GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Reverend Abdiel H. Brown has never thought that serving God, whom he has never seen, is a waste of his time.

Reverend Brown has been pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church at Commodore in Fruitful Vale, Portland, for more than five years and an ordained minister for a number of years. He has also led the flock at that denomination's May Day branch in Manchester for one year.

Now on a year's leave of absence from the May Day church, Reverend Brown has been a follower and a server of Jesus Christ for the past 16 years. Although sceptics may say individuals like Reverend Brown are wasting their time serving a master they have never seen, the church leader is convinced that that is not so with him.

"At the time when the idea about wasting time serving God came up, I questioned God. This came about because of denominations. Every denomination that I come across tries to pull you into their church in the level of what they believe, not necessarily into the community of Christ," explained Reverend Brown.

According to the young church leader, God told him that one only wasted time by not serving Him. He added that God told him that it does not matter how far one reaches in life, once individuals are not serving Him, they are wasting their lives.

believed lies

Brown stated that 10 years ago he would have believed that he was wasting his time serving God, but after 16 years, he is convinced that is not so.

Reverend Brown explained that serving God as a Christian is challenging, yet it could be one of the easiest things one could ever do. He noted that once Christians tell God that they are ready to walk with Him they can do so knowing that God will be with them.

The pastor was quick to point out that there are many things that will come the way of Christians and will try to prevent their walk with the Master, but the important thing to do is to make up their minds and tell themselves that regardless of what happens, they will continue their journey with the Saviour, because the intention for all Christians is to get to the promised land.

He added that Christians should be like the Apostle Paul who said 'nothing shall separate him (Paul) from the love of God'.