North England Conference Ordination Service, Scarborough, 28 June 2008.

Sabbath afternoon at the North England Conference Session was a time for celebration and dedication as six men were ordained to the Gospel Ministry.

The first was Yorkshire man Jeff Cousins, introduced by Pastor Steve Palmer. He entered the pastoral ministry in 1998 following a career in electronics design and software management, and the completion of his BA in Pastoral Studies at Newbold College. Jeff is married to Sandie. Together they have two adult children, Darren and Mandy, and 10 year-old Nicky. Since 1998, Jeff and Sandy have served in Grimsby and the Bradford and Middlesbrough districts. They currently serve the Bolton district.

Next was Carlton Douglas, introduced by Pastor Jeff Nicholson. Carlton originates from south London, where he grew up and undertook his education. In 1989, he started attending Peckham Seventh-day Adventist church, where, after a year, he was baptised by Pastor Sam Davis. In 1997, Carlton accepted the call to ministry and attended Newbold College, where he met and fell in love with fellow student Patricia Dell. They were married in 1999. Carlton has served in Wolverhampton and the Camp Hill district and currently serves the Stoke-on-Trent district. Carlton and Pat have one lively boy, James.

Third was Milan Gugleta, who comes from Serbia, introduced by Pastor Ian Sweeney. He grew up in a Communist home, and, following a time of searching, entered the Adventist church in his hometown. In 1995, he entered the Belgrade Theological Seminary. In 1996, he met and married Michelle Simpson from the North East of England. They moved to the UK and in 2000 he entered Newbold College. Since graduating, they have served in the Leeds and Huddersfield district and are currently serving the Leamington Spa and Worcester district. They have two young children, Natasja and Luka George.

Ghanaian-born Samuel Appiah, introduced by Pastor Rainford McIntosh as a member of the tribe of Levi (i.e. son of a pastor), felt called to pastoral ministry as a 10 year-old following participation in a drama based on Acts 5:1-11, the story of Ananias and Sapphira, in which he played the lead character of Peter. As a result of the play, Samuel was given the nickname ‘pastor’, which stuck, shaping his views and character as a child. Samuel studied at the Adventist Seminary of West Africa (ASWA) in Nigeria, now Babcock University. In 2000, he entered Newbold College to study for an MA in Pastoral Studies. Since 2003, he has served as a pastor in the Handsworth district. He currently pastors the Bournville and Handsworth Wood African Fellowship. Samuel is married to Winifred, they have three children, Joel (8), Esmond (6), and Kelsey (8 months).

George Kumi, introduced by Dr Patrick Herbert, was born in Accra, Ghana and raised in a Presbyterian family. Due to the influence of his uncle, he became a Seventh-day Adventist. Following a period of employment with the Department of Animal Husbandry, he was baptised and studied at the Adventist Missionary College in Ghana. He then served for two years before attending West Indies College, where he completed a BA in Religion and Biblical Languages. In 1993, he completed an MA in Religion at Newbold College. He then worked as a social worker until 2005, when he took up a position as associate pastor of the Nottingham and Long Eaton district. George, with his wife Susana, currently serves the Bulwell and Long Eaton churches. They have three sons, Gideon, Emmanuel and Daniel.

Lastly, Solon Kyriacou was introduced by Pastor Geoffrey Mapiki. Solon was born in 1961 to the unusual combination of German mother and Greek Cypriot father in London. He grew up in an atheist home and became involved in left-wing politics. In 1983, he completed a BA in Philosophy at Nottingham University, after which he worked for the Derby City Council’s housing authority. In 1989, he met Dee, a non-attending Adventist. Together they started to attend the Normanton church (now Derby Bethel). Following Bible studies he was baptised in 1990. In 1999, with Dee and his two sons, Louis and Johann, Solon moved to Newbold College, where he completed a BA and MA in Pastoral Ministry. Since then, Solon has served in the Nottingham and Leicester districts and currently serves the Humberside district.

The photos below celebrate this special service. A complete report will be in Messenger 113-15 published 28 July 2008.

[Story: Cedric Vine/Victor Hulbert. Photos: Victor Hulbert/Peter Jeynes]

You may also like to visit the main NEC Session page with multimedia, and interview with the new president and a further picture gallery by clicking here.