President of the Jamaica Union Conference (JAMU) of Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA), Pastor Glen Samuels, has reaffirmed that the scriptures are central to church administration.
Speaking at the service of ordination held June 13 at the Portmore SDA church, Samuels warned pastors not to diminish the authority of the Bible, noting that the church will not rise higher than the spirituality of its leaders.
“My fellow pastors, Bible still ah keep. And if you ever get too high and haughty that you can't preach [the] Bible anymore, do the decent thing and give your resignation to your organization. You and I are servants of the church, paid to do the work of the church…if God's business is going to be effectively and efficiently handled, you must do so in response and obedience to the command of God,” Samuels said.
He told pastors that evangelism should extend to every part of society.
“We can't pass anybody by. We have a lifegiving message for kings and queens, parliamentarians and prime ministers, governors and peasants. The only surgery that can save our nation and the world is surgery on the human heart. Join partnership with the Holy Spirit and let God do through you what only God can do.”
He noted that while pastors must evangelise and baptize, they should also plan for the conservation and nurture of new members.
“Plan the nurturing. It is immoral to bring them in and leave them to drown by themselves. Discipleship is the context of ministry.”
Seven Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) pastors were ordained, namely, Christophe Bedward, Glendon Caballero, Rayon Daley, Harrone Guthrie, Kevon Richards, Loxley Tulloch and Jamaine Williams.
CJC president, Pastor Nevail Barrett explained that ordination means being set apart for the office that God has prepared for them.
“Ephesians 4:11-12 says that He gave to us pastors to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. You are stepping into the joys and sorrows of caring for souls. It's not an easy task, but we serve a big God,” Barrett said.
The seven pastors were consecrated in prayer and received into full-fledged ministry along with their families.
In addition to Samuels and Barrett, other ministers officiating the service included: Pastor Karl Archer, Pastor Adlai Blythe, Pastor Joseph Smith, who are secretary, treasurer and ministerial secretary of JAMU, respectively, and Pastor A. George McCallum, CJC ministerial secretary.
Representatives from the five conferences and the various church institutions in Jamaica were also present.