Dr. Delroy Lingo believes it is important to present people with flowers while they still can enjoy it and so he sought to do this on Saturday October 26 by presenting 22 community stalwarts with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lingo, who himself was bestowed with the honour some three years ago, said one day he was home looking at it, and the thought came to him about the many individuals who really deserved such an award, but because they are not in the public’s eye, as he is, or is at a certain rank, they might not be recognised for the incredible work they are doing.
“It was then I said, ‘God, if you give me the opportunity to make this possible, I will do the best that I can,” and with members from his church, Trinity Community Church, they started the paperwork in applying for the right to stage the awards.
Now in its second year, the VIP event was held inside the church located at 609 Franklin Ave
nue.
Pointing out that the event normally would be held at a hotel with a pricey ticket tag of $170 to $200, Lingo noted that not all family members would be able to celebrate with the recipients, so that was the thought process in hosting it at the church, which was transformed to match the staging of the lavish event.
The Presidential Award is just one of the ways Lingo salutes volunteers and those who are on the mission field, as the radio jock, producer, and singer has made it his life’s mission to celebrate Kingdom workers. For years, he has been hosting the Caribbean Gospel Music Legend Awards; he has now added this one to the portfolio.
Among the honourees at the gala event were ministers, broadcasters, community workers, and individuals who have been dedicating their lives to serving in the local churches.
Bishop, Dr. Michael A. Frith, who has been very active in ministry and outreach, said he was truly humbled to be considered worthy to receive “such an honourable and prestigious award.”
“The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award; I’m eternally grateful to God, my father, and my Lord Jesus Christ,” were his heartfelt words.
Bishop Frith, who was born in Jamaica and now resides in the state of Florida, gave his heart to the Lord in 1980 and was baptised in June 1981 at the Church of God of Prophecy in New Rochelle, where he served as a youth leader, an assistant Sunday school teacher and a licensed evangelist.
Inspired by the Lord, he began cell group meetings and led home Bible studies, street evangelism, and deliverance meetings. With the blessings of his Bishop, he began Bible school and worship services in the basement of his home in Queens, N.Y., where subsequently the Family of Christ Church of God Ministries and Bible school were birthed.
He was ordained in 1985 as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. After many years of dedicated service, Reverend Frith was consecrated in November 2003 as a bishop in the Lord’s church. In October 2013, he was affirmed as Chief Apostle and continues to serve as Overseer of The Family of Christ Kingdom International Ministries, Inc.
Frith is an ordained pastor and a serving son of God who flows in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and operates in the five-fold Ministry with an apostolic mantle of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher. He has travelled extensively, preaching and teaching the Word of God in the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, the U.K., Africa, and the Caribbean.
In addition to overseeing churches in the U.K., the Caribbean, the continent of Africa, and the Continental USA, he is also the chancellor and president of the Family of Christ Theological Seminary, fully accredited with the Florida Board of Education, with chartered affiliations in London, Florida, Africa, and the Caribbean. He is the President of Good Samaritan International Chaplains (GSIC), a fully registered and established chaplaincy training organization. He is a profound lecturer, seminary professor, Bible teacher and expositor, and a sound theologian. Dr. Frith is also the author of “Armed and Extremely Dangerous.”
Bishop Frith is an advocate for Kingdom Ambassadorship with excellence. He is renowned in the area of church leadership, protocol, delegated authority, and spiritual warfare with a powerful prophetic message of hope, healing, and deliverance, both to the laity and the leadership of the Church.
He strongly believes that the church is an empowerment centre, furnished with the resources of God to train and develop mighty men and women of the kingdom. He has served selflessly and faithfully in his community for over thirty-three years and has touched and changed many lives.
Dr. Frith holds a bachelor’s degree in theology, a doctorate in theology and Christian education, and a doctorate in Christian counselling and psychology. He is a counsellor and an international chaplain. Dr. Frith holds membership in The International Council of Charismatic Bishops, The Joint College of Afro-American Pentecostal Bishops, and The International Council of Independent Pentecostal Bishops. He is also the President and Founder of Kingdom United Ecclesiastic Reform Council of Apostles and Bishops, Inc. Dr. Frith is an advocate for Kingdom Ambassadorship with excellence.
He is the proud father of five children and has been happily married to Dr. Lydia Frith for the past 50 years.
Among the other awardees were Missionary Charmaine Smith, an active member of the Christian fellowship who has faithfully served as a missionary Sunday school teacher, choir director, praise and worship team member, and Bishop Fabian Steel.
Bishop Steel has been a volunteer for over 20 years and is a highly respected and influential individual to many across the States. He is the founder of a charity that hosts back to school events.