MONTEGO BAY, St James – Prolific preacher and president of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Gen Samuels, has been recognised by the Government of Jamaica for his outstanding contribution to religion with the Order of Distinction — Officer Class.

Samuels accepted his National Honour from Governor General of Jamaica, Patrick Allen, during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards held at King’s House on October 16.

Samuels was among 171 people who were conferred national honours this year.

Samuels, whose western region covers St James, Westmoreland, Hanover and St Elizabeth, is also the church’s main televangelist for the Word of Hope programme aired on Television Jamaica (TVJ).

Samuels, who says he lives by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service to others,” described the feeling of being recognised as a great one and praised his church for the work to humanity.

“I accept it [the award] on behalf of all the people I have had the honour to serve,” said Samuels.

“I believe that the Adventist Church in Jamaica is to be commended for its service to people of all classes, of all walks of life, and I am just another member of the church doing what my church is asked to do.”

Over the past 34 years of pastoral ministry, Samuels has served the Adventist Church as district pastor, departmental director, and administrator, both at the conference and union level.

Known for his preaching prowess, Samuels is very often requested for speaking appointments across North, South and Central America, Europe, and the Caribbean, but is well known in Jamaica for his large tent evangelism and social intervention series which has transformed the lives of thousands young and old from all walks of life.

His evangelistic exploits have resulted in the planting of eight churches in the parishes of Trelawny, St Ann, Westmoreland, Hanover, and New York.

Amidst violence in the Granville community in St James in 2006 and 2007, Samuels organised a meeting in his office at Mount Salem between community leaders and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice that gave birth to the Granville Restoration Justice Training and Community Development Centre.