The Tribune

The Zion Yamacraw Baptist Church is celebrating the induction of its new pastor, Dr Glendon Rolle, this Sunday at 3pm.

Dr Rolle follows in the footsteps of the church's founder, the late Bishop Samuel R Greene. During the service, the charge to take over the church will be delivered to Dr Rolle by the present president of the Zion United Baptist Convention, Bishop B Wenith Davis.

In a statement, the Zion United Baptist Convention said it is excited to support this "new, youthful" pastor and will stand behind his progressive vision for the congregation.

"Major repairs are now on the way to welcome the new leader. Representatives from around the Bahamas will be on hand for this historic event," the church said.

Dr Rolle is the third child of Mr and Mrs Gary Lord Rolle from Exuma. A lawyer by profession, he is admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and the Bahamas. Dr Rolle has also tried his hand at politics, having run for the PLP seat of Long Island and made a bid for PLP chairman in 2017.

He has, since he's been practicing law, felt the call of God to Christian ministry, and prepared himself theologically at the American Baptist College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

"The Baptist community is delighted for his contribution and the Zion United Baptist convention will welcome his achievements," the church said.

The chief celebrant at this Sunday's service will be the the president of the convention and senior pastor of the Zion South Beach Baptist Church, place where Dr Rolle had his initial spiritual encounters and church training.

The Zion United Baptist Convention is one of the largest religious bodies in the nation and every island has a representative from the Zion foundation.