GEORGE HENRY PHOTO - Reverend Samuel Smith
GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer,SPALDINGS, CLARENDON:
JAMAICANS CAN EXPECT the worst if they do not turn fully to God. That's the prediction of Reverend Samuel Smith of the Sanguinetti New Testament Church of God in Clarendon.
Smith, while speaking in an interview with THE STAR, said the time has come for all to get close to God, failing which we can look out for serious disasters.
"I think that if Jamaican people do not turn to God, they will experience some form of disaster. If we do not turn to God we are going to experience some serious judgement. Some form of disaster will strike, and I believe this wholeheartedly," said Reverend Smith.
He said that in his many preaching engagements accross Jamaica, he has used the opportunity to tell his audience of the need to get close to God, before he uses various means, including disasters to get man to move to repentance.
Reverend Smith pointed out that whenever he tells persons who have not committed their life to God about the seriousness of getting close to him, many respond by moving to the altar for prayer to surrender their lives to the Lord, while others continue to reject the word of God.
The preacher believes that if persons out there are to get close or closer to the master, then the Church will have to get together as a united force and make an effort to have those who are without Christ get the message and repent in order to escape the disasters predicted.
Smith especially wants young ministers of the Gospel who are about to, or are leading flocks across the Island to ensure that their character is in good standing so that they can carry out their duties with integrity.
He wants young people in the church to be on the move for God and to be sober in all they are doing for the master and notes that Christians have to be a light so that those who are in darkness can be piloted by them to God.
Reverend Smith is a past student of Bethel Bible College in Mandeville, Manchester, Alston Secondary (now Alston High) and Mount Moriah Primary in St. Ann. He currently holds a Diploma in Theology and is soon to be granted a Bachelors Degree in the same area of study.
WALKING SINCE '77
He started his walk with God in 1977 while attending secondary school, but stated that he did not anticipate becoming a pastor when he got saved. Reverend Smith, who stated that he was very enthused about the work of Christ, said he saw the need to equip himself to deal with the many challenges while working in the Vineyard for the Lord.
"I believe I was called to do the work of God. I was inspired by God to do further studies to better equip me for the ministry", he said.
Smith told THE STAR that he has served in almost all departments in the New Testament Church of God. He has served as president for youth fellowship, men's fellowship and family training hour, local youth director, dunday school superintendent and as an officer in the church.
Smith believes that his involvement in the church in the various areas has helped him to be the type of pastor he wants to be. He pointed out that if anyone wants to be in charge of administration in the church, such an individual should aim to be involved in all areas to get the necessary experience and exposure, and that was exactly what he did from an early age on his christian journey.
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