Former ward at St James girls’ home, Sunday school teacher are first recipients of Bishop Philmon Samuels Scholarship
Published:Thursday | October 23, 2025 | 12:06 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Two young women, a Sunday school teacher and a former ward of the Melody Girls’ House in St James, became the first recipients of the inaugural Bishop Philmon Samuels Scholarship Fund, which sees them getting a combined total of $500,000 to pursue their studies at the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, also in St James.
The scholarship award forms part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Fresh Bread Ministries International (FBMI), a non-denominational religious organisation based in Montego Bay, which was founded by Samuels 25 years ago.
The fund was launched with $1.3 million raised through donations from the church community and partners. It will provide annual scholarships over the next 10 years to students who demonstrate academic merit and financial needs.
The symbolic cheque presentations took place at the Iberostar Hotel and Resort in Montego Bay, where the ministry’s silver jubilee – 25 years of faithful service, outreach, and spiritual impact – took place.
“I am very thankful for this scholarship. It will go a long way in helping me accomplish my dreams,” said Marissa Peddie, who grew up in Salt Spring, St James, but subsequently became a ward of Melody Girls’ Housee, which caters to young women with various needs.
Peddie, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in primary education at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, received her scholarship cheque, valued at $300,000, from Pastor Olga Samuels, senior founding pastor of FBMI and the widow of the late Bishop Samuels.
A DREAM COME TRUE
In an interview with The Gleaner, Peddie described the scholarship as “nothing short of a dream come true”.
“Having grown up with challenges, I know what it means to receive support,” she said. “This feels like another extended version of God’s plan for me, building on what I have accomplished in the past and what I plan to achieve in the future, with God’s help.”
The second recipient, Okeima Harris, a dedicated Sunday school teacher and active member of Fresh Bread Ministries International for more than seven years, expressed similar gratitude.
Originally from Portland, Harris relocated to St James after graduating from high school and has since immersed herself in church life, serving in the Sunday school, missions, and youth ministries. She had previously enrolled into a primary education bachelor’s degree programme at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College but was forced to shift from full-time to part-time studies due to financial challenges.
“This scholarship means everything to me,” said Harris, whose scholarship is valued at $200,000. “It allows me to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher, to inspire and uplift Jamaica’s children. I am deeply humbled that my church family believes in me enough to invest in my future.
“I believe it is my purpose to become a teacher, and I will stop at nothing to earn my degree and step confidently into the classroom.
“As a faith-driven educator, I am committed to not only teaching lessons, but also shaping lives. I will pray for my students, speak positively over them, and pour words of encouragement and hope into their hearts.”
TO NURTURE MIND, SPIRIT
Added Harris: “My goal is to nurture both their minds and their spirits, helping them to see their potential and walk boldly into their purpose.”
Gloria Henry, coordinator of the Bishop Philmon Samuels Scholarship Fund and a senior member of Fresh Bread Ministries for over 20 years, reflected on the milestone and the enduring impact of the church’s late founder, Bishop Samuels, whose name the scholarship fund bears.
“Twenty-five years is an awesome period of time, not just to remember, but to celebrate,” Henry said. “We felt it was necessary to memorialise the contribution of the late Bishop Samuels. His ministry continues to travel, even though he is no longer with us in body. His spirit of generosity and empowerment still burns in the lives of young people near and far.”
Henry recalled that Bishop Samuel’s passion for education was evident throughout his life. He served as chairman of Rusea’s High School and Howard Cooke Primary School, where he used both platforms assist young people and promote academic excellence.
“Today is not only about launching a scholarship,” Henry said. “It’s about planting seeds of opportunity, continuing Bishop Samuel’s lifelong mission to educate, uplift, and serve.”