynie had served as Chairman of the Jamaica Council of churches.

J. A. Leo Rhynie

In his presentation on behalf of the church, Mr. Fairweather praised the pastor for his preaching ministry, his record of pastoral care, his dedication to the service of the underprivileged and, in particular, his service as a “prison pastor” for over eight years. Leo-Rhynie continued to serve for many years as pastor for inmates of the General Penitentiary and his dedicated service was deeply appreciated.

During his years as pastor of the East Queen Street circuit, the Christian Endeavour, Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade thrived. Leo-Rhynie had a passion for evangelism and the church’s membership increased exponentially. The George Lisle Education building was erected and the Equester Bookshop was established.

In 1971, Leo Rhynie led the church into a partnership which saw Denham Town Baptist Church becoming a part of the East Queen Street circuit. In 1972, he initiated a witness in the Portmore area that led to the establishment of the Edgewater Baptist Church.

Leo Rhynie is remembered for his contribution to JBU. In 1947-48, during his pastorate at Mt Angus, he succeeded Ivan C. Parsons as JBU Chairman. He served a second term as JBU President from 1952-53, during which he travelled to New York where he addressed the Baptist Missionary Conference of Greater New York and raised funds for a JBU rebuilding programme after the devastation caused by hurricane Charlie.

Leo-Rhynie supported the strengthening of existing Baptist churches and the start of new churches. In the late 1950s, a Baptist mission was established in Half Way Tree. Leo-Rhynie lent his support to this mission which grew to become the Bethel Baptist Church.

Leo Rhynie acted as JBU General Secretary, during which he led the Union in acquiring an office building at 6, Hope Road in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew. Later, he served for eight years as JBU General Secretary.

JBU’s Horizon Home for the aged is largely the product of the stewardship of Rev. & Mrs Leo Rhynie. Mrs Leo-Rhynie was also an outstanding contributor to the work of the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation (JBWF). She was principally responsible for establishing links between JBWF and the Women’s movement of the Baptist World Alliance.

Leo Rhynie’s contribution to the wider community included his service as member or chair  of the Boards of Calabar Primary School, Calabar High School, The Mico College, Shortwood Teachers’ College and the United Theological College of the West Indies.

On behalf of the JBU, Rhynie participated in deputation work to the Baptist Missionary Society, UK, and the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Churches, USA, and the Canadian Baptist Convention. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance from 1956-65.

In 1968, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity for his record of outstanding service as a minister of the Gospel.

After his retirement from the pastorate in 1976, Leo-Rhynie migrated to the United States where, in 1977, he assisted Rev. David A. Morgan in establishing the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Miami, Florida.

When he passed away on March 24, 1985 at a hospital in Florida, USA, after some 50 years in the ministry, JBU lost one of its most able and distinguished leaders. On his passing, JBU described Rhynie as “a wise father, a good counsellor, an eloquent and persuasive preacher and a faithful servant of God.”

His funeral at East Queen Street Church on April 2, 1985, attracted a large congregation representing the many spheres in which Leo Rhynie had made his sterling contribution. The gathering expressed thanksgiving to God for Leo-Rhynie’s 77 years. Tributes were paid to him by Rev. D. A. Morgan, Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, Miami, Florida, the Jamaica Baptist Union and the Mount Angus and East Queen Street Circuits of Churches. Among those participating in the service were Rev. Stephen S. James, Dr Morris Burrel, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, New Orleans, USA, and Anglican rector, Rev. Canon Herman Spence, Leo-Rhynie’s son-in-law. Rev Dr Horace Russell, who succeeded Leo-Rhynie at East Queen Street, called Leo-Rhynie “a convinced, convicted, confessing and uncompromising Baptist.” He described his predecessor as a symbol and witness of what the Christian faith can do to transform personal and national life

As one who started his ministry as assistant pastor to Rev Leo-Rhynie when his pastoral ministry was coming to an end, I benefited from his generous spirit, courteous demeanour,  wise counsel and eminent statesmanship.