January 25, 2011 – Mandeville, Jamaica….Lawrie Henry/JAMU
President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica Pastor Everett Brown, gave his commitment to lead the church in supporting civic authority, but emphasized that the church will remain distinct from other organizations.
During the official installation service for officers and directors for the church in Jamaica and the executive committee of the newly formed Union on Jan. 22, Pastor Brown stated that “Under our leadership the Church in Jamaica will not be aligned to any special interest group – social or political.” He added that “the Church will continue and must support the constitutionally elected government of the day. We must support them through our diverse ministries and programmes, as they seek to govern in a manner that will uphold and preserve the fundamental rights, freedoms and dignity of all people”.
Pastor Brown assured the congregation gathered at the Mandeville Adventist Church in Manchester, Jamaica for the service that he and his Executive “understand the seriousness of the task ahead of them.” After all, Brown is well aware that he and his team must give Spiritual and Administrative leadership to a Union, which comprises five conferences with a membership of about 250,000 and growing, twenty-six primary and high schools, two health centres and several Book and Nutrition Centres (BNC) across the Island. It also co-owns and operates along with the Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission (ACUM), the West Indies Union Investment Management Ltd (WIUIML) and one the largest Seventh-day Adventist University worldwide – the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) – located in Mandeville, Jamaica. He ardently vowed that they would execute their duties with diligence.
“We want this Church to know that as your leaders, we are very much aware of the sacred trust and responsibility that our calling and election have placed on us as servant leaders. And therefore, we pledge by the grace of God, never to betray that trust. We are committed. We are not perfect, but God is able”, he said.
Not called to be mercenaries
Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America in delivering the Homily admonished the newly installed leaders not to act as mercenaries who are only interested in a reward.
“God calls leaders. He does not employ mercenaries to do His work. He calls, inspires, equips and sends leaders to lead His people. As leaders we are not in this for the gain, for the fame or the control of others. We are here because God has a people and He allows us to have the privilege and responsibility to relate to his people in a leadership position…He has His people and He wants us to lead His people on His behalf. We take orders from Him, and the moment a leader in God’s Church forgets that, we are in trouble,” Pastor Leito said.
The installation service served to dedicate the JAMU leaders to God as they serve in their various capacities.
Pastor Milton Gregory – Secretary, and Elder Bancroft Barwise -treasurer, are the executive officers elected to serve with Pastor Brown.
Two associate directors and eight departmental directors were also installed. They are:
Associate Secretary – Mrs. Doreen Grant
Associate Treasurer – Mrs. Sharon Barrett
Children’s and Women’s Ministries – Mrs. Loraine Vernal
Communication and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty – Mr. Nigel Coke
Office of Education – Dr. Sandra Gayle
Family Ministries, Stewardship and Trust Services – Pastor Eric Nathan
Ministerial, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries – Pastor Glen Samuels
Health Ministries – Pastor Milton Gregory
Youth Ministries and Chaplaincy – Pastor Charles Blythe
Publishing Ministry – Pastor Dudley Hosin
Pastor Wenford Henry was also installed as Director of the Adventists Development and Relief Agency (ADRA-Jamaica).
The Jamaica Union was formed on November 29, 2010 after the dissolution of the West Indies Union Conference. The reorganization also gave birth to the Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission (ACUM), which comprises of the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Cayman Islands.
