George Henry - Minister Colta Campbell

BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer
SPALDINGS, CLARENDON:

Minister Colta Byron Campbell served in the Jamaican army as a home guard before he became a child of God 58 years ago. He was appointed as a deacon in November 1966 and has been an ordained minister since 1973.

Now a soldier in God's army, Campbell explained that his bold step came after he finished working for the army, went to work in the United States for a while and then returned to Jamaica.

He explained that one Sunday evening he left his home at Mount Moriah in St. Ann, to the nearby community of Junction, to meet a female companion. Campbell related that he never saw the lady and was disappointed. So he left Junction to attend church that night.

Minister Campbell noted that on his way to the church he heard a sound on top of a hill and decided to return home. He stated that on his return home he met a man whom he asked for matches to light a cigarette.

When the matches were handed to Campbell, he said he had difficulty striking it to light the cigarette.

"I lit the cigarette but I could not smoke it. I said to myself, 'My God, I said I was going to church and I turned back,' and so I went back on my way to church," the minister said.

Campbell pointed out that when he reached the church, the preacher was delivering his sermon. After the preacher was through, he said an altar call was extended and he responded by going to the altar rail. However, according to him, he still had his cigarettes in his pocket.

The minister told The STAR that he was prayed for and after that was through he went into his pocket and took out the cigarettes and handed it to one of his friends who was not saved, as he had made up his mind to start serving God.

no smoke

He explained that he went home that Sunday night, all was well, but the next night he felt like he would smoke, and he went for some tobacco, made a cigar and lit it. However, again, Campbell was unable to smoke it. d d

That was the last time he said the urge to smoke had ever come upon him, and he has never touched a cigarette ever since.

The minister noted that the time limit placed on him by others was never fulfilled and he has disappointed many by staying saved for the Lord. Despite a number of challenges throughout his Christian walk, Campbell said he has been able to survive by holding on to the unchanging hands of God.

"I have made a choice, and my choice is to continue serving God until I die. God is my life. I know no other life than the Christian life. I spent two years as a wretched boy after the army by smoking and drinking. I have never gone to a dance in my life, I have never gone to a race track, I have never gambled, neither have I ever been to a sporting activity in my life," said Minister Campbell.

After serving God for almost six decades, Minister Campbell said he has discovered that some persons who give up on God do so because their faith is weak. He said he has no plans to throw in the towel because he places all his trust in God.

The veteran church leader pointed out that anyone can fail or make mistakes like the prodigal son, but that it is up to them to get up and go again, as only God never fails.