Three former Anguillian religious leaders, who have blazed a trail for the younger generation of pastors on the island, were honoured at a special appreciation service arranged by the Evangelical Association.
The now retired churchmen are Church of God of Prophecy Bishops David Rogers, 84, of South Hill; Bishop George Connor, 87, also of South Hill; and Apostolic Faith Church Pastor, Thomas Richardson, 84, of Pond Ground, East End. They share a total of over 150 years of pastoring and evangelistic work in and outside Anguilla.
The appreciation service was held at the Christian Fellowship Church on the Blowing Road on Sunday afternoon, August 26, hosted by Pastor Ambrose Richardson and congregation. The moderator was Pastor Gareth Hodge, President of the Evangelical Association and Pastor of Destiny Church in The Valley.
Bishop Rogers, who was born on April 6, 1928, was converted in August 1956. Shortly thereafter he began his preaching career and established a branch of the Church of God of Prophecy at Island Harbour. He pastored in St. Maarten, Tortola, Dominica, Jos Vandyke, Anegada and Anguilla. He was District Overseer of eight churches in the British Virgin Islands. He retired from the ministry in 1999. His biography was read by his daughter, Diane Rogers, and a tribute was delivered by Pastor Samuel Daniel of the Church of God of Prophecy,West End.
Bishop Connor was born in 1925 and was converted in 1937 at the age of 12 years. He went into full ministry in 1948, and later established churches in Aruba, Curacao,Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Over 100 churches resulted from his ministry inVenezuela. He built-up the ministry and/or pastored in Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola and Antigua. He retired in 1991 after over fifty years of service. His biography was read by Arthnel Richardson of the West End branch of the Church of God of Prophecy; and tribute was paid to him by Pastor Daniel.
Pastor Thomas Richardson was born in May 1928. He was converted in 1964 and began preaching soon after in Anguilla, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. A noted builder, operating Flash Construction, he built the Apostolic Faith Church building in The Valley, Anguilla, in 1972, where he pastored from 1987-2004. He established a branch of that church in Blowing Point in February 1995. His biography was read by his grandson, Jakeem, and tribute was paid to him by his son-in-law, Leslie Richardson.
As part of the special service, a number of songs of the faith dating back some fifty years, during the active days of the three pastors, were song with much fervour by the packed congregation.
The sermon was preached by Pastor Ambrose who took the opportunity to commend the retired pastors for their many years of dedicated service and Christian leadership. The prayer for the honorees was delivered by Pastor Philip Gumbs of the Church of God(Holiness).
