Sixteen elders from across the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) received awards for faithful service of 30 years or more during the Jamaica Union Conference (JAMU) Elders’ Leadership Summit held June 4 at the West Jamaica conference centre in Mount Salem, St. James.
The elders were part of a large CJC delegation of 270 administrators, directors and elders who represented the conference at the summit which was themed 'Empowered for Service: I Will Go'.
In his greetings, CJC president, Pastor Nevail Barrett, praised church elders for their unwavering dedication to church leadership.
“I am a product of good eldership. In those days when a pastor had 14 congregations, it was the elders who led the churches. They nurture the members in the faith and show great respect for church leadership and the mission. I challenge you as elders, spend time in the Word of God and stay close to Jesus Christ,” he said.
JAMU president, Pastor Everett Brown, also declaring himself a beneficiary of solid guidance from many elders, said the summit was organised to affirm elders in what is often a demanding role.
“The tone that is set in the local congregation is usually set by our faithful and dedicated elders. We want to encourage you in the exalted calling to which God has called us at this pivotal moment of world history and of the remnant church in Jamaica,” Brown said.
The 16 CJC elders who were recognised are:
- Desmond Anderson, Ramble, 30 years
- Edward Chambers, Gregory Park, 34 years
- Cavan Davis, Gregory Park, 35 years
- Delroy Davis, Diamond Acres, 30 years
- Williston Patterson, Waterford, 31 years
- Isiah Reid, Asia, 30 years
- Smeadley Reid, Grove Town, 30+ years
- Raymond Ricketts, Port Mahoe, 30 years
- Grover Samuels, Rest Store, 30 years
- Michael Scott, Spur Tree, 37 years
- Lucien Smith, Bog Walk, 30 years
- Carol Wallace, Charlton, 35 years
- Stanford Whitely, Old Harbour, 30 years
- Clarence Williams, Kitson Town, 30 years
- Kenrick Williams, Browns Hall, 35 years
- Ken Wright, Kitson Town, 30 years
The summit featured local and international speakers including Dr. Pardon Mwansa, former General Conference administrator and associate professor in leadership at Andrews University; Pastor Josney Rodriguez, secretary of the Inter-American Division Ministerial Association; and from JAMU, Pastor Everett Brown, president; Pastor Adlai Blythe, treasurer and Dr. Joseph Smith, ministerial secretary.
Representatives from the five conferences in the union attended the one-day event.