DON’T WAIT UNTIL you are old and feeble to come to God after giving your best years to the “world”.
That was the call from Reverend David Holder to the more than 1 000 who packed the Collymore Rock Church of the Nazarene on Old Year’s Night to ring in the New Year.
Holder, who has headed the St Michael church for more than two decades, told the congregation for the 10 p.m. service that while God was “prepared to take you as you are” it was much better for people to give their best years to God than to the world.
Using himself as an example, the cleric said he gave his life to God as a teenager despite all the distractions around him and has never regretted it.
“In fact, I cannot find a single person in all my years as a Christian who has regretted giving his or her life to God,” he told the worshippers.
While cautioning that becoming a Christian did not mean you would be exempted from hardship, illness or unfortunate circumstances, he said being a “child of God” gave you a strength to face anything that came your way.
Turning his attention to the economy, he acknowledged that it was a tough one for many. However, he stressed that it was at times like this that you had to be your brother’s keeper.
Warning worshippers that it was in bad times that you discovered which of “your friends were true friends”, he cited the example of a man who spent many of his days at a rum shop sharing drinks with “friends”.
However, when he took ill and was hospitalised, not one of those “friends” came to visit or enquired about his well-being.
Meanwhile, Holder’s wife Donna, who led the night’s service, welcomed the congregation but called on them to turn the “tradition” of attending church on Old Year’s night into an everyday commitment.
The lively evening, which ended a few minutes into the new year, was highlighted by lively, inspirational songs and worship dancing by the church’s dancers, the 30-strong choir and competent band. (GE)
