JAMAICAN-BORN pastor, motivational speaker and life coach Rev Marie Berbick has been awarded the prestigious (United States) President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The honour was presented to her on January 21 at the US presidential & leadership awards dinner, hosted by the African and Caribbean International Leadership Conference at the iconic Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.

This distinguished award, established by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, is the highest level of award presented to civilians by the president for voluntary service, and recognises individuals who have dedicated over 4,000 hours of extraordinary service to their communities. Honourees are celebrated for their lifelong commitment to building stronger, more compassionate societies through leadership, mentorship, and volunteerism. Berbick’s remarkable contributions through ministry, mentorship, and women’s empowerment have solidified her reputation as a leader dedicated to changing lives.

“I’m beyond honoured and truly humbled to receive this distinguished award from the president of the United States. I never saw this coming because I do not do what I do for reward. I do it from my heart. I live to transform people’s lives. Now look what the Lord has done!’ Berbick remarked.

Born in St Ann, Berbick began her professional journey as a journalist, becoming one of the youngest reporters at a national newspaper when she was hired by the
Jamaica Herald at the age of 17. Over an eight-year span, she won two national journalism awards, including Jamaica’s first-ever award for online journalism in 2008. Later, she transitioned into public relations (PR), managing a successful PR and communications business that served the Government of Jamaica, international donor funding agencies, and leading private-sector organisations.

In 2018, Berbick migrated to the United States and founded Marie Berbick Ministries International (MBMI) in 2020. Known as “The People’s Pastor”, she has built a devoted online following of nearly 100,000, offering eye-opening sermons and a strong teaching and deliverance ministry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her Saturday morning broadcasts became a source of solace for countless individuals grappling with trauma and uncertainty.

Through her mentorship programme and e-courses, she equips emerging leaders and pastors globally, fostering spiritual resilience, growth, and purpose.

Berbick is also the founder of Sisters United for Prayer Healing Empowerment & Restoration (SUPHER), a New York-based not-for-profit organisation which began in Jamaica in 2013. SUPHER is dedicated to empowering women, at-risk youth, and vulnerable communities worldwide. In addition to hands-on assistance to women in abusive situations, SUPHER provides mentorship, counselling, skills training, and educational assistance.

Through both MBMI and SUPHER, Berbick has expanded her reach, mentoring and discipling women called to ministry while offering programmes that uplift the vulnerable. Her initiatives include Save a Sista, where SUPHER physically removes women from domestic abuse situations; back-to-school drives; free social media management training for women; and the introduction of the Nikolai Graham Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Scholarship. This annual $1,000 scholarship, established in 2024, supports a grade six student at Glowell Prep School in Portmore, Jamaica, who comes from a single-income household and requires financial aid for high school expenses.

Berbick’s extraordinary dedication to service and her impact as a motivator has previously been recognised with the Most Influential Motivator of the Year Award by Exclusive Entrepreneurs Foundation, an international organisation that highlights young achievers.

A firm believer in serving the community, Berbick has served with the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, USA, North East Region, and was an advisor to Dr Karren Dunkley for her campaign for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA seat.

A motivational speaker for over 10 years, she is mentored by renowned motivational speaker Les Brown and is a Les Brown-certified legendary speaker and member of the esteemed Les Brown Speaker’s Academy where she is among the featured speakers recommended by Brown.

Berbick is the author of four books, including Young Believer’s Guide to Effective Prayer, Arise, and the soon-to-be released Baptism of Fire, which speaks to the challenges she experienced upon entry into ministry and the lessons she has learnt that can help other pastors.

Berbick ministered in Jamaica on February 8 at the Healing our Women conference in May Pen. She is married to Jamaican international gospel singer Robert Bailey and is the mother of three boys.