Pastor David Lewis of Kingdom Grace International Ministries was living a carefree, nonchalant life, focusing on his career without the slightest care about God or the mission of saving souls. As he shared, he was proud, sinful, and wayward until God decided it was time for him to respond to the call.
Sharing about the encounter with Freedom Come Rain Newspaper, pastor Lewis said it took place on his birthday, October 24, 2021.
“I had a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, who only spoke one word to me. He said, ‘COME’. That one word was like the sound of many waves! It was terrifying, and I was filled with fear of God, yet in the midst of it all, there was a deep peace that I felt. I cried for days after that encounter with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I then realised that He called me to pastor and begin a work for him so that souls can be saved,” he related.
Now that he is in the business of soul reaping, he said one of the most difficult thing is ‘time’, as for him, there are so many demands, needs, and emergencies that occur every day of the week.
He said he quickly learned that a pastor has to be able to separate things that seem urgent from things that are important. Every effective pastor, he notes, has one prayer in common: ‘for more time’, and most often than not, it’s for more time to get a little rest.
Pastor Lewis, who knows the value of time, said it is for that reason he is concerned about the church, as he believes they tend to forget the main focus, which is the souls of men.
“If we are not careful, we can become busy doing things that are outside of the will of God. The Kingdom mandate is all about winning souls and taking dominion in the earth; if we succeed in other areas but miss this mark, then we are failing miserably,” he stressed.
Sharing about the church he pastors, Kingdom Grace International Ministries, Pastor Lewis describes it as having a focus on impacting lives locally and globally through their Kingdom Grace C.A.R.E. programme, which stands for “Community and Regional Empowerment, which sees them feeding the needy and providing care for the less fortunate in the surrounding communities.
“We have a strong engagement with the communities around us, as I believe love is shown in action and not just words. We were able to help over 60 students this August with back-to-school bags and packages, and to date, we have assisted in feeding over 120 families this year through the provision of grocery bags with balanced and healthy foods,” Pastor Lewis expounded.
Commenting on their global programme, he says it is in the form of building a school in Kasur, Pakistan, which provides free schooling for over 30 children who were displaced and had no access to learning.
“We were also able to sponsor a water purifier that provides cool and safe water for the children to drink because the area in Kasur has issues with clean water. The Lord has blessed us with partners and church members who give into these initiatives so that it becomes a reality,” he stated.
As passionate as he is about the ministry, Pastor Lewis said he does take the time to ‘unwind’ and that for him is travelling and enjoying nature. He and his wife, he says, find great joy and relaxation in seeing new places.
But if he can’t travel… It’s not a biggie, as he equally enjoys staying home and enjoying the garden or backyard farming with his wife.
“My wife, Georgia, has a passion for plants, and I caught on very quickly. We look forward to passing time with each other around nature,” he quipped.
Spending quality time with his wife and family is something that Pastor Lewis said he is intentional about, as he points out that she married him because she needs a husband first and not a pastor.
“I have to honour my obligation as a husband; hence, planning date nights and special time with family is pivotal. The church is less than two years old, so it requires a lot of attention and development from the pastors. We had to sacrifice some alone time with each other so that the foundation is properly built,” he informed, even as he thanked the Lord for a wife who gave ‘awesome’ help and understanding, as well as having good leaders who aid in lightening the load.
Born in Kingston and a past student of St. George’s College, Pastor Lewis said his family aided in his faith journey as his mother grew him up in the church since he was a baby. He said he learned the passion for prayer and intimacy with God from his mother, as he recalled countless days that she ordered him to read the book of Proverbs, chapter after chapter, when he got home from school. Looking back now, he said it was one of the best investments he had ever made.
Although his father was not a Christian, he said he too instilled in him key values like diligence and stewardship.
“I grew up seeing my father work very hard; he did not take many vacations. In fact, my memories of him staying home would be when he was feeling ill because of the stresses of the job. He finally decided, after over 35 years in his profession, to retire and get some well-needed rest, but he died of a heart attack three months after retirement. His death taught me one last and most important lesson, and that is to have balance in everything I do,” he confessed.
Debunking the myth that a pastor’s life is easy, he said it is filled with struggles as they must “lead while they bleed,” with days feeling like they don’t want to get out of bed. It is for this reason that he warns that if you are not called to be one, do not seek it out.”
In conclusion, Pastor Lewis reminds us that “every pastor needs a pastor”, as he revealed that his spiritual father is Apostle Courtney McLean.
“So when the time comes for emotional or spiritual support, I have an able source of guidance. This is a critical component of pastoring; having a father and spiritual covering in the Lord helps with accountability, which is another key component of the pastoral office,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Pastor Lewis said his ultimate goal is to fulfil his God-given purpose on earth, which is to help others maximise their potential in God and be activated for service to the Lord.
“I have a passion for impacting lives, communities, and nations so that the Kingdom of God can be established on earth.”