Two top civil servants in Anguilla were among the Elders and congregation of the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church who paid glowing commendation to Dr. Simon Howard, Senior Pastor and Coordinator of the two-district Ministry of the Church.
The event was on Saturday, November 7, when a special service was held for members of the District One Mount Fortune and New Life congregations. The service was also opened to members of District Two, comprising Jirey Tabernacle, South Hill, Shemei Tabernacle, at Long Bay, and the Spanish Company wishing to attend.
One of the civil servants was Mr. Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, a leader of Anguilla’s Covid-19 response team. He recalled that Pastor Simon was a participant in some of the national conferences on the virus and a personal supporter of him in carrying out his work. During his delivery he became quite emotional but was nevertheless able to continue with his tribute.
The other civil servant was Mr. Clive Smith Jr., who works at the Department of Social Development and who, among other duties, has the difficult responsibility of looking after the interests and welfare of elderly persons. Mr. Smith related how Pastor Simon continues to be a source of encouragement to him for which he was most appreciative and grateful. Like Mr. Rogers, he wept during his talk.
Several other members of the congregations spoke eloquently about Pastor Simon, his work in church and community in Anguilla, and the personal assistance they were receiving from him.
A number of singing groups of the church also participated in celebrating Pastor Simon. He and his wife, a teacher at the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School, and their two daughters, were presented with gifts as tokens of the high esteem and love in which they are held. The theme of the service was: “God’s Chosen Vessel for His Purpose and Direction.”
Responding, the Pastor, who has been in Anguilla for one year thus far, and hopes to spend many more years on the island, thanked the congregations of the two churches, on behalf of his family and himself, for their kind expressions of appreciation.
