Shevado Lyston, the son of the late Apostle Dr Steve Lyston will never forget his father’s relentless effort to make this world a better place.
“He provided shelter to the homeless, he fed the hungry, his philanthropic and humanitarian work never stopped,” he recalled during the service to celebrate the life of Dr. Lyston who presided over the Restoration World Outreach Ministries Inc (RWOMI) in the USA, Africa and the Caribbean, and the Restoration Outreach Ministries International (ROMI) in Jamaica.
“My dad was a man of God, a family man, a leader, a humble soul and a respectful man. He was self motivated and guided by his faith and love,” said Shevado.
Similar sentiments were shared by several others as they considered the life of Apostle Dr Lyston, who was a past student of the Edwin Allen Comprehensive High School. Relatives recounted how he purchased groceries for them without being asked and how he made them laugh through acting, which was one of his passions. To many, he was wise beyond his years, and was completely determined to advance the Kingdom of God.
“He was determined, he was dedicated, he was bold, he stood; he stood for his family, he stood for God,” said his widow, Dr Michelle Lyston.
The two would have been celebrating 21 years of marriage this month, had it not been for his passing. She remembered him as a servant leader and a strategist, who had a kind heart despite displaying a tough exterior at times. This ruggedness was developed while in the army, but despite his military training, the former lance corporal had a soft spot for helping people.
“He viewed himself as an agent of change, who would make a difference in the life of others and fight crime and violence in Jamaica, while serving and protecting his people,” recounted one of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) staff sergeant who payed tribute to him on behalf of the army.
Apostle Dr. Lyston applied and enlisted in July, 1988, a few months before Hurricane Gilbert which devastated Jamaica. Although it was a life-long dream to join the army, he retired after 18 years. He was however, considered a general in God’s army up to the time of his passing.
“While others slept, he toiled, while others complained, he sought solutions, while others gave up, he persevered” said the staff sergeant.
Bishop Dr Doris Hutchinson served with Apostle Dr Lyston on the battlefield for many years. Both first met on September 2, 1999 and were inseparable as they visited several venues across the island and internationally to deliver God’s word and establish missions.
“I clearly recall with joy, the many hours, we spent in prayer and in the Word of God and his zeal for God’s work,” said Bishop Dr Hutchinson, as she shared her remembrance of him as “a genuine, hardworking and driven young man who had a passion to serve God, and was not afraid to defend those who would not defend themselves.”
Tributes came from some of the countries he visited and served, including Uganda, Kenya, Columbia, Pakistan and India.
“We have lost a giant. We have lost a role model. We have lost a father; a father to the fatherless. We have lost a man who wants to see the world better. We have lost a man who have been standing in the gap as one of the fathers of the faith for our generation,” said Apostle Dr. Gilbert Birungi from Uganda.
Hannah, Apostle Dr Steve Lyston’s daughter said he often shared videos of what he was doing in other countries through God. This included helping to provide education for children and water in areas where this commodity was scarce. She was proud of her dad, who she noted was strict, but patient with her and her siblings.
