Member of the Moravian fraternity in western Jamaica are now mourning the passing of veteran minister, Rev. Justin Peart. Peart, who served the Moravian movement for most of his life in the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Manchester, died peacefully at his home in Mandeville, Manchester, on May 16, following a long illness.

The man, who has been regarded as the father of many of the young and upcoming ministers in the Moravian Church in Jamaica, has been regarded by many as one of the best that the church has seen, especially when it came to motivating young people.

Solid, impeccable Christian

Dr. Randolph Watson, former principal of the Bethlehem Moravian College, and member of the Bethlehem Moravian Church in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, described the late pastor as a solid Christian, "a man of impeccable integrity", and a minister who devoted his life for the young people. Dr. Watson noted that the late minister knew that the youth would be the backbone of the church, and to a larger extent, the backbone of Jamaica, so young people were special to Rev. Peart.

He added that when his wife, Lucinda, joined the late Rev. Peart at the Fairfield Moravian Church in Manchester 43 years ago, the two made a formidable pair who was instrumental in building a new manse for that church. He stated that Rev. Peart had an interest in agriculture and that it was for that reason that he got the Men's Fellowship at Fairfield to start an agriculture project, from which they earned a livelihood.

"The Boys Brigade at Fairfield flourished under his leadership, the church as a whole grew, and his ministry was a very rich one; a legacy which many will attest to," he noted. "He was a wonderful friend, a good minister, a humble minister, not flamboyant but solid. Rev. Peart will be missed and his legacy will remain for many, many years."

A wonderful friend

Dr. Watson pointed out that he shared an important history with the late pastor, as Rev. Peart was the man who invited him to apply for his first job as a principal at the Fairfield Elementary School in 1962. The thanksgiving service for the late minister, who served as chaplain at the Bethlehem Moravian College (formerly Bethlehem Teachers' College) between 1984 and 2003, will be held at the Fairfield Moravian Church on Saturday, June 2.