THE OFFICE

Glen Samuels

President & Director, Community Services

 876-656-7800 Ext. 4590
 gsamuels@westjamaica.org


Kediesha Grant

Administrative Assistant

 876-656-7800 Ext. 4591
 kediesha.grant@westjamaica.org


The Office of the President gives leadership and guidance to the efforts, activities and committees of the conference, encouraging ideals and goals which best utilize the talents God has given us.

It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the
service of others”. This statement coupled with Mahalia Jackson’s song, “If I can help somebody
as I pass along…If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can spread love’s message as the
Master taught, then my living shall not be in vain”


The above lines encapsulate the philosophy, aspirations, and actions of this eminent, yet humble
selfless character, Glen Octavius Samuels; born to a teenage mother (Miss Icy) in Burnt
Savannah, St Elizabeth, Jamaica. He attended the Burnt Savannah Primary school and graduated
from the Lacovia High school. In 1984 he earned a Bachelor of Arts Religion and Theology
degree with a minor in Business Administration. At his graduation he was awarded the
outstanding Ministerial Association trophy by the then Chairperson of the Department, Dr.
Pedrito Maynard-Reid. In 1995, he graduated from Andrews University, Berrien Springs,
Michigan with the Master of Arts in Religion and Theology. This was to be the beginning of a
journey of excellence.


Armed with a solid Christian education and bathed in the power of the Holy Spirit, Pastor
Samuels has held several leadership positions and has achieved outstanding exploits for his Lord
and Saviour. Between his internship and ordination in 1990 he has already through the influence
of the Holy Spirit lead over eight hundred souls to Christ. In 2000, he was the first in Jamaica’s
evangelism history, to baptize over eleven hundred persons in a single evangelist campaign.

He was appointed the first Speaker/ Director of “Behold He Cometh” Television Ministry, a
programme conceptualized and birthed by brothers Classford Woolery and Patrick Corrodus- the
first locally produced Seventh-day Adventists Church service to be aired on National Television
in Jamaica. He was the first speaker for the telecast series The Word of Hope, sponsored by the
Jamaican Union Conference and heard every Sunday Morning on Television Jamaica (TVJ).


Pastor Samuels has conducted numerous seminars, revivals, lectures, and evangelistic series
throughout the Americas, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. He was one of the guest speakers
at the General Conference World Ministerial Council in Toronto Canada in 2000, and devotional
speaker at the General Conference Session in St Louis, Missouri in 2005. In the recently hosted
Foot Prints of Hope series, viewer per episode was 946,049, and a total viewership of
42,572,207. 110 YouTube channels, 75 Facebook pages, 8 Television stations, and 20 Radio
stations aired the series. Thousands of individuals surrendered and recommitted their lives to
Christ.

In 2005, he was elected president of West Jamaica Conference. In January 2009, He was elected
Executive Secretary of the West Indies Union (covering the Bahamas Islands, Cayman Islands,
Turks and Caicos, and Jamaica), and 2010, Ministerial Secretary and Personal Ministries
Director of the newly formed Jamaica Union Conference. He serves on numerous boards and
committees: Member of the Police Civilian Oversight Authority of Jamaica, Member of the St.
James Peace Management Board, Member of Northern Caribbean University Board, and Chair
for Harrison Memorial and Savannah -Lar-Mar High Schools’ Boards.

This Servant of God, Justice of the Peace, Community Builder not only serves the Adventist
community but has extended his arms of help to the troubled communities in St James and across
Jamaica. In 2006/2007 he organized a meeting at Mt. Salem between community leaders and the
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice that gave birth to the Granville Restorative Justice
Training and Community Development Center. Seeking to eclipse the ravages of violence in
inner-city communities in the sections of Montego Bay, he and others organized day and night
football matches at the conference office playfield. This effort helped to ease the tension between
fractions. The initiative resulted in many at risk youths being redirected into skills training
programmes offered by the HEART Trust NTA.

On October 19, 2017, Pastor Glen O. Samuels was recognized by the Government of Jamaica
and conferred with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for outstanding contribution to
Religion and Community Service.


President of West Jamaica Conference since 2014, his passion is to see the Church transformed
by the Spirit of the Living God, into a vital, vigilant, visible, visionary, vocal instrument for
Christ, touching lives, serving as a victorious agent of social, moral and spiritual transformation.
Amidst his heavy administrative responsibilities, he finds time to mentor at risk youths, counsel,
seek educational sponsorship, builds and restores homes for the poor, the most vulnerable in the
community, and provides a safe haven for the abused.

He is married to the beautiful Durcella Allie-Samuels, Grade Supervisor and senior
Mathematics teacher at Manchester High School, Mandeville, Jamaica. They are blessed with
three gorgeous daughters: Gleneika (Faith), Glenadene (Hope), and Glenella (Charity).

It is his commitment to spend his life helping others.

The President’s Responsibilities:

  • Serves the general interest of Central Jamaica Conference as the Executive Committee shall determine Adheres to the policies of the Jamaica Union, Inter-American Division, and the General Conference
  • Works in harmony with Jamaica Union and in close counsel with Union Officers Supervises the operations of Central Jamaica Conference
  • Approves vacation leave for Administrators, Directors, and Pastors Supervise the Pastoral Staff Speaks publicly on behalf of the Constituency on issues of national importance.

For evangelism in the Conference

  • In consultation with other administrators and the pastoral staff evangelistic goals are set, then voted by the Conference Executive Committee, and supervised by him.
  • Take a special interest in fostering the evangelistic work of the Conference doing all to encourage soul- winning endeavor on the part of all workers .
  • He is chairman of: Evangelism Committee Development Committee Executive Committee Finance Committee Education Board Publishing Board H. S. Walters Health & Outreach Centre Board Willowdene Group of Schools Board Departmental Council

He is a member of:

  • Northern Caribbean University Board
  • Jamaica Union Executive Committee
  • Andrews Memorial Hospital Board
  • ADRA Board

Our Beliefs

Seventh-day Adventist beliefs are meant to permeate your whole life. Growing out of scriptures that paint a compelling portrait of God, you are invited to explore, experience and know the One who desires to make us whole.

Read More

 Testimonials