Delegates at the 7th Quadrennial Session of the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) have elected Pastor Nevail Barrett to be president for 2026 to 2030.
In accepting what he termed a ‘vote of confidence’, Barrett acknowledged the call as both a sacred trust and responsibility.
“This is not about me. It’s about the mission of the church, seeing men and women surrender their lives to Jesus. Our work is not finished. With God’s help and your prayers and support, we will continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.,” he said.
Pastor Glen O. Samuels, President of the Jamaica Union Conference (right), introduces Pastor Nevail Barrett (left) as the President of the Central Jamaica Conference following the Nominating Committee's report at the 7th Quadennial Session. :: Photo credit: Garry Witter (Field and Studio Production Manager, CJC)
He encouraged the membership of the conference to “join hands and hearts and pray together” as the work was dependent not on human strength but on God’s power.
Barrett began his first stint as president in December 2021 after former president, Pastor Levi Johnson, was called to serve at the Jamaica Union. Barrett was again elected 7 months later at the sixth CJC quadrennial session on June 16, 2022.
Over his tenure so far, Barrett has led the conference to notable achievements, some of which are:
- CJC is currently the leading conference in stewardship and evangelism in Jamaica. Vice president with oversight for evangelism at the Jamaica Union (JAMU), Dr Joseph Smith commended the CJC during the session for being foremost in baptisms, with 9,800-plus souls baptised over the past quadrennium.
- The CJC office was solarised to cut energy costs, reducing dependence on the electrical grid by 72%. Some of the savings were channelled into digital evangelism.
- The procurement of tech assets, such as a tiled LCD video wall and grab-and-go production equipment, including cameras, microphones, etc.
- The restructuring of the pastoral internship programme, notably removing the ‘budget’ phase where interns sometimes remained indefinitely awaiting an initial pastoral assignment. Newly recruited pastors now begin as full-fledged interns assigned to experienced district pastors for training.
- Many contract workers were upgraded to permanent employment status.
Barrett thanked his wife, Carlene, and daughter, Cavail, for continuing to support him in ministry.
Newly re-elected President, Pastor Nevail Barrett (centre), addresses the attendees at the 7th Quadrennial Session of the Central Jamaica Conference at Camp Verley, Spring Village, with his wife, Carlene Barrett (left), by his side. :: Photo credit: Garry Witter (Field and Studio Production Manager, CJC)
The delegates also re-elected Pastor Exec sec Howard Grant Langley as executive secretary and Elder Roxwel Lawrence as treasurer.
Notable achievements in these departments over the quadrennium include:
- A 98.7% rating in the Inter-American Division (IAD) 360 Secretariat Evaluation, earning the prestigious designation of “Approved with Excellence.” This positioned the conference 2nd within the Jamaica Union and 3rd across the Inter-American Division.
- At the beginning of 2022, the conference was challenged by working capital standing at a negative JMD 23.3 million and liquidity under pressure. Through deliberate financial management strategies, member stewardship and the efforts of the treasury department, this position was reversed, with liquidity improving year after year and cash reserves strengthened.
President of the Jamaica Union, Pastor Glen Samuels, encouraged the officers to continue to build on the gains that have been made in the Conference in the work of spreading the gospel.
(L-R) Pastor Howard Grant-Langley (Executive Secretary), Pastor Nevail Barrett (President), and Elder Roxwel Lawrence (Treasurer), stand together after being re-elected to serve the Central Jamaica Conference in their various capacities. :: Photo credit: Garry Witter (Field and Studio Production Manager, CJC)