Government of Jamaica Grants National Honor to Adventist Pastor

News October 20, 2017

Prolific preacher and president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Jamaica was the recipient of a National Award. Pastor Glen Samuels was recognized by the Government of Jamaica for his outstanding contribution to religion with the Order of Distinction, Officer Class earlier this week.

Samuels accepted his National Honor from Governor General of Jamaica, His Excellency, The Most Honorable, Sir Patrick Allen during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honors and Awards held at King’s House on Oct. 16, 2017. Samuels was among 171 persons who were conferred with national honors this year.

Pastor Samuels is congratulated by Pastor Meric Walker, Executive Secretary of the Jamaica Union. Image by Nigel Coke

Pastor Samuels, whose western region covers St. James, Westmoreland, Hanover and St. Elizabeth, is also the church’s main televangelist for the Word of Hope program aired on Jamaica’s TVJ.

Samuels, who lives by the mantra of the words from Mahatma Gandhi who said “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service to others,” described the feeling of being recognized as a great one and praised his church for the work to humanity.

“I accept it [the honor] on behalf of all the people I have had the honor to serve,” said Samuels. “I believe that the Adventist Church in Jamaica is to be commended for its service to people of all classes, of all walks of life and I am just another member of the church doing what my church is asked to do.”

Over the past 34 years of pastoral ministry, Samuels has served the Adventist Church as district pastor, departmental director and administrator both at the conference and union level.

Known for his preaching prowess, Samuels is very often requested for speaking appointments across North, South and Central America, Europe and the Caribbean, but is well known in Jamaica for his large tent evangelism and social intervention series which has transformed the lives of thousands young and old from all walks of life. His evangelistic exploits have resulted in the planting of eight churches in the parishes of Trelawny St. Ann, Westmoreland, Hanover and New York.

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