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Enoch Cornwall lives for the proclamation of the gospel and helping others

Published:Wednesday | October 18, 2017 | 12:00 AMTamara Bailey

Comfort, Manchester:

"For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do." Hebrews 6:10.

He was converted at a New Testament Church in Berry Wood, St Elizabeth at a very tender age, and for the past 50 years, he has not looked back.

Bishop Enoch Cornwall says that his life is the Church, having devoted the past five decades of his life to ministry.

He has served the Church of God of Prophecy as evangelist, pastor, national overseer, parish overseer emeritus, and as bishop.

"My life is in the Church. I migrated to Spanish Town about six years after being converted. When I got there, there was no New Testament Church, and so I started attending the Church of God of Prophecy." That is where it all began, he said.

He played a crucial role in the functioning of the church body, taking part in youth ministry and singing in the choir, and as a result of his potent work, he was sent to pastor a small church body.

"I pastored there for a while before I went into full-time ministry and became a bishop. I pastored a church in Spanish Town for eight years and then I became parish overseer for St Catherine. I was later sent to Maxfield Avenue before being asked to oversee the (Church of God of Prophecy) churches in Kingston and St Andrew."

After spending many years in the Corporate Area, Cornwall was moved to Manchester to be the parish overseer.

He has pastored 39 churches over the years and was crucial to the conceptualisation of the Manchester Parish Building at Levy Lane in Mandeville and the Comfort Church building in Comfort District.

When asked what excites him most about ministry, his response was simple:

"I love people. I have a heart for young people, especially. I spend most of my time trying to assist children. On Sundays when I have finished preaching, there is a line-up at my office, with several persons seeking assistance with back to school, among other things."

He continued, "The local church has set up a social outreach fund that we use to assist needy persons, not just church people. Every August, we have an awards ceremony for children who pass their exams."

Still vivacious at 83 years old, Cornwall added that he is taking it slow these days, having given up the overseer duties to a younger individual, and is now focused on pastoring one church in the Comfort District.

These days, Cornwall basks in the blessings of being with his wife of 57 years, fathering four children, being grandfather to seven, great-grandfather to nine and great-great-grandfather to one.