St. Ann, Jamaica – October 8, 2025. The Word of Hope District of Seventh-day Adventist Churches officially welcomed Pastor Onyeka Nevins and his family during an installation service held on Sabbath, August 30, 2025. The district comprises the Word of Hope, Epworth, Lime Hall, and Higgin Town congregations – churches that were formerly part of the Ocho Rios and St. Ann’s Bay Districts.
The ceremony, attended by members and supporters from across the parish, marked a significant moment in the reorganization of the local Adventist ministry. Supporters from the Clarks Town District of Churches (where Pastor Nevins previously pastored) turned out in large numbers to celebrate the installation, joining members from all four congregations that now make up the new district.
In his inaugural address, Pastor Nevins challenged his members to embrace their calling under the theme, “The All in the Wall,” drawing inspiration from the biblical story of Nehemiah’s determination to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. He encouraged the congregants to take spiritual ownership of their communities by declaring “Zones of Spiritual Operations” (ZOSO) within their church areas, emphasizing the need for active and compassionate engagement.
“You can’t carry a burden for people if you don’t carry the burden of Almighty God,” Pastor Nevins reminded the gathering, calling for full commitment to ministry and service.
During the event, elders from the district’s churches were presented with mission tokens symbolizing the General Conference’s GROW Your Church initiative. The global program promoted five key principles of evangelism and discipleship – preparing the soil of the heart, planting seeds of truth, cultivating spiritual interest, harvesting decisions for Christ, and preserving the harvest.
Pastor Nevins also unveiled the district’s new vision statement, which reads:
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church, Word of Hope District, envisions a vibrant, united fellowship of four congregations where every member is a disciple-maker and every community is touched by Christ’s love. We achieve this by emphasizing unity in Christ, fostering and fulfilling our mission to serve.”
The formation of the Word of Hope District and the installation of Pastor Nevins mark a new chapter in the spiritual and organizational growth of the North Jamaica Conference, with members expressing optimism and renewed dedication to the work ahead.