5 Oct 2023, 14:30Darell J. Philip
Peace Restored: A Conference for Living
There was joy in heaven as two precious souls gave their hearts to Christ in baptism after a two-week evangelistic campaign held at the Hackney Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Peace Restored: A Conference for Living Campaign, which took place from September 16-30, 2023, came to a fitting end as the Guest speaker for those two weeks, Pastor Dwayne Jones, with great joy, baptised his 8-year-old daughter, Savannah Jones and a previous regular visitor to the church, Grace Owori during the final evening service held on Sabbath 30th September 2023. Great joy and admiration were also shown towards the singing evangelist, Kay Alleney-Meloney, who had travelled from Trinidad only to have suffered the loss of her mother after a short stay in hospital during the first week of the campaign. From her emotional rendition of The Anchor Holds Though the Ship is Battered to her native Island’s version of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Meloney remained faithful to her call and mission in the face of adversity and trial. “I’m learning how to lean and trust in Jesus, for He’s my friend and guide. I’m learning to lean and depend on Jesus because I found out that if I trust Him, He will provide,” Melonie encouraged the listeners in song.
During the two-week evangelistic campaign, several Conference Directors were present, including the SEC Women’s Ministries Director and former Hackney Elder, Jacqueline Otokpa, SEC Personal Ministries and Literature Evangelism Director, Pastor Royston Smith and the newly elected SEC President, Dr. Kirk Thomas. Area 6C Prayer Ministries Coordinator Alex Dhlakama also paid a visit to the campaign and members from Hackney’s sister church, Walthamstow SDA, who are both under the leadership of Pastor Vaughn Thorpe. Each evening, the Hackney SDA Praise Team led by Myrtle O’Keefe led those present in the sanctuary and those watching online via YouTube in an atmosphere of praise and worship leading up to the theme song – Holy Spirit, Overflow. Members of Hackney’s prayer team under the leadership of Eileen Philip were also a reassuring presence for the ministers throughout the campaign.
As for the Guest speaker, Pastor Dwayne Jones, who hailed from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica and was supported by his wife and two young daughters, the messages he delivered evening after evening were soul-stirring and spirit-filled with personal testimonies along the way of how God intervened in his life-giving his direction and purpose to which he has responded positively and has never turned back from. In his final sermon, Destined to Win, Jones quoted Kris Vallotton’s book with the same title: “The world is filled with amazing people who are walking in their divine callings, changing history, and seeing their dreams come true. They have discovered their true identities, harnessed their strengths, focused their energies, and maximised their opportunities.” Jones concluded that the battle has been won with the devil a defeated foe because Jesus Christ, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, has overcome the grave, reconciling humanity with a God with whom they had once been estranged and whom now they find hope, joy and peace.
There was joy in heaven as two precious souls gave their hearts to Christ in baptism after a two-week evangelistic campaign held at the Hackney Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Peace Restored: A Conference for Living Campaign, which took place from September 16-30, 2023, came to a fitting end as the Guest speaker for those two weeks, Pastor Dwayne Jones, with great joy, baptised his 8-year-old daughter, Savannah Jones and a previous regular visitor to the church, Grace Owori during the final evening service held on Sabbath 30th September 2023. Great joy and admiration were also shown towards the singing evangelist, Kay Alleney-Meloney, who had travelled from Trinidad only to have suffered the loss of her mother after a short stay in hospital during the first week of the campaign. From her emotional rendition of The Anchor Holds Though the Ship is Battered to her native Island’s version of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Meloney remained faithful to her call and mission in the face of adversity and trial. “I’m learning how to lean and trust in Jesus, for He’s my friend and guide. I’m learning to lean and depend on Jesus because I found out that if I trust Him, He will provide,” Melonie encouraged the listeners in song.
During the two-week evangelistic campaign, several Conference Directors were present, including the SEC Women’s Ministries Director and former Hackney Elder, Jacqueline Otokpa, SEC Personal Ministries and Literature Evangelism Director, Pastor Royston Smith and the newly elected SEC President, Dr. Kirk Thomas. Area 6C Prayer Ministries Coordinator Alex Dhlakama also paid a visit to the campaign and members from Hackney’s sister church, Walthamstow SDA, who are both under the leadership of Pastor Vaughn Thorpe. Each evening, the Hackney SDA Praise Team led by Myrtle O’Keefe led those present in the sanctuary and those watching online via YouTube in an atmosphere of praise and worship leading up to the theme song – Holy Spirit, Overflow. Members of Hackney’s prayer team under the leadership of Eileen Philip were also a reassuring presence for the ministers throughout the campaign.
As for the Guest speaker, Pastor Dwayne Jones, who hailed from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica and was supported by his wife and two young daughters, the messages he delivered evening after evening were soul-stirring and spirit-filled with personal testimonies along the way of how God intervened in his life-giving his direction and purpose to which he has responded positively and has never turned back from. In his final sermon, Destined to Win, Jones quoted Kris Vallotton’s book with the same title: “The world is filled with amazing people who are walking in their divine callings, changing history, and seeing their dreams come true. They have discovered their true identities, harnessed their strengths, focused their energies, and maximised their opportunities.” Jones concluded that the battle has been won with the devil a defeated foe because Jesus Christ, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, has overcome the grave, reconciling humanity with a God with whom they had once been estranged and whom now they find hope, joy and peace.
