GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

One can never run from God. That was what Reverend David Roomes discovered when he did all he could to enter Mico Teachers' College and other tertiary institutions in the 1980's, to acquire professional training to become a classroom teacher. But that was never the plan of God for his life.

Roomes, who is currently the pastor for the Emmanuel Missionary Church in Mandeville, Manchester, started his walk with the Lord when he was 12.

"At the age of 12, I gave my life to the Lord and was baptized right here at the Emmanuel Mission- ary Church at Ward Avenue, Mandeville, Manchester," recalled Roomes.

The pastor said he saw it fit to surrender his life to the Lord at the time he did, because he grew up in the church with Christian parents who taught him Christian values.

"It happened at an evangelistic service. I remember a group of us as brothers; we went forward to give our lives to the Lord. But then later on we realised the challenge it is to walk the Christian faith; and so I realise that God has done a great work in my life," said Reverend Roomes.

The church leader reported that throughout his years he experienced a deeper walk with God. He pointed out that after leaving high school he was uncertain as to what exactly God wanted him to do.

"I was following my colleagues applying to teachers' colleges; and somehow being out of school, not having any work, not having anywhere to go, it drove me a little closer to the Lord. I started to spend a lot of time with the Lord in studying His word, praying and waiting upon Him; and that was when I developed that personal, intimate relationship with Christ," said Reverend Roomes.

It was during the development of his personal relationship with his Maker that God started to speak with the church leader, while telling him to wait on Him (God) and be patient.

spiritual food

Roomes, who said he enjoys studying the word of God, said it is an important element in the life of every individual who desires to be successful in the Christian pathway.

"The child of God needs spiritual food, which is the word of God, to be able to grow and to be able to understand how he or she should walk in the Christian faith. And so I was happy for that experience at that time of uncertainty and testing; not having a job, not being able to do further studies because all the doors were closed each time I applied. But I realised that the Lord was working on my life in developing a personal relationship with Him," said Roomes.

Roomes is convinced that he was called by God for a purpose. He stressed that it was out of that experience where he was unable to get into college that he asked the Lord what He would have him to do.

"But that question did not come naturally like that. I went to another interview at Mico Teachers' College for teacher training. The night before the interview, while having my devotion; the Lord said to me, 'All these years you have been doing your own thing, applying anywhere you want to apply; and you never asked Me what will Thou have me to do'. It was at that time that I prayed and asked God what He would have me to do," said Reverend Roomes.

Roomes was convinced from thence that God really wanted him in the ministry. He has now been a pastor for 30 years and has been enjoying working for the Lord. He expressed joy at having been able to serve God after answering the call on his life, after five years of running away from the path God wanted him to trod.

He admitted that ministry has a lot of challenges, but with the Lord being with him he has been able to deal effectively with such challenges as they come. It is a joy for the pastor to see others coming to know God as their personal Lord and Saviour.

Reverend Roomes' favourite song is Great is thy faithfulness, while his favourite verse of scripture is 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'.

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