Former chair of the National Gospel Fest Committee, Pastor Fidel Taylor, has been honoured for his stewardship, two years after stepping down from the post.
He was presented with a plaque on Sunday during the National Gospel Fest Showcase in Kingstown.
The citation, read by Marissa George-Moncherry, said Taylor was instrumental in the establishment of the SVG Gospel Fest, which is into its 16th year.
He held the position of chair for over 14 years and led the committee astutely.
“He was involved in all aspects of the festival, including [as] zonal co-ordinator for the South Leeward Zone as well [as] festival songwriter and singer. The Gospel Fest Committee expresses sincere thank you and appreciation to Mr. Fidel Taylor for his talent and stewardship exhibited during his tenure,” George-Moncherry said.
In response, Taylor said:
“What can I say? To God be the glory, great things he has done. I was just an instrument that allowed myself to be used by God to ensure that this festival enjoys the success that it is now enjoying.”
He thanked the Gospel Fest Committee and the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for giving him “the opportunity to serve.
“I saw myself as a servant in the Kingdom of God. I want to encourage the churches and the sponsors to rally around Gospel Fest. Make sure it stays alive and grow from strength to strength. I have stepped down as chairman to pastor the Rillan Hill Church of the Nazarene and I really had to make a hard decision. I am not gone. I am still around. My support is still with the festival. Continue to pray for me, my family and continue to support Gospel Fest,” Taylor said.
Taylor sang the Gospel Fest theme song at Sunday’s event.
Co-incidentally, the Rillan Hill Church of the Nazarene Choir ministered at Sunday’s event, becoming one of the first choirs to do so in years, amidst what sources tell iWitness News are concerns among co-ordinators of the festival about the technical challenges relating to choirs delivering effectively in open air situations.
On this matter of Gospel fest here is an observation of mine, as it relates to an old saying by D.L Moody, Dwight Lyman Moody (February 5, 1837 December 22, 1899),:
D. L. Moody, was an American evangelist and publisher, and he was connected with the Holiness Movement of his day. He founded the Moody Church, Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts (now Northfield Mount Hermon School), Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers.
This much well known preacher had a saying, that went something like this: The place of the Ship is in the Sea but God help the Ship, if the Sea gets in. Then he would add: The place of the Church is in the World but God help the Church if the World gets in.
By way of examination of this title Gospel Fest we note that the term Gospel could simply be translated as GOOD NEWS. Old English godspel “gospel, glad tidings announced by Jesus. translation of Latin bona adnuntiatio, itself a translation of Greek euangelion “reward for bringing good news.” Dictionary. The good news being delivered from God! Gospel-Good News!
Moreover and in addition, the term Fest on the other hand is another issue. Wikipedia tells us that Fest may refer to: Fest, Danish/German/Norwegian/Swedish for party· Fest, a type of festival. Such would have utterly nothing to do with a Holy God whatsoever! Therefore Fest is entirely worldly!
In reading the Bible for Christian behavioural guidance, we read at James 4:4 (New King James Version (NKJV) a twofold advice: Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (Therefore as Christians we are to run away from worldliness
We read again further advice at: 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (King James Version) yet another set of instructions, instructing Christians that they are to be weary of what is perceived to be openly worldly:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Therefore, in being guided by the above, I do perceive that Pastor Fidel Taylor and his fellows, are in gross error with their worldly music, worldly fest and equally worldly promotion of undignified worldly behaviour in their Gospel fest!
By their worldly actions, they are bringing and promoting all that is worldly within Church affairs, rather than running away from worldliness, and as Dwight Lyman Moody had warned, God help the Church if the World gets in. None of these things in Pastor Fidel Taylor and his fellows doing is of God! They are fooling themselves if they have convinced themselves that their works is of God.
They are just blind leaders of the blind! Their Christian doctrine is totally perverted and utterly warped.
They needs read a copy of Professor Louis Berkhof book on Systematic theology.
( https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/systematic-theology-louis-berkhof )
And look at that system of theology that was reaffirmed by the Synod of Dordt in 1619.
( http://www.reformed.org/calvinism/ )