Leon Natta-Nelson pays tribute to retired Mount Carmel Baptist pastor; welcomes successor Michael Penny

The St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party candidate for St Christopher 7 (Ottley's to Belle Vue) Mr Leon Natta-Nelson has praised the decades of service of retired pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Bishop Dr Kelvin Jones.

Mr Natta-Nelson, who attended Sunday's installation of Pastor Michael Penny as Dr Jones' successor said Penny has "large shoes to fill."

"My congratulations to you Pastor Michael Penny and Family. This is indeed a wonderful opportunity that God has bestowed upon you. On Sunday, I witnessed the members of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church accepted you with open arms and I am sure that the people of Constituency #7 will do same, as you are now installed as the new Leader and Pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church," said Natta-Nelson in a FaceBook posting.

"There is the saying of 'large shoes to fill' and this reference I use is mainly because the man whom you replaced has done so much for this church and the communities for 60 years and going. Dr Bishop Kelvin Jones has ministered and lead the Mount CBC through some wonderful years," said Natta-Nelson, who along with former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas attended the installation ceremony.

"Like everything else, there has also been rough times, damages to the church from hurricanes, social and political difficulties (especially from 1993-2014). However with God's help and continued blessings, with a character that is as resilient and determined as Bishop Jones, the Mount Carmel Baptist Church has survived through thick and thin," Natta-Nelson said.

He added: "Now, Bishop Jones can be rest assured that Pastor Michael Penny will deliver to the members of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church and the residents of Constituency #7. Amen."