Samuels is new president of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica

Pastor Glen Samuels was on Tuesday elected president of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists during its Third Quinquennial Session, held at the Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manchester.

After being recommended by the nominating committee, his election was ratified by a vote of 113 to 40 by delegates.

When called to the podium, Samuels, in a gesture of humility, stooped to wipe dust from the shoes of his predecessor, Pastor Everett Brown, who in turn laid his hands on Samuel’s head in blessing.

“I am just my mother’s son,” said Samuels, who often hails his mother’s strong, godly influence on his life.

He acknowledged that the work ahead is great, but that God is leading.

“God has His work in His hands. He is in charge of all of us. We commit ourselves to Him to lead a church in a nation that is yearning for more than what is,” he said.

He also expressed his need for divine guidance and the church’s support.

“I’d like to thank you for your prayers. If you used to pray for Pastor Brown seven times a day, pray for me 21 times,” he requested.

He was congratulated by Pastor Abner De Los Santos, president of the Inter-American Division (IAD), who committed to working directly with him as he adjusted to his role as union president.

Samuels comes to the role having served as president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in western Jamaica since 2014. During his decades-long pastoral ministry, he has also served as district pastor, Sabbath school and personal ministries director, executive secretary, ministerial secretary, and personal ministries director of the West Indies Union Conference, among many other notable roles and achievements.

He is the evangelist for the long-running ‘Footprints of Hope’ Series, which he has presented locally and internationally. The series was conducted as an evangelistic effort for the IAD from January 15 to February 25, 2022, resulting in the baptism of 4,213 persons.

On October 19, 2017, he was conferred with membership in the Order of Distinction in the rank of officer for outstanding contribution to religion and community service.

Samuels holds a bachelor of theology from West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University), and a master’s in theology from Andrews University, Michigan, in the United States.

He is supported in ministry by his wife, Durcella, and their daughters Gleneika, Glenadene, and Glenella.