Photos: Dedication Of Simmons Prayer Garden

March 4, 2015

[Updated with video] The Dedication Service for the Simmons Prayer Garden was held yesterday [Mar 3] at St Paul AME Church, serving to honour Rev. Conway Simmons for his 50 years of service.

Those in attendance included Rev. Simmons and his family, Premier Michael Dunkley, Rev. Nicholas Tweed, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, and many others

The event programme said that the marker is a boulder of Bermuda stone “symbolizing the steadfastness of Rev. Simmons and Evangelist Joan Simmons in ministry and in bearing witness of God’s goodness and grace,” and was drawn from an excavated area of the North Shore.

The stone had previously formed part of a sea wall dating to the 1890s, while the tree is a Bermuda Olivewood, an endemic island species.

The programme described Rev. Simmons by saying, “A son of St Paul, Rev. Conway Simmons was ordained on 14th March 1965 and for fifty years has actively and powerfully preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a pastor of international experience having pastored in Jamaica and various churches in Bermuda.

“He is married to Evangelist Joan Simmons and the impact of their partnership in ministry has been felt across the Island over many years. They are proud parents of Rev. Cyril and Elizabeth and now enjoy the blessing of grandchildren.

“Evangelist Joan Simmons is a genuine ‘prayer warrior’ and has been the leading force behind the National Day of Prayer. Through her powerful witness she is recognized as one of the Island?s foremost evangelists.

“Rev. Simmons has also served as the Presiding Elder for the Central District of the Jamaica Annual Conference and of the Bermuda Annual Conference. He is an honoured and celebrated figure in Bermuda?s religious and wider community and has been a mentor to many pastors over the years.

“Rev. Simmons was recognized with the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2014 for his service to the Church.”

Click to enlarge photos: