Reverend Devere Nugent - George Henry

GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Devere Nugent's mother once told him he would be a chatterbox. She had made the statement because, as a precocious four-year-old, he could not keep his mouth shut. Little did she know that her son would one day use his garrulousness for Jesus and his message, as he is now a pastor.

Reverend Devere Nugent is currently the pastor for the Falmouth Circuit of Baptist Churches in Trelawny. It means that this young and vibrant minister of the Gospel is the shepherd for Falmouth, Bounty Hall, Granville, Martha Brae and Greenwood churches.

Like many pastors in Jamaica, Reverend Nugent started his walk with the Lord at a very young age. He proudly told Behind the Pulpit that he started his Christian journey with Christ at 12 and he has not looked back since.

"I started out with Christ as early as that because I did not have a choice; God organised my life that way," said Reverend Nugent.

Nugent has been a pastor for the past 13 years. He said that he has been having a great time working for the Lord. According to him, this is so because ministry is, possibly, the only calling that places him in the centre of people's lives. Once that happens, Reverend Nugent said it is difficult to get away from because it is a tremendous responsibility and opportunity.

Talkative individual

He admitted that all Christians experience periods of darkness; and noted that as a pastor he tells his congregations that his sermons are private conversations with God that they are hearing publicly.

"It is just a matter of seeking the face of God and knowing that you can lay whatever cares and concerns you have in God's hands; and God will keep it and will keep you and help you as you walk," said the church leader.

Reverend Nugent said prior to him being saved, he was a talkative individual whose mother, not knowingly, declared he would have been a chatterbox; but Reverend Nugent believes that he is indeed a chatterbox, because he does speak a lot, especially about God.

The William Knibb High School past student and former teacher of World and Olympic Champion Usain Bolt said he did not have much opportunity to move too far from the way of the Lord; he attributed this to the good quality parenting he received from his parents, especially his mother, whom he noted gave him solid guidance which paved the way for where he is today.

Strengthens me

Reverend Nugent confessed that when he got saved he saw himself as a minister of the Gospel. According to him, he knew he was going to become a pastor from he was about four years old.

"I knew that from age four; and my mother would tell you that I wanted to study at Calabar, the Baptist Theological College which is now the United Theological College (UTC). As children, we heard of Calabar. I don't know why or what it is that would have influenced that decision for me, but God, I believe, would have ordained that," noted Reverend Nugent.

The church leader stated that he had no other choice but to be what God wanted him to be, and that is to serve Him in the ministry.

The pastor, who declared that he has several Bible verses which can easily be considered favourites of his, said he loves the one which says, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'. He also likes the Bible verse which says, 'It's not by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord'.

Nugent added that John 3:16 is also among his favourites.

The pastor believes that as a society we have to recognise that our God is a God of the crisis who can take care of the meltdowns, the sweep-downs, the setbacks, the drawbacks, the letdowns, the let goes; and that our God still has this world and our country Jamaica in His hands.

"I would hope that we would become like a Fiji, where our national leaders will lead the process of repentance and renewal, so that God can once again do His work and bless this country in the ways He would want to bless us," said Reverend Nugent.

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