Communication, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica, Elder Nigel Coke, is the new Chairman of the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) Media Advisory Board. The announcement was made by Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Jamaica Union of Seventh-day Adventists (JAMU), and chairman of the NCU Board of Governors, at the start of a meeting of the Advisory Board held on November 16, 2022 at the JAMU headquarters in Mandeville.
The position of Chairman for the NCU Media Advisory Board was made vacant when the previous Chairman, Pastor Meric Walker, then Executive Secretary of JAMU accepted a call to serve as president of East Jamaica Conference in June of this year.
“As a result of that we had to look for a new chair,” said Pastor Brown. “It is my delight this morning to present to you our new Chairman, Elder Nigel Coke.”
“Elder Coke has been a member of the NCU Media Advisory Board since its inception twelve years ago and is a former Chairman of the LOVE 101 FM Board so he comes to this board with a wealth of experience. We believe that Elder Coke, based on his experience, will be able to provide the leadership necessary to the NCU Media Board and will be able to guide the Board in greener pastures,” Brown added.
Elder Nigel Coke, Communication, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica :: Photo credit: Contributed
In his response, the new Chairman called for unity from his fellow stakeholders and Advisory board members as they focus on the mission of the Church.
“I would like to appeal to all the stakeholders, conferences, institutions, everyone, to coalesce, around the media group because the focus really is about evangelism and soul winning,” said Coke.
“The main focus of the station is to educate people and let them know that God loves them. We ought to be playing inspirational music that will draw souls to Christ. Our tagline “The Education and Wellness Station” is actually saying ‘transforming lives through education and wellness’ as we foster a greater focus on the power of the station to impact lives.”
The new Chairman solicited the continued financial support of the conferences and institutions in Jamaica Union in order for the NCU media group to remain viable.
“God has provided resources right throughout the conferences and institutions and it is only when we get that understanding that all the money is His and we need to appropriate it in the right way so that evangelism becomes the focus, that we will see success” Coke said. “The radio station, through the power of its air waves and through the internet, has the ability to take the message to where we can’t go,” Coke added.
President of Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Dr. Lincoln Edwards congratulated Coke on his new appointment and noted that he (Coke) has always been passionate about the success of NCU Media. “We welcome you, and NCU stands ready to work with this Advisory Board under your leadership to move NCU Media to even higher heights.”
Chief Financial Officer of Andrews Memorial Hospital, Elder Donmayne Gyles also commended Coke on his new appointment and pledged the support of the hospital to the NCU Media Group. “We remain behind the Media Board as we partner and look forward to a better future”, Gyles said.
The NCU Media Advisory Board was set up to provide leadership and give advice and oversight to the NCU Media Group on behalf of the NCU Board and the Executive Committee of the Jamaica Union who are ultimately responsible for the governance of NCU Media Group (NCU Radio and NCU TV). The Media Board is made up of the presidents, treasurers, communication directors and a lay member from each of the five conferences in Jamaica, along with the president and treasurer of the two institutions in JAMU - NCU and Andrews Hospital.