Vernon says Fresh Bread Ministries has enriched MoBay’s heart and spirit
Published:Wednesday | October 22, 2025 | 12:07 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says Fresh Bread Ministries International (FBMI), a non-denominational organisation based in the St James capital, has made the area richer in spirit and stronger in purpose in the 25 years it has been serving the city.
According to Vernon, the ministry’s outreach, particularly its efforts to feed the less fortunate on the city’s streets, stands as testament to the enduring power of faith and love.
“Fresh Bread Ministries International has made Montego Bay richer in spirit, deeper in love, and stronger in purpose,” said Vernon, who was addressing guests at FBMI’s silver jubilee banquet, which was held on Saturday night at the Iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay. “It has stood as a pillar of compassion and conviction, feeding the spirit, uplifting the vulnerable, and evangelising communities with unwavering grace.”
Vernon, who is also chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, praised the ministry for its deep-rooted engagement across the parish and the wider communities of western Jamaica.
“This ministry has walked the streets of Montego Bay, embraced the forgotten, and partnered with schools and institutions to shape lives and futures,” he said.
While FBMI’s contributions have been recognised by both corporate and civic entities, Vernon emphasised that its greatest success lies in its human impact.
“Its true reward is reflected in the countless lives touched, restored, and empowered,” he added.
Vernon also used the occasion to honour the late Bishop Philmon Samuels, the founder of Fresh Bread Ministries International, describing him as a man of vision, valour, and divine purpose.
“From his early calling at age 14, through his theological journey at Christ for the Nations and Remnant Bible School, Bishop Samuels embodied the sacred charge to develop leaders and transform lives,” said Vernon. “His voice stirred hearts, his hands built bridges, and his faith moved his mission forward.”
CONTINUED LEGACY
Although Samuels transitioned in February this year, his legacy continues through the newly established Philmon Samuels Scholarship Fund, which was officially launched during the jubilee celebration.
“The launch of this scholarship fund is a testament to that enduring legacy,” said Vernon. “As the first recipients, one from a girls’ home and one from the church, are honoured, we witness the continuation of a life lived in service and love.”
For those in attendance, the evening was not only a celebration of faith but also of endurance as it spoke to how one man’s calling became a community’s anchor.
That story was brought to life through Minister Conrad Robinson, who chronicled the ministry’s 25-year journey with humility and conviction, tracing its rise from a modest prayer meeting to a thriving global ministry.
Robinson recalled that on October 1, 2000, FBMI held its first Sunday service at the then La Mirage Hotel with just 35 people in attendance, coinciding with the inaugural Word Explosion Conference, a tradition that continues to this day.
He noted that by 2001, missionaries were dispatched to Barbados, marking the beginning of FBMI’s expansion into Central and South America.
“Ministries such as Arts & Worship, Youth, Sunday School, and Daughters of Destiny flourished, while mission teams served in schools, communities, and shelters, feeding both souls and bodies,” Robinson recounted.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson said, the ministry never wavered.
“We never lacked. God has been, and will continue to be, faithful,” he said.
As Fresh Bread Ministries International commemorates its 25th anniversary, its members celebrate not merely a milestone but a mission fulfilled – one defined by faith, fuelled by love, and guided by the enduring hand of God.