A disciple of Christ
Published:Sunday | July 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Martin Baxter, Gleaner Writer
Freeing the hearts and minds of people isn't easy. Buddhism teaches that one can reach spiritual enlightenment only after purging the soul of all worldliness. Islam preaches submission to Allah, and that only complete submission and belief in one God can free the mind.
Reverend Donald A. Roberts, a Christian, insists that with his book: The Amazing Life Of The Disciple Of Christ, believers and the newly converted can live a life of freedom and power - as God intended.
"For many years, I have been concerned about the fact that there are so many persons who are Christians but seem not to be able to come into this life of freedom and power," he told Outlook.
"They live defeated lives, lives of guilt and shame and regret; and even though they're going to church, they seem not to be able to come into this liberty, and so the book now comes out of that concern. So I'm actually writing to help persons to know how to really come to that fullness of the Christian experience."
Life of Christian ministry
Reverend Roberts became a servant of God at the age of 15 and has, since then, dedicated his life to the Christian ministry. Graduating from Vere Technical High School in Clarendon and Bethel Bible College thereafter, he was awarded a diploma in theology. The next chapter in his story was the Jamaica Theological Seminary, where he received his bachelor's degree in theology and later graduating with a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Among other duties, Reverend Roberts is a member of the national executive board of the denomination, Bible teacher, counsellor and marriage officer. Through these responsibilities he has developed an active interest in societal issues including relationships, family, education and sex - contemporary concerns that are often at the centre of religious and moral conflict in peoples' lives. He notes that modern-day pressures were posing serious problems for Christians.
"Presently, it's a challenge of responding to the post-modern age. And by that I mean it's an age of pluralism where unlike in the past, where life was just right or wrong, it's more difficult to determine that now in view of the challenges being faced".
He continues, "The other thing is the laxity of standards and values and I think, Christians, because they're not growing as they should and not knowing the scriptures as they should, they're finding it difficult responding to the age."
The pastor of Clifton New Testament Church of God in St Andrew, says that this, his second book, will help peoples' lives grow.
"It's an honest look at what the scriptures say about the Christian life, about being a disciple of Christ, and I have just sought to look at what God has said in his word and I feel that if persons buy it and read it and apply the principle there in, then their lives should grow and they should develop as a Christian."