Nestled in the hills of the parish of Hanover in Jamaica is the small village of Bamboo. As you climb up the steep hill and enter the village, you pass a sign that boasts and warns at the same time, “Only the Strong Survive”. It was painted and erected by the Youth Group of the Bamboo Missionary Church. The surrounding area is a poor community consisting mainly of farmers and persons engaged in some aspect of the tourism industry. After 9/11, the Jamaican economy spiraled downward causing many to lose their jobs.

The Bamboo Missionary Church, of about 100 members, is located in the heart of this village. In 1998, an electrical fire resulted in the destruction of their meeting place. Not daunted by this tragedy, the villagers immediately proceeded to set up a temporary place of worship under a large blue tarpaulin which they draped over an almond tree in the yard. They placed wooden benches under this shelter where they worshipped, sang the hymns of the faith, listened to God’s Word and prayed for the next few years.

It was not long before Ministries In Action learned of their plight and entered into a partnership with the Church by which MIA agreed to assist them in rebuilding their Church and adding a Christian school to serve the growing number of children in the area. The ground floor was built and occupied by both the Church and school. Before long, however, the school had grown to the point where it required the entire floor and a second floor was added for the Church’s sanctuary.



Bamboo is under an hour’s drive from Montego Bay, a bustling resort city. Indeed, much of the parish of Hanover is on the coastline, and a number of new hotels are under construction. The Church would like to do something about the growing unemployment problem by providing skills-training for the people of the village, thereby equipping them for the job market in the tourism sector. MIA is also committed to helping them in this by the addition of classrooms and a small medical and dental clinic to serve the area.

The Bamboo Missionary Church is therefore well positioned to use its strategic location to bring hope to the people of this under-privileged village in rural Jamaica.

Short term missionary teams that visit this project have the opportunity to participate in the construction of the church and to work with MIA missionaries in Jamaica.  There are opportunities for children's ministry and evangelism as well.

Click here to request information about a short term mission trip to Bamboo.

Click here to support this project financially.