GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Deacon Ruel Rowe will always remember March 12, 1979. It was on that day that he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, as he answered to the call of God on his life.

Rowe, who has been saved for almost 30 years, is a member of the Mandeville New Testament Church of God at 18 Knowles Road in the Manchester capital, where he has been serving as a deacon for just about 20 years.

His soul salvation started while he was living with his grandmother in Christiana, Manchester, while attending a crusade with her. He recalled that when he got saved it was a Monday night.

not looked back

Since he started his Christian journey with the Lord, Rowe stated emphatically that he has not looked back because his life has never been the same since he acknowledged that God is to be worshipped and praised.

"My life has never been the same. There have been many ups and downs but God is good to me," testified the deacon.

Rowe, who is currently the director of evangelism at his church, is responsible for chairing a team that has been entrusted with the duty of planning crusades, street meetings, visits with the sick and shut-ins, among other events; and he confessed that he enjoys doing them all.

He pointed out that he enjoys ministry because what he does is being done unto God as well as unto man and he is sure that when God returns to take His children home, he will be justly rewarded for the work he does.

Although the deacon enjoys what he does for God, he acknowledged that evangelism, in these last and trying days is, not easy. Rowe noted that despite it being challenging, he is aware that God is with him and all who are involved in that type of work and that he has a most reliable team of workers who support him to make the job exciting. Because he is aware that God is with him and his team, Rowe said it makes the work a little easier than normal.

hard work

The deacon said when he goes out to evangelise, he expects several persons to answer the call of God. However, according to him, when he and his team put in a lot of hard work and not many respond to the call of the Lord, he feels disappointed but he is aware that what is required of him is to preach the Gospel and be a witness.

The father of Simone Rowe and the husband of Leyest Rowe is encouraging backsliders to remember that God said in His words that He would remarry the backslider. He wants to remind backsliders that God cares, as it is not His (God's) will for anyone to perish but that all should come to repentance and live.

"One just has to examine himself. We are human beings and at times we make mistakes or errors, or at times we even fail God but God is a loving God, to the extent that He sent His only son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. His Will is that we should serve Him. So, I am appealing to my friends and backsliders that Jesus loves you. Jesus cares for you and He said that if you call He will answer," preached Deacon Rowe.

He added that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, as it matters not if individuals feel guilty that they have let down God. God is still beckoning that they should come unto Him, so that He (God) can give them rest.