President of the Jamaica Union Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor Everett Brown, has warned his clergy members against joining the ministry, just to ensure a monthly salary.

“If you interpret your ministry as one that will guarantee you your pay cheque at the end of the month, pastors, then your ministries will become a pay cheque ministry,” cautioned Pastor Brown.

“You would be a slave or a servant of the West Jamaica Conference, you will become a slave to pay cheque, a slave to position, a slave to recognition, a slave to affirmation for new leaders, colleagues and members. If those things drive you, then pastoral ministry is not your vocation.”

On the other hand, he explained that if the pastors see themselves as messengers of the most high, then their ministries will be rewarding.

“But if you see yourself as one who has been called by God, gifted by God, sent by God and be used by God in the ministry as a pastor, then your service in the West Jamaica Conference, your service in the Jamaica Union, your service in the world will be inspirational, will be fruitful, will be a joy and a blessing,” argued the Jamaica Union Conference president.

Pastor Brown was speaking last week at the Service of Ordination in the West Jamaica Conference for Pastor Kimoy Allen, Pastor Dwayne Jones and Pastor Orlando Powell at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Montego Bay.

Pastor Brown also reminded the men of the cloth that as ordained ministers they are set aside not only “to preach and teach the good news of salvation, but you are set aside to model Christ before sinners”.

Apart from Pastor Brown, other ministers officiating at the Ordaining Service were: Pastor Meric Walker, Pastor Bancroft Barwise, Pastor Astor Bowers, Pastor Glen O Samuels, Pastor Donovan Williams and Pastor Egnal Grant.