Rev Wright celebrates 25 years at Mt Nebo

With a tightly packed congregation in attendance, the Reverend Orlanzo Wright, minister of the Mt Nebo Baptist Church, St Catherine, was on Sunday, July 31, honoured for 25 years of service to the community of Benbow district and the church's circuit of churches. This man of God is highly respected by his peers, so family and close friends joined him for the momentous occasion.

A justice of the peace, Wright has worked along with his church and family to develop the community of Benbow district. The former guidance counsellor at Carron Hall High School and a part-time lecturer at Moneague Teachers' College put tremendous effort in the development of a new building to house a kitchen and a computer lab for students to do their school-based assessment assignments and other course-related projects.

Summer Bible School

He is also responsible for bringing Baptist Americans mainly from North and South Carolina to the community to assist with his summer Vocational Bible School.

Among the special guests in attendance were minister of state in the education ministry, Gregory Mair; Custos of St Catherine, Sophia Azan, and other representatives of the Jamaica Baptist Union and members of the church.

Wright received commendations and and tributes from the community in the special service punctuated by gospel songs and scripture readings.

Mt Nebo Baptist was founded in 1837 near the end of slavery, and the services started in the Russell Hall and Guy's Hill districts by George Gibbs, a member and leader of the George Lisle Church. Wright took over the ministry of the church in 1987, adding to its rich history through various programmes that he instituted.

Originally from Fairfield district in Clarendon, Wright is a past student of Edwin Allen High School, the proud father of Sheldon, Shenae and Shaughn, Shevaughn and Shandell and husband to the beautiful Elvia Wright.

Among the clergy present were the Revend Dr Davewin Thomas, the Reverend Brenard McDonald, the Reverend Robert Campbell, the Reverend Dwight Frazer, the Reverend Basil McLeod, the Reverend Valentine Wallace, the Reverend Oral Wilks, the Reverend Glenville McLeod, the Reverend Clyde Jennings, the Reverend Judith Johnon-Grant, the Reverend Denzil Jack and the Reverend Jeffery McKenzie.

Following the sermon, Wright's family received a special prayer from the Reverend Dr Roy Henry.