Rev Alleyne - Man on a mission

A seven-storey tower dedicated purely for worship that can hold 20,000 worshippers comfortably, in a complex which will house apartments outfitted with five star facilities; an in-house gymnasium; a public health clinic; and postal office — these are all part of Rev Dave Alleyne’s vision for not only the members of his faith, but all of Trinidad and Tobago.

His future plans are far from far-fetched, he said in an interview with People. “It will take some time, but the quicker the better, and in God’s time frame,” Rev Alleyne said. Alleyne, 45, founder of six-year-old Flaming Word Ministry, wants to transform his acres at Caroni into a “city dedicated to praise.” Currently, his megaplex houses a temporary worship hall, two auditoriums, an administrative centre, conference room, utility security building, early childhood care education centre and an empowerment zone. Alleyne may not have all the resources necessary to complete the project but he certainly has the time to invest in it. Up to this year, Alleyne worked as one of the managers at Caroni (1975) Limited. He had spent 27 years at the State-owned sugar company. He has since devoted all his time to a full gospel outreach mission.

His parents, both deceased, can take credit for his burning zeal to reach as many persons as he can with his ministry. It was at the Alleynes’ home in Chaguanas, many years ago that a group of four gathered for discussions on the Bible. Four persons have since turned into 800 (registered members of the faith) who go to praise city for worship. Alleyne’s family belonged to another Christian denomination at the time. “But my mother was always a God-fearing woman. My father was the same, though they were not very religious they were always searching for God. And they started an outreach in the gallery and it grew from there.” Becoming a pastor and becoming consumed by a new religion were not among Alleyne’s plans. “But I was channelled to look into the word,” he said. “I had just come out of school and the members of the faith that gathered at our home started to question me and I needed to back up my answers. I was there really to argue not to listen. So, I read the whole Bible, read it a few times and something started to happen. Then I lost the zeal for smoking, drinking, partying...the gift of God started operating in my life.” Some time later, Alleyne became baptised as a member of the Full Gospel Outreach Mission, renamed Flaming Word Ministry.

In 1985, he was ordained as a minister by a member of the Pine Crest Ministry of New York. His colleagues had seen a changed man on the job. His co-workers were now approaching him with questions and seeking his advice. He was counsellor to those who approached him with problems that dealt with the family. When his job was severed, it was not surprising that he would take along a host of converts, who regularly attended religious services at the megaplex. He reaches the wider public by means of CDs, tapes and books on his mission, through “word of mouth” and “people come to me through dreams.” After he lost his sister to cancer, Alleyne took up the faith healing ministry. Alleyne tries to steer clear of indoctrinating. He said his organisation is aimed at developing human potential, “creating an environment where people can maximise their potential.” “We teach them to think for themselves. If what I say makes sense, give it some consideration and evaluate yourselves. We teach people to be successful, how to have.” Alleyne is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Business.

A number of services are carried out within the walls of the megaplex including community programmes on obesity, geriatric nursing and empowerment seminars. Flaming Word Ministry has also worked along with the Police Service in hosting defensive driving seminars and with NEMA (National Emergency Management Authourity). His organisation has also hosted inter-church sports, positive musical programmes and comedy festivals — Alleyne emphasised “clean comedy.” The megaplex also houses an eight-member band “FWM Blaze.” “All are included at our events; the very young and very old. I encourage people 70 and over to come and dance, to socialise. There’s no special dance for 70 and over, it’s everybody together. We encourage bonding, it’s family.”

Alleyne said that housing 20,000 people at one centre will build “one strong, powerful church. When you look at full gospel churches in Trinidad, because they are splintered and there are many branches, they are divided and I have resisted that.” Each storey of the tower will represent one’s level of worship, “from a mere offering of thanks to a ‘tehilla’ which is the highest level of worship. Persons from any Christian denomination are allowed and they must find their level.” What level has Alleyne attained? He said: “I’m at the level where I sing without a song book. I could sing and God will put a song in my heart. I’m on the threshold of the seventh level.” The tower, he said, will be funded “by people who feel the call that this must be done... I have never picked up offering at the services,” Alleyne informed. He declined when asked to give an estimated cost of the facility and how the monies would be attained. His wife, Lorna and children Leandra, Leandr and Ian share his dream. “They are intrinsically a part of the church. The majority of my family (siblings) are very much involved. Church is not a part of life, it is the life. It’s not a religious life, but a spiritual one.” This, he said, should also be manifested when away from church. He loves travelling abroad with the family. When at home, Rev Alleyne spends time engaging in family discussions, watching cable television and reading.