The History
Our crest has the year IBYC began, 1978. I’d have to go downstairs and dig to find a handbook. Most of these things are outlined in that.

I don’t know that we ever outlined a “goal.” But, if it is necessary, I would say the goal is encapsulated in the saying I have used in letters throughout the years: “Inspiring Baptist Youth to Christian Excellence.” This contribution was made by Yves. The actual name, “Independent Baptist Youth of the Caribbean,” was contributed by Bro. Johnson. I had a very unusual and crazy childhood — I don’t think most West Indians would understand or even believe it. Even the grandchildren would find it fanciful. However, it was after attending an Institute of Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar in Dallas, that my “Christian life” changed dramatically. Bill Gothard was the speaker. I was a wild one. This was so helpful to me that I just wanted to share the information with all the young people I met so they wouldn’t make the same mistakes I had made. It was while looking at an envelope from that organization and noticing the I.B.Y.C., and telling about a possible youth ministry in the Caribbean that Papa said, IBYC, “Independent Baptist Youth of the Caribbean,” and so it was named.

 As to how it developed. This is from my personal viewpoint. It was a desire of my heart from the very beginning of our ministry. At Galilean we began our first youth meeting. This continued when we began Grace. It began with Teen Challenge on Monday afternoons, I believe. Later we added Teen Time once a month on Friday nights. These ministries went on for years. We also had our own Sunday school class. I remember saying when we were very small that we had to organize well because we were going to grow big. I spoke to many people associated with WIBF about starting a ministry for youth as they had for the adults. Many thought it was a good idea but nobody acted on it. I also spoke to Pastors about such a ministry and nobody was that interested. In fact, I was frankly told that Church was for children and adults. Teens were expected to go out into the world and later mature and return to the Church. I just couldn’t accept this. I thought we should keep them in the Church if at all possible and was proving it in the three ministries we had at Grace. I had such a desire to help the young people in the Caribbean that we just decided to jump in the water and make an effort in the summer of 1978. We had a great youth group behind us and the Lord in front. We all developed it together. Input was welcome in IBYC from the beginning. If we had listened to the advice from well meaning “friends” along the way, even fellow-missionaries, pastors and fellow-believers, we would have given up on IBYC long ago. We were the wrong color, the islands were becoming nationalized, we were wasting our time, expending our lives uselessly, young people are fickle and undependable, pastors were not always supportive ... on and on it went . . .but God! I’m so glad I didn’t listen. I remember reading the words of a coach who didn’t have much of a team but they had won the big one. When asked how they were able to do what they did, he replied, “We didn’t look for an excuse to quit.” We can all find an excuse to quit . . . I’ve heard many through the years. No, we didn’t purchase a book or take a course on how to develop an inter-island youth conference. We weren’t trained....praise the Lord. He had fertile ground to work with. There were those who supported the effort from the beginning, stayed with it through difficult times and are part of whatever success it has enjoyed through the years. Thank God for each one of them.
IBYC is not a Church and I am not one that believes that just because a ministry is developed that it cannot end. We were used of the Lord in this way for our generation but God may well have something else in mind for the future. I do not believe that an organization fails just because it ends. However, as long as the Lord chooses, may it live and bring honor and glory unto Him.