A strong passion for Christ

George Henry -Reverend Sanford Osmond Taylor

GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

It is often said that Christians should have a passion for Christ. Well, one person who is convinced that he does is the Reverend Sanford Osmond Taylor, retired New Testament Church of God pastor, who has served that denomination over several decades with distinction.

"When I gave my life to the Lord in 1951 during my early teens, I started to worship and got involved in services. I started to love Him (Christ) and from there, I just have a passion for Him," said Reverend Taylor.

He explained that from then he felt the calling of Christ on his life for ministry. Taylor said he initially struggled with the decision of being a minister but eventually made up his mind. He said he received professional training in theology and headed off to the Bethel Bible College, which is run by the New Testament Church of God in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

He added that he has been able to maintain his passion for Christ because he knows who Jesus is and that He lives within him.

"I know what Christ has done for me and when I look around I see many others who have not had my experience and try to share with them, so that they too can share the experience which I have," said Taylor.

The energetic preacher noted that at the time he got saved in 1951, he went into a state of uncertainty. However, luckily for him, he had a group of mature Christians around him who gave him guidance in the way of the Lord.

my mentor

"They helped me on. I endeavoured to go where they were and they helped me. I had the late Reverend James Brown as my mentor, and he helped me a lot. He was just a fatherly individual," said Taylor.

He added that there were also many other mature Christians who prayed for him and who always showed some interest in him, who gave him great encouragement as he sought to know about Christ and to continue growing in the Lord.

Taylor who was pastor at the Cobbla New Testament Church in Manchester up to December 2008, though retired from pastoral duties, is still engaged in preaching in his denomination.

"The first church I pastored after leaving Bible school was the Cobbla New Testament Church; and it was the last one I pastored as well. I have served in Hanover, Clarendon, St Elizabeth, Trelawny and St Catherine at the Spanish Town Church," explained Taylor.

Taylor currently serves on the Ministerial Care Board in the New Testament Church. He also sits on the restoration committee in that denomination and believes that the church, in general, is standing out and dynamic as it embraces holiness and righteousness, which are the foundations of the Church.

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