Hi, We will be in Bonaire for 2 Sundays in a row and would like to attend a local church service. I printed off a list of churches but would like to know if anyone has attended any of them? I have ruled out the Catholic, Morman, 7th Day Adventist and Jehova's Witnesses. (I am not wanting to offend anyone...just know that we are not any of those denominations!) So... from the list that leaves the following: Bonaire Christian Fellowship, Evangical Alliance Mission, International Bible Church of Bonaire or United Protestant Church. We attened an Evangical Presb. Church here at home. Contemporary music and worship service. Thanks for any info you can give me.

Lise, I must admit that I have never attended a service on the island. That said ,if I were to attend, I noticed that there was a large church downtown, (might be Baptist). On a Friday or Saturday night, there were a lot of peaple there. They were dressed up(men and boys inties and jackets, ladies in dresses ) It was a beautiful, old church. I didn't see any white people going in. Don't know if that's a thing or not. I'm always up for a cultural experience. I would go. On the other hand, it might be a nice thing to have your own service at any one of the beautiful and inspiring natural spots on the island. The east shore is a testament to the power of God and Nature. margarite

The Protestant church is probably going to be as close in falvor to your Evangical Presb church in NC.
Should be good for the kids to see differences in worship services.

You are right Margarite, the east shore where all the cave art is...is pretty neat. I commented to Eva that it was a natural cathedral...hence the prehistoric art....I would do my service there as the old carib indians obviously did.

Keep in mind that other than the Int'l Bible Fellowship (run by the folks of Trans World Radio) and a Pentecostal church in Nikiboko (Iglesia Asamblea di Dios - something Assembly of God), all the services will be in Papiamentu. The TWR church is in English, and the other one I list seems to be in English and Papiamentu (I attended a wedding there and spoke to the pastor afterwards).

Also, you MUST dress nicely for church on Bonaire - no shorts or t-shirts or flip flops - nice slacks and buttoned shirts for men, along with real shoes. Dresses / skirts preferred for women.

Jake

Thanks for the info...There are many wonderful places on Bonaire to hold our own service..but we are looking to experience the culture...We like to go to different churches in different areas and it does allow my children to see how others worship God. We have some nice memories of attending church at places we have visited. I think we will check out the Int'l Bible Fellowship..think I remember seeing it last time we were in Bonaire. Thanks for the tip on dressing...I will throw in a dress for us girls!

Lise,
We attended the International Bible Church last April. We sang contempary praise music (just like at home). The congregation is small, about 30 - 40 people the day we attended. My daughter and I both wore tourist attire (shorts) as we didn't have skirts with us. We felt very welcomed. I think they liked the fact that we knew the words and music. After all, we're in the Family! Look up my profile :-)
Linda

Lise,
I attended the Protestant church downtown (big yellow building). The service was in Papiamentu and Dutch. The pastor was kind enough to call out the bible verses in English, so even though I couldn't tell what he was saying, I knew what verses he was talking about. I feel strongly that the only reason he did that is because he knew I only spoke English, and he wanted me to feel part of the service.
Everyone in that service was SO warm and friendly; I'm getting a little choked up as I type this. It was one of the highlights of my trip.
Les

Oh Linda..I am laughing right now..because I though when you said we are "in the family" I was thinking Christ's family...i.e. "sisters in Christ"..then I read you profile and noticed you are Innkeepers!!! We do have a lot in common...your place looks great.

Lise,
I DID mean Christ's Family, so now I'm laughing!
We have a lot of tourists visit in our church in ski wear in the winter and shorts in the summer. The congregation is used to "tourist attire" and that's the way I felt at the International Bible Church. Welcomed! :-)

Great...I think we will try that chuch...I was planning to bring a dress for us girls anyway...Bob will have one pair of pants and shirt to wear to the Rotery meeting anyway. So think we will be dressed ok. Guess we are "family" in 2 ways!

When will you be on the Island? We'll be there April 7th - 22nd ...over Easter. Any special Easter activities on Bonaire?

The large church (with clock tower) at the back of town is St. Bernard's, and is Catholic. The Protestant church is fairly small, at the entrance to Kaya Grandi (across from the tourist office). The old stats used to put the pop. at 85% Catholic, but I'm not sure if that is still true. Good Friday & Easter Monday are legal holidays here (non-tourist related businesses will be closed, such as offices, banks, most grocery stores, etc).

Ruth,
Thanks for the Easter info. You stated "non-tourist businesses will be closed". Does that include restaurants, shops downtown, Lac Bay windsurfing, etc.? Just curious, as my children will be joining us the week of April 14th - April 22nd and I want to plan activities for them.

Linda, windsurfing never closes..thank goodness. Ernst shuts down in Sept. for a month and Windsurf Place is open all the time!!!

Many places were open for Xmas (dining I mean) so I assume restaurants will open..hope so as I do not want to cook..

Annie

Markets and shops will be closed, most restaurants will be open.

Jake

Thanks, I'll make sure they do their shopping early in the week.
:-)
Linda

International Bible Church, Bonaire.

Linda, Lise, and "Family",

I have been to most of the churches and youth groups on Bonaire over my travels there since 1966. There is something unique and something special about each of them. Words I would use to describe them are friendly, wonderful, real, and indigenous.

Some folks don't realize this but Trans World Radio is a Christian mission that uses superpower radio to broadcast Bible messages in multiple languages across South, Central, and southern North America, and across the Caribbean. TWR used to be in charge of the International Bible Church that is in English, with simultaneous Spanish translation and Spanish, English, and Papiementu Sunday schools. Now TWR hosts the church meetings and TWR staff are active participants, for sure, but there is a definite transition to being an all-island church. It is friendly place with real Dutch coffee.

Also of interest, TWR is the most powerful radio station in the Western Hemisphere, and has some 12 sisters stations located around the world. They use satellites and high hi-tech stuff to do their work. How they ended up on Bonaire and not Curacao is an interesting story. Interesting tours of the TWR facilities can be arranged. In fact, Jake and Linda's former neighbors, Brad and Sondra Swanson (my cousin) can help with the history, tour possibility, and specific church info. Check at the TWR Studio (with the sea mural) front desk.

A separate reef note, I understand you can easily see the double reef structure, Hilma Hooker, and more standing of the top of the TWR towers at the southern end.

First Outdoors Church.
For those that like church o'natural, try any evening at the Astronomical Lounge (right in front of Willemstoren Lichthouse) with cement pews and real air conditioning. You can see heavenly sights and breathtaking views, as it was originally intended. Of course the lighthouse itself is an interesting metaphor and has multiple meanings for anyone. One night I even heard the flamingo choir singing.

Bud Gillan
Florida

TWR has only a few folks left on the island but the Church is still active. The still have some of their broadcasting facilites in use as well.

Bud, Thanks for the info. I look forward to attending Easter Service with the International Bible Church.