Eleven Ordained to Service at Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist Church
Published May 3, 2018 | Joan Reid, Mandeville SDA Church
Newly ordained
members:(Back, L-R) Deacons C Folkes, L
Billings, D Fenton, D Ebanks, D McKenzie, C
Northover & Elder D Gordon. (Front, L-R)
Elder V Mullings, Deacon C Smith & Elder D
Hall. Missing: Deacon H Smith | Credits: Richard Smythe
The final strains of the
song, “Onward Christian Soldiers” signaled the
commencement of the ordination service which was
held at the Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist
church on Sabbath afternoon on April 14, 2018.
On this special occasion, three (3) elders and
eight (8) deacons were ordained to service in a
solemn and dignified ceremony.
Pastor Vincent Peterkin welcomed church and family
members, friends and well-wishers who were in
attendance to witness this special event. Pastor
Barrington McLean, the host pastor, along with
Pastor Peterkin, gave a brief, but interesting
biographical account of the life, work and mission
statement of each ordinand as they were each
presented, along with their wives and children, to
the church. The elders to be ordained were, David
Hall, Vinton Mullings and Dalton Gordon. The
deacons to be ordained were, Leon Billings.
Clayton Folkes, Danny Fenton, Christopher
Northover, Clarence Smith (Shortie), Donald
Ebanks, Donald McKenzie and Hugh Smith.
The beautiful harmony of special music by Jermaine
Vassell and Jeffery Powell preceded the sermon by
Pastor McLean entitled, “Service Beyond the Call
of Duty.” Pastor McLean emphasized that “being a
leader in God’s church is not easy, but the same
God who called Moses and Elijah will give you the
strength to carry on.” He also called on the
ordinands to commit their lives every day to the
Lord Jesus Christ and that they “have to be men
who are willing to serve the Lord.” Why? The
answer lay in 1Peter 2:9.
Pastor McLean also gave some practical advice:
“Treat people with respect; have only one wife; go
forward by God’s grace; read Phil 2: 8; and may
the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.”
Prior to the prayer of consecration, the ordained
ministers and elders encircled and laid hands on
the ordinands and in praying for them, Pastors
Peterkin and McLean asked for the blessing of God
to be on both the elders and the deacons and their
families respectively.
Each of the newly ordained elders and deacons and
his family received a certificate and a warm
welcome into the God’s service. Dear Elders and
Deacons, may God continue to bless your ministry
as you avail yourselves in service to the Master
and to others.
Newly ordained members and their
families pose with church pastor, Pastor
Barrington McLean (Back Left) and other
ordained elders | Credits: Richard Smythe