Rev. Wilkins to be honoured after 37 years of Christian ministry

Rev. Wilkins had officially demitted office in October 2018, handing over the leadership of the church to Minister Dalkieth Thomas.

In a real show of sincere gratitude, the church held a banquet last Saturday in his honour. A community church service to be held on May 5 on the church grounds is expected to mark a memorable swansong on a journey of a man who “committed his entire life to God and was set on fire to win souls for the kingdom”.

On July 4, 1981 on the playfield of the Marlie Mount Primary School, Wilkins, his wife Winsome, the their two sons Winston Jr and Wesley; and members of the Glad Tidings Open Bible Church in Spanish Town, started a Good News Club for children within Marlie Mount and adjoining communities.

From this club came a Sunday school that would later become the congregation known today as the Good News Open Bible Church.

Three years later, Sunday school and service began, but the church was constrained by not having its own facility as the group increased and the message of the gospel spread.

The acquisition of a property for the sanctuary was a huge leap of faith for the small congregation led by Wilkins a little man in stature but a man of big faith.

However in due time, God provided the present sanctuary which was dedicated on June 28, 1998.

“Rev. Wilkins' ministry was not confined to the church building. Within the Old Harbour community he had been involved with outreach to schools by leading in their devotions weekly,” a statement from the church read. “The Lord led him to play a significant role in the establishment of the Old Harbour Ministers’ Fraternal with him being its first chairman.

“He often shared his testimony of God's saving grace and his extraordinary encounter with God wherever he went and is well known as the little pastor who would stop to pray for anyone who asked.”

Within the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica (the Association), he obtained his ministerial licenses and later was ordained as Reverend. He has served the association nationally as division superintendent for Middlesex and director of Sunday school. He currently lectures at the College of Theology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CTIS), the training arm of the association.

A trained mechanical engineer, Rev Wilkins, has been an ardent teacher of the word of God. He’s also a marriage officer and well known as an advocate for youth, a man of integrity and prayer, a people person and a trail blazer.

“He is truly a shepherd of honour, may his legacy lives on,” the statement ended.

Start time is 5:30 pm. All are invited.