GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Reverend Everton Walters has been saved since he was 14. Though he grew up in the church, his soul salvation started after he realised that he was so involved in the work of the church and he decided that he would be of better service to God if he surrendered fully to Him.

"I was so involved, and I rarely missed a service. A sermon was preached, entitled 'Young man I call upon you because you are strong' and that really grabbed me and I committed my life to the Lord," explained Walters.

Since then, Walters has been of much service to God and humanity and has been doing pastoral duties for the past 17 years. He is currently the pastor for the Moravia and Top Hill Glad Tidings churches in Manchester.

Reverend Walters is convinced that the time spent doing the Lord's work over the past almost two decades, it is time spent productively and not a waste. He, like many Christians, believes that working for God is the best thing anyone could ever do.

"Working for God is the best thing one could ever do. It is the best occupation because you are giving service to mankind and you are serving God in the process; and doing what God requires of you is the best thing to be involved in; and I really enjoy being part of the church and doing what God requires of me," testified Reverend Walters.

We must encounter trials

The pastor disclosed that working as a pastor can be very frustrating at times, especially when they (pastors) want to get things done and they are not seeing their way through. However, according to the church leader, pastors have the resolve to do what God wants them to do, and they are reminded that they should be faithful to the end.

"It is not until someone troubles you or you are faced with problems; that's a part of the way. We must encounter trials and persecutions; and so, that gives you the tenacity of will to do what God requires of you," said Walters.

Reverend Walters like many in the society believes that church leaders should be individuals of good character who should be sober. However, when there is news that church leaders are involved in activities that are against the teachings of the church, he believes that such things are unpleasant to hear.

He was quick to point out that pastors are pacesetters who are to set good examples for others to emulate. He added that pastors must be careful as to how they "toe the line" and the things they do.

Walters noted that ministers need to be careful how they live their lives, because they are role models which the Bible better describes as "the light of the world", who should shine that others can see. Pastors, he said, cannot be barriers and hindrances to those they are trying to win over to Christ; and therefore it is important that ministers of the gospel begin to see themselves as role models who are setting the pace for others to come on board; and therefore ministers must be careful how they live the Christian life.