The Tribune

FAMILY, friends and well-wishers congregated at the Lively Stone Church of God on February 17 to celebrate and show appreciation to Bishop Hubert A. Pinder, the church’s assistant pastor.

The spirited celebration service was moderated by associate minister Herbert Archer with special musical selection by George Wells and surprise selections by children of the honouree.

Greetings came from near and far as bishops and ministers brought greetings and sent congratulatory messages including Bishop Robert McPhee, general superintendent of the Highway Church of God in the Bahamas; Bishop Elgarnet Rahming, national overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy; Overseer Bishop Sherwin Smith of the Good Shepherd Church of God; and Attorney Sterling Quant.

The sermon was delivered by Bishop Lindo Wallace, pastor of the Church of God Temple. Bishop Wallace spoke with an anointing on the theme “Walking with the Lord” and explored the book of John 15:16 in particular. Bishop Wallace stated that Bishop Pinder was a humble, tried and tested leader who knows what going into battle is all about. Wallace stated that to go into battle and to be ready four criteria had to be met: Willingness to serve, obedience to follow instructions, loyalty in spite of the circumstances, faithfulness in spite of the difficult journey.

Wallace stated that men and women of God need to observe a personal period of true worship in order to train others for worship. Leadership calls for men and women who are prepared to train and remain physically and mentally fit, because leadership is no easy task. The assignment for leadership is always dangerous and that leaders themselves must maintain a degree of loyalty in life or death situations that would ordinarily take ones nerve.

Wallace went further and thanked Bishop Pinder for being a soldier at a time when so many were looking to be CEOs instead. Wallace admonished the congregants to follow Bishop Pinder’s lead and to seek a higher level of education or support those who are in pursuit of academic excellence, because it is indeed necessary if the church is to grow.

Presentations were made by Minister Angela R. Pratt-Rolle on behalf of the Lively Stone Church of God membership who thanked and congratulated Bishop Pinder and his wife Sis. Paulette Pinder for their unwavering support for the ministry and their stewardship as assistant pastor and helpmate.

In an emotional vote of thanks Bishop Pinder, with his wife by his side thanked the congregation, his children, family and his church for bestowing such an honour on him. He reminisced that life has not always been easy, but it has never been too hard either. He spoke of his childhood and growing up in the Kemp Road area and the men and women who supported him and believed that God would make a difference in his life.