GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Name: John T. Cohen

Church : New Testament Church of God Worship Centre, Tortola British Virgin Island.

Position : Bishop and pastor. I have been a pastor there now for just about three years.

How long have you been a Christian?: I have been saved from I was in my early 20's.

Tell us about the moment you got your conviction: It stemmed from the upbringing I had. My late mother and father from Sanguinetti, in Clarendon, Jamaica, instilled important principles in me, and I grew up in the church. Even though I did not give my heart to the Lord until I was in my early 20s. Since then, I have not regretted one day. It has been a wonderful experience. I was called to the ministry, not from my own doing, because I tried to run from it for a number of years. It was never something that I wanted. The Bible says that 'your calling will make room for you. So I finally had to respond. It has been a real good experience.

What has been your most challenging moment since becoming a Christian: That would have been when a doctor told me that my wife would not be able to have any children, but I knew what the Lord said and believed in what He said. He [doctor] told me that I had to face reality, but God had things otherwise.

What has been your most miraculous moment since becoming a Christian: The most miraculous moment I have had took place when my wife had her two sons, our two children. Even though we were told by a doctor that she would not be able to have any children. Right now they are two wonderful boys. Both of them are involved in ministry work also. Every day I look at that and I have to say to myself, what if I did not believe God and just gave up and believe 'What the doctor said'. I know who the great physician is.

Message to Christians: My message to every born-again believer is for them to believe God wholeheartedly. I believe the fundamental thing is that we are too discombobulated. We are too fragmented, and if we are going to impact the Kingdom of God, if we are going to win souls for Christ, if we are going to do what Christ has called us to do, it means that we are going to have to be united. There is too much fragmentation in the body of Christ. Christianity, I believe, is the only true religion, and yet still it is the only most fragmented, and it stems from the fact that that is the plan of the enemy. He knows that whenever we come together there is nothing that is impossible. There is no mountain that we cannot conquer. There is too much fighting for position, instead of coming together and winning the lost for the Kingdom of God.

Message to non-Christians: We are really in a trying time. The Bible says, 'In the last days perilous times shall come.' When we look around, we see so many wars. There has never been a time when we have had so many wars and rumours of wars. All these are happening around us, and the imminent return of Christ is here. You have to get your acts together, believe God, trust in Him and give your heart to the Lord, because that is the only thing that is going to help us through this time in preparation for the second coming of Christ.

Favourite Bible scripture: 1 Corinthians 9: 19-22

Line from one of your favourite songs: 'I am amazed that Jesus loves me. I am amazed that He cares.'

Feedback: pehenrya@hotmail.com