Belgrove Nathan Josiah Sr.

Belgrove Nathan Josiah Sr. was born on February 17, 1928 into the Christian home of William and Clara Josiah in Old Road Village, on the beautiful island of Antigua, West Indies. William “Papi” was a farmer and lay minister and Clara (nee Nicholas) a homemaker to their family of thirteen children. Belgrove began his early education at the Old Road Secondary School; however, having passed the national teacher certification examination at the age of 15, the school district called young Belgrove to teach at the Succolts and Old Road primary schools. After several years of teaching Belgrove transferred to the University of the Southern Caribbean (formerly Caribbean Union College) High School in Trinidad where he formally completed his secondary schooling.

Sensing a divine calling on his life, Belgrove matriculated into the Theology program at the University of the Southern Caribbean. His educational journey continued at the Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan where he earned the Masters in Religion. In July 1959 Belgrove married his beloved, Enisotha Ineta Brown in All Saints Village, Antigua. Together, Belgrove and Ineta followed God’s call to serve in Guyana. In 1963 while pastoring in the West Coast and Georgetown districts, Pastor Josiah was ordained to the gospel ministry. He proceeded to pastor, lead evangelistic crusades and plant churches throughout the Caribbean including Trinidad, Barbados, Anguilla, St. Maarten and St Thomas. Pastor Joe had a passion and gift for expounding and breaking down the tenets of Daniel and Revelation. His lasting legacy will include the Sanctuary series and other Bible prophecy seminars he conducted throughout the Caribbean.

His true passion, second only to proclaiming the gospel, was educating, training and mentoring ministers to shepherd, preach the message, bring revival and reformation and prepare souls for heaven. He served in the Department of Religion and Theology at both the University of the Southern Caribbean and Northern Caribbean University (formerly West Indies College). His teaching slate included Homiletics and Exegesis, Greek and Hebrew. As an educator Pastor Joe applied his experience in the field to his classroom discourse, pouring into the lives of ministerial students and bible workers, preparing and equipping them to fulfil their calling to ministry. As a theologian par excellence, he fostered scholarship and critical thought guided by sound doctrine.

As a church administrator Pastor Joe served as Director of Education, East Caribbean Conference and Caribbean Union; President, University of the Southern Caribbean; and President, North Caribbean Conference from 1982 to 1996.

In 1996 Pastor Joe and Ineta, his most ardent supporter, retired after over 40 years of full-time ministry. They remained active in the Peter’s Rest SDA Church, St. Croix until relocating to Loma Linda, California in 2007 where they continued to minister in the Campus Hill SDA Church through bible studies, counseling and prayer ministries.

In December 2010 Pastor Josiah was preceded in death by Ineta, his wife of over 50 years. He leaves behind, comforted by the blessed hope, his children: Bernard, Orris, Ethan, Belgrove Jr. (Marguerite) and Erna (Darryl); grandchildren: Tiffany, Belgrove III and Matthew; siblings: Alpha, Pastor John Josiah (Gloria Patricia), Michael (Cynthia), Ivy (Fred James), Robert (Melvina), Lennie, Patricia and Pauline Looby Otto; cousins including Donald and Sybil McKay and family; nieces and nephews including; Judith, Allyson, Donna, Marlene, Sonja, Dakese, Pastor Ronald Josiah, Avonelle, Pastor Cryston Josiah, Lenard, Donnell, Lenore, Desrie, Janine, Cathia, Mitchell, Rhonice, Charley, Valerie, Wilmeade, Clifton, Olive-Lane, Leo, Rhonis, Pauline, Veda, Cecil Earl and Hollice; and a host of other family, colleagues in ministry, friends and supporters.