As Jamaica continues to grapple with the economic fallout of Hurricane Melissa and other national and global shocks, Pastor Nevail Barrett has challenged Northern Caribbean University’s (NCU) Class of 2026 to make giving back part of their success.
Barrett, president of the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) of Seventh-day Adventists, urged graduands at NCU’s baccalaureate service on Sabbath, August 8, to use the money, influence and professional success they will achieve to help others with pursuing an education.
“A transformed mind gives to God's mission and supports its alma mater so that those who come behind can travel a better path than we did,” Barrett said, anchoring his message in Romans 12:2 which prescribes a renewal of thought and behaviour patterns for followers of Christ.
The call for altruism comes as western and central parishes particularly continue to recover from the devastation caused by the category 5 hurricane in October 2025. NCU, based in Mandeville, Manchester, suffered some infrastructural damage and disruption of services in the aftermath. Many of the institution's students who live in the worst hit areas of western parishes struggled to continue their education while trying to cope with the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. NCU provided temporary housing, flexible learning arrangements and conducted fundraising to cover some of the recovery costs.
The class of 2026 is the first to graduate post Melissa. Barrett noted that NCU students have always benefitted from those who give back, often sacrificially.
“Many of us are here today because of some faithful alumni who decided that they want to contribute to needy students and build their university. Class of 2026, don’t burn your bridges behind you. Remember from whence you came. Remember who gave you the degree that you have, and nothing is too much for God. Give God His portion.”
He reinforced his appeal by a personal experience from his time studying at NCU in preparation for his pastoral ministry.
Barrett recalled sitting in the university chapel during Homecoming weekend while burdened about his outstanding financial balance which he could not cover. An alumnus noticed his distress and asked about his situation.
“He said ‘Are you having some challenges?’ I said ‘Yes, but God will make a way’. I never asked him, but he said ‘Speak to me after service’. That's the sweetest sermon I heard that day. I spoke to him and he gave me some money. He said, ‘Use that to take care of your immediate expenses, but I'm going to send you something. Give me your address’. Two weeks later he sent money so I could clear off my balance. And today, I am here. Thank God for Dr. Zadock Reid,” Barrett shared.
Under his presidency, the CJC has continued initiatives to assist members and non-members with accessing an education year after year.
The Welfare, Health, Education, Empowerment and Local Community (WHEEL) Fund has channeled approximately 30 percent of the millions raised since its inception in 2015 towards educational assistance.
WHEEL is also an integral part of the conference’s ‘Rebuilding Hope’ response following Hurricane Melissa to empower vulnerable families through skills training, health awareness, and education among other interventions.
The conference has also initiated back-to-school expos and health fairs with the most recent effort in September 2025 reaching more than 1,000 families with the distribution of more than 1,460 school packages and 207 back-to-school medicals and food assistance.
The Education Department of the conference awards scholarships annually. Most recently, ten scholarships were given which included NCU students at the Education Summit held May 30, organised by education director, Rox-Anne McKoy Chambers, and her team.
Barrett encouraged individuals and institutions to follow suit with consistent giving towards education especially if they have benefitted from assistance in the past.
He also challenged the graduands to resist conforming to low societal and workplace standards regardless of pressure and to ‘max out’ their potential.
“You may not be graduating on top of your class today but whatever your talent or average is- A, B, or C, max out your potential. Your average does not determine your success in the working world. Just find your niche in that average and unleash your capacity”.
He said, most importantly, they needed to commit their lives to God.
“Allow the spirit of God to transform your life as you go. Demonstrate that you're a graduate of Northern Caribbean University. Then when studies and graduations are over…when there will be no need for degrees, jobs, titles, or money, when Jesus shall return to reward his faithful servants, you, the class of 2026, will hear ‘well done’ from the lips of our Saviour”.
The baccalaureate service was part of the NCU graduation weekend exercises. The commencement services took place on Sunday August, 9 where graduates were officially conferred with the academic awards for which they had studied.