A pioneer member of the Hackney Seventh-day Adventist Church was recently honoured in a thanksgiving service for her many years of service to the Church and community. Annis Mahbeer, who had earlier celebrated her 90th birthday on 30th April, was honoured for her years of service to the community and church in Hackney, in a thanksgiving service which took place on Saturday 4th May 2024. Among those in attendance were family, friends, church members and South England Conference (SEC) directors, all of whom had at some point, been impacted by Sister Mahbeer’s life. A member of the Windrush generation, Sister Mahbeer and her late husband, Everald, followed fellow Jamaicans (the Graham, Reid, Merchant, Murray, Samuels and Waisome families) to the United Kingdom and the Hackney Seventh-day Adventist Church, with representatives from each of those families also in attendance during this most auspicious of occasions. Mention was made of the church library which was built by Sister Mahbeer’s late husband, Everald, as well as of her dedication in various roles within the church and community including as a Deaconess, a member of the Community Ministries department and perhaps most poignantly as a prayer warrior not only in Hackney but also in other prayer ministries such as those at Tottenham West Green Road SDA Church and the Plaistow Prayer Tower. Sister Mahbeer was consistently among the top three highest collectors during the ADRA Door-to Door Annual Appeal.
Former SEC President, Humphrey Walters, a former Pastor of Hackney Church, in his prayer, thanked God for Sister Mahbeer’s life of prayer and community service which have made a positive difference in the lives of those who have known her. Another former Hackney Pastor, Joojo Bonnie, currently the SEC Teens Director, highlighted the prophetic and prayerful gift God has bestowed upon Sister Mahbeer which she has used humbly and to His honour and glory. Carol Henry-Linton, Elder Clarence Jackson and Pastor Fitzroy Morris, members of the Plaistow Prayer Tower, commented on Sister Mahbeer’s prayers for the unemployed, the sick and those facing immigration challenges, all of which God answered favourably for those who had come to her with their personal requests. SEC Property Director, Stephen McKenzie, a son of Hackney having been brought up in Stoke Newington SDA Church, the Mother Church of Hackney SDA, in his sermonette spoke of how Sister Mahbeer’s prayers during his time of illness and time away from the ministry brought healing, revival and restoration to both his life and ministry. Sister Mahbeer’s granddaughter testified of the prayers which got her through her studies as well as those which got her through work and of the special bond of friendship and love she has for her grandmother, while Carmen and Hermine Graham, reminisced on the close friendship their late mother had with Sister Mahbeer, as travel companions and prayer warriors throughout London. When Hackney First Elder, John Mathieu, asked Sister Mahbeer what was the key to a successful prayer life she said: “God will always answer the prayers of those who have clean hands and a pure heart. Love and kindness towards others is important as is not taking people’s business all over the place – instead take it to God in prayer.” Sister Mahbeer was presented with a special plaque by Hackney Church alongside framed prayer hands from Wood Green member, Opal Johnson-Christie.
