George Henry-Reverend Stephenson Samuels

BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer
SPALDINGS, CLARENDON:

There are many who are of the view that God will not create his people and put them in the devil's fire for failing to repent of their sins.

Well, their view is not shared by Reverend Dr. Stevenson Samuels, secretary/treasurer for the New Testament Church of God in Jamaica and The Cayman Islands. He argues that man's disobedience to God will be rewarded with eternal punishment in the devil's fiery, burning hell.

"Hell is real. Hell is a place of torment. Hell is really the reward; it is penalty. It is the effect for what is done, it is punishment for the deeds done in your life. So it is not a place of comfort. It is a place of punishment where eternity will be spent," explained Reverend Samuels.

He wants backsliders to know that if they do not repent they are in the worst position. He explained that such persons already know the way of the Lord and, hence, the experience of that and the memory of that will make eternal punishment for them all the more unbearable.

On that basis alone, Samuels is warning, especially backsliders, to return to the path of righteousness in an effort to escape eternal torment. The experienced minister pointed out that from biblical records, Hell is a dreadful place and that all should try as best as possible to avoid going there.

In the meantime, Reverend Samuels, who has witnessed to thousands for Christ over the 35 years since he has been saved, said it is a fantastic feeling whenever he witnessed to persons and they started to follow Him for their soul's salvation.

"It is a fantastic feeling. It is a joyous feeling. It is a feeling of gratification, as it helps persons to escape absolute pain and loss to absolute life, to abundant life forever. When you take the whole business of witness in that context; of loss and life, then the most critical task on earth is to bring people from darkness into life," said the Reverend.

escaping torment

Samuels, who had a secular job before becoming involved in full-time ministry, said his ability to assist persons in escaping hell has formed part of his reason for wanting to work for the Lord.

He pointed out that being a minister is more than "keeping church" as it is all about rescuing the perishing from death, and managing eternal systems.

Reverend Samuels, who is the husband of Larene and the father of Stefanne and Abigail, believes that if individuals start following Christ from an early age, it will help in the reduction of the high levels of crime which currently exist around the world. He explained that when persons establish a lifestyle of morality and decency from an early age, it enriched and enhanced their quality of life.

He noted that researches done in Jamaica among adolescents had shown that those who were 'faith based' in relation to their peers had shown that they were more resilient and had a higher sense of well-being than their peers.

"Other studies around the world have shown that faith actually aids your academic competence. My own experience working in schools has also shown that Christian children do relatively well. They are not necessarily the brightest, but holistically they are more rounded and from a leadership point of view they take on a lot of responsibilities and at the same time perform relatively well," explained Reverend Samuels.

Reverend Samuels, who is a past student of the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, Columbia Theological Seminary and the United Theological College, has served as an assistant pastor at the Waltham Park Road New Testament Church. He has worked alongside Reverends John Hardy and Donald Roberts. He has also served at the Escarpment Road and Duhaney Park New Testament Churches before moving on to the New Testament Church headquarters.

He currently serves as general secretary for Student Christian Fellowship and Scripture Union in Jamaica, which is responsible for Inter School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) and University and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF).