DEACON Michael Dixon, whose life was snuffed out by gunmen while he prayed at his home, was declared a Christian martyr, who devoted his life to proclaim the love of Christ.

Dixon, 40, was killed on April 29 by gunmen at his March Pen residence in Spanish Town, St Catherine, just weeks after he participated in the 10,000 man march for peace in Spanish Town.

Last Sunday scores of mourners including church ministers from several different ministerial fraternities attended the Lighthouse Assembly Worship in Garbally Drive, Spanish Town to pay their final respect to the devoted man of God, as several others stood on the outside.

Dixon, an electrician by profession, touched several lives through his evangelism and received glowing and enviable tributes from his Christian brethren, family members, church ministers and his Bible school teacher, as family members cried unceasingly throughout the thanksgiving service.

A representative from the Jamaica Open Bible Institute, where Dixon was enrolled at the time of his death, said that ‘Agent Dixon’ was a special student and was accepted at the school because of his powerful testimonies. He was also humble, dedicated and determined.

“One member of his class described him as the closest man to perfection,” he added.

Dixon took his Christian calling very seriously and on several occasions would arrive late for his classes, because he would deliberately miss the bus stop so he could finish his regular sermons on the bus or taxi, the teacher said.

Dixon’s church sister in her tribute said, “Michael was a true Christian, he prayed without ceasing, loved unconditionally, practised the art of encouraging others and his lips were never lined with words of condemnation, but with words to restore others.”

In other tributes from Portmore, Spanish Town and Clarendon ministerial fraternities Dixon was remembered as a well-mannered man, a prayer warrior, a devoted and committed Christian who gave up his life to preach the gospel.

“Deacon Dixon was always the first to attend prayer meetings and on several occasions could be found praying alone in the church. He was always praying,” said Bishop Rohan Edwards.

“Brother Michael was a gem and to see him smile would make your day, faith like Michael only comes once in a lifetime,” Dixon’s prayer partner said.

Meanwhile, Dixon’s mother, Edith, who put on brave face during the service as she sung a song in tribute to her son, said this was the second son that she was losing at the hands of gunmen, but asked the church to continue to pray for the nation.

Dixon, who was one of six children for his parents, was born in Trench Town in Kingston, but moved to March Pen with his parents after his elementary years, said his sister, Angella who read the eulogy.

She said her brother loved to play dominoes and competed for his club both locally and internationally, but later gave up the sports after he surrendered his life to Christ in 1994.

“Michael was always quiet and was never involved in anything negative. He was always about his father’s work, which he took so seriously that everywhere he went he would evangelise,” she said.

Dixon is survived by his parents, his brother, four sisters, nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was interred in the family plot in Peckham, Clarendon.