In a moment charged with faith and a profound sense of destiny, the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has ushered in a new era of leadership. Pastor Wilmoth J. M. James, a son of soil whose journey from the playing fields of Liberta to the pulpit has inspired thousands, was elected as the conference’s seventh president on August 23, 2025.
This is not merely an administrative change; it is the culmination of a 41-year love story between a pastor and his people.
The election, held at the 15th Quadrennial Meeting, was a testament to a life lived in service. For Pastor James, now in the sixth decade of a life dedicated to Christ, the new role is simply a broader field for the same mission he began on that September day in 1979 when he first answered God’s call.
Born to Alfred and Tyzena James, a couple whose 54-year marriage and twelve children were a testament to their own devotion, Wilmoth James’s foundation was built on faith and fortitude. His early years at Liberta Primary and All Saints Secondary Schools revealed a young man of passion and charisma, though he jokingly claimed sporting talents that rivaled international cricket and soccer legends, namely India’s Venkataragan in cricket and England’s Gordon Banks in football.
That determination and good humor would become the hallmarks of a ministry that never lost its common touch.
After graduating in Systematic Theology from Caribbean Union College in 1983, Pastor James began his work in Antigua. His vision however extended far beyond a single pulpit. His ministry became a force for tangible change, touching lives across the Caribbean archipelago, from St. Kitts to Montserrat and throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
He was not just a preacher; he was a builder. In 1997, with faith as his blueprint, he established the Sweet Redemptive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tortola.
Eleven years later, he laid the foundation for another spiritual home, the Redemption Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nassau, Bahamas. These churches stand today as permanent monuments to his belief in creating spaces for hope and community.
His administrative acumen, sharpened over 19 years in conference leadership, saw him revitalize critical departments from Youth and Music Ministries to the humanitarian efforts of ADRA. Yet, his focus remained fiercely on the people, especially the youth. He became a vocal advocate in the fight against substance abuse, seeing not problems but untapped potential in every young person.
Behind this great man is a woman of equal dedication. His marriage of 38 years to Linda Geraldine Kendall, a revered Adventist educator and science teacher, is a partnership forged in shared faith and service. Together, they raised three children, building a family that mirrors the strong values he inherited from his parents.
Pastor James’s academic pursuits include a Master’s in Educational Administration and a certification as a Family Life Educator from Andrews University. Neither was for prestige but for purpose.
They armed him with deeper knowledge to better serve his flocks, to better counsel families and to better lead.
As he steps into the presidency, he carries with him the joys and struggles of the communities he has served. He is a leader who has knelt in prayer in living rooms, cheered from the sidelines at youth tournaments and worked tirelessly to bring tangible aid to those in need.
His guiding light, now more than ever, remains the enduring words of Romans 8:28: “…for we know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.”
For Pastor Wilmoth J. M. James, this new chapter is not about power; it is about promise. It is the promise that under his visionary shepherd’s heart, the North Caribbean Conference will continue to be a powerful force for good, working together to create a future where faith, community and the potential of every individual can truly flourish.
His birthplace community of Liberta Village on the beautiful island of Antigua and Barbuda extends warmest congratulations to him and prayers for God’s continued guidance over his life and work.
