Founder & Conference History

Ray Thompson was saved at the age of 13 and called to preach three years later. Several years later, under the ministry of Dr. Lee Robertson, God called him into missions. He enrolled in Tennessee Temple College in 1950 where he met his future wife, Jean Carey. They were married in 1952 and just three years later, they arrived on the mission field of the West Indies. For nine years, the Thompsons labored diligently to establish local Baptist churches. During their time in the West Indies, they saw many come to Christ, and the Lord allowed them to host Bible camps, establish Christian broadcasting, and to train national workers.

In 1961, Dr. Thompson established the West Indies Baptist Fellowship Conference (WIBFC) with the first conference being hosted on the island of St. John, USVI in January 1962. The conference was initiated to foster unity, fellowship, and partnership among churches in the region who would have much in common in terms of heritage, social experiences, and challenges.

In 1962, Dr. Thompson helped to establish the Bluewater Bible College on the island of St. Thomas, where he served as the president for 16 years. In 1964, Dr. Thompson was appointed Caribbean Director for the Baptist International Missions Incorporated and was commissioned with the work of expanding independent Baptist missions efforts throughout the West Indies. God used him greatly in this endeavor for 13 years and then enlarged his influence as he began to promote Mission’s efforts in churches and schools throughout America and in many other parts of the world.

In 1991, God allowed Dr. Thompson to be elected vice president and executive director of BIMI. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, God used Dr. Thompson in churches, colleges, and seminaries around the world to equip and encourage a new generation of missionaries.

He was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a faithful friend, and an encourager to all who came in contact with him. He came alongside many in times of need. He was faithful to what he believed and the one in whom he believed. He loved to help pastors build new churches and his touch was on several buildings in the Caribbean.

In 1962, a few of the fundamental Baptist missionaries serving in St. John, St. Croix , St. Thomas and Puerto Rico met on the island of St. John at the invitation of Pastor George Starling for a Bible Conference and missionary fellowship. There was preaching and Bible teaching plus a wonderful time of prayer. After one of the prayer meetings, there was a powerful discussion regarding the need of the need of the new ways to reach more people on our respective islands, and to reach out to other islands in the West Indies with the Gospel of Christ.

It was most evident to us that we needed a Bible training institution established in the islands to train the young people that God was calling into His service. As a result of the prayer meeting on St. John, the Lord directed us to jointly plan a Bible institute. Since there were classrooms available for classes at Calvary Baptist Church plus cottages at Camp Fortuna that could be used to house the students, St. Thomas was chosen for the location of the new school. Missionary Clyde Simpson suggested that the school be named Bluewater Bible Institute. In the beginning, the Bible school was a two-year institute.

However, it only took about two years to realize that the students needed more training than we could give them in two years. As a result, a three-year Institute began. Soon after that time, a four-year Bible college was instituted.

During an annual WIBF conference, it was agreed that another joint effort should be the establishing of a missions agency. The Caribbean Baptist Mission was established. The mission is now incorporated, and the name changed to Caribbean Baptist Partners.

The annual conference became known as the West Indies Baptist Fellowship. The fact that the conferences have continued for all these years is a testimony to God’s blessings. Time will not permit me to speak of all the conferences since 1962, but each have been a blessing.

The fellowship grows in numbers as churches are planted and pastors learn that their people will receive strength and encouragement from fellow believers and sister churches. The WIBF conference is not a denomination; every church is an independent self-governing body. As the name designates, it is a fellowship of Baptist churches that have joined hearts and hands to accomplish the task given by Christ to His church in a better and faster way. We must covenant together to do all we can to prevent any false doctrine from becoming a part of the fellowship, or the ministries, or institutions that are jointly sponsored. Our Baptist distinctiveness must continue. Amen.