05 May 2011, London United Kingdom [Derek Morrison, BUC NEWS] Pomp, pageantry and praise – not just at last Friday’s Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey, but continued the next day at a special Day of Fellowship at Hampstead Adventist church with Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica.
Themed ‘The Royal Wedding’, the day’s proceedings featured stirring and appealing musical input from the London Male Voice Choir, the Millennium Brass Ensemble, and 14-year-old Tennae Drysdale. A well-ordered procession and guard of honour mounted by Pathfinders contributed to a sense of splendour and occasion. With well over 500 people packing the sanctuary for the extended morning service, local minister Humphrey Walters delivered the morning’s address based on the parable of the wedding garment, taking his cue from the royal wedding service.
Sir Patrick Allen, former President of the West Indies Union Conference, and now Governor General of Jamaica, was special guest for the day. He had attended the Royal Wedding on Friday but, he informed us, like any dedicated Adventist, looked forward to worshipping on Sabbath in church with his brothers and sisters in the Lord. Addressing a packed out congregation, Sir Patrick remarked that he appreciated the sacredness of Friday’s wedding service and hoped it would help in encouraging young people to continue to uphold the institution of marriage.
Even though he has been Governor General for two years, he is still defined by many people he meets as a minister of the gospel, Sir Patrick disclosed to us. This, he says, gives him the opportunity to witness regarding his faith. He shared an example that while at the wedding he was asked about the significance of being an Adventist, and was quizzed on whether his duties as Governor General ever clashed with his Sabbath-keeping. He was able to explain that there was no inevitable conflict; that he is happy being an effective Governor General and, at the same time, a faithful Sabbath-keeping Christian. Requesting the prayers of the church, he conceded that if he were ever to turn away from the faith, everyone in Jamaica, Adventist or not, would be disappointed in him.
Key issues being championed by him and his wife, Sir Patrick informed us, revolve around the family, education and youth affairs. These, they are seeking to address from a holistic standpoint that embraces mental, spiritual, social, emotional and physical considerations. He has used his high position to implement a programme that is tagged the “I believe” initiative, where young people are empowered to find good values and use their God-given talents to build a good nation and serve God and country. Sir Patrick concluded his address by challenging us to do good, stating: “We will only pass this way but once; any good deed we can do, let us do it now, because we will not pass this way again.”
Accompanying him on the day were BUC President, Pastor Don McFarlane, as well as former BUC President Pastor Cecil Perry. Also in attendance were SEC representatives, along with a number of pastors. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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