ANCHOVY, St. James
The Seventh-day Adventist Church, Anchovy recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a weekend of worship, reflection, and thanksgiving as members, former pastors, and church leaders honoured four decades of ministry under the theme, “Resilient in Trials, Growing in Grace, Going Home in Victory.” The main anniversary service on Sabbath, August 1, 2026, brought together former and current members, church leaders, and guests in celebration of the
congregation’s rich history and enduring mission.
Greetings and testimonies were shared by Elder C. Lettman and Pastors Joel Haye, Leroy Miller, Maurice McGhie, Christopher Harvey, and Hector Kaden. Congratulatory remarks were also delivered by Pastor Donovan Williams, Vice President of the West Jamaica Conference, and Pastor Glen Samuels, President of the Jamaica Union Conference.
The anniversary sermon was delivered by Dr. Burnett Robinson, who conducted the evangelistic campaign that established the Anchovy Seventh-day Adventist Church four decades ago. Reflecting on the church’s journey, Dr. Robinson warned that Satan would seek to create division within the body of Christ and urged members to remain firmly anchored in their faith.“God wants you to build upon the Rock,” he said.
“United we stand; divided we fall. The enemies of the church will seek to disrupt, disturb, destroy, divide, and harass the leadership, but as a flock we must learn to live together.”
Calling the congregation to unity, he concluded: “As a flock, let us dwell together; as a body, let us unite; as a building, let us be framed together for the Kingdom. Let us strive together, for when we are together, victory is guaranteed.”
The anniversary celebrations began the previous evening with a vespers service on Friday, July 31. One of the evening’s highlights came when Elder N. Gillette, a former member now residing overseas, reflected on the church’s early years. She recounted the struggles, sacrifices, and dedication that led to the establishment of the Anchovy congregation, reminding members of the pioneers whose faith and perseverance laid the foundation for the ministry that continues today.
Host Pastor Jermane McBean also led a special dedication service during which a new lectern was presented to the church. Adding a significant layer of recognition to the proceedings was the presence of Pastor Vincent Rose, President of the West Jamaica Conference.
Pastor Rose delivered the keynote address, offering a profound theological reflection on the occasion. “We are not celebrating because the church is good, but because we serve a good God,” he declared, setting the tone for his message.
Drawing from Exodus 25 vs 8, he reminded the congregation of God’s desire to dwell among His people, stating, “I want you to make me a place because I have a desire to dwell with you; and it is a honour to have God dwell with us.”
He further challenged the church to look beyond the physical structure. “The church is not here to look pretty and nice,” he emphasized. It is here to regenerate itself, producing people for God to dwell among. God wants to dwell with us and can only do so if we want Him to,” he ended.
During the service, Pastor Vincent Rose and his wife, Jody, were presented with tokens of appreciation in recognition of their leadership and support. The programme concluded with a prayer of dedication by Pastor Vencot Dyer, Executive Secretary of the West Jamaica Conference, who prayed for God’s continued blessing on the congregation.
The anniversary celebrations honoured the church’srich history while reaffirming its commitment to proclaiming the gospel and serving the Anchovy community for generations to come.