First Pastor Ordained on the Island of Bonaire
28 May 2024 |
Pastor Jurvensley Koots is the first Adventist pastor to be ordained on the island of Bonaire, stepping into a new role with his family at Antriol Adventist Church, according to Inter-American Division news. The ordination ceremony took place at the historic site of Bonaire’s first Adventist church building and drew over 200 church leaders, members, and community figures.
Koots, who is 40 years old, is originally from Curacao, but has served as the executive secretary of the Bonaire Mission since 2018. The Mission managed four local congregations of about 430 members, but has faced a shortage of ordained ministers since 2021.
Pastor Shurman Kook, the president of the Dutch Caribbean Union, highlighted the ceremony’s significance, noting it as a step toward greater autonomy and empowerment for the local church. “The church in Bonaire is being empowered with a minister with full ecclesiastical authority today,” said Kook. “There is no longer a need for authorization to perform baptisms or to have an ordained minister sent from the Dutch Caribbean Union to perform the services of a duly authorized Seventh-day Adventist minister.”
Inter-American Division president Pastor Elie Henry also spoke at the event, reflecting on the church’s presence and growth since its inception in 1941. He described the ordination as a milestone for both Koots and the broader church community on the island.
“When I look back on my life, it illustrates what God wants to teach us as His children, and that is to recognize that it is the hand of God that has led and is leading every step I take,” reflected Koots. He expressed gratitude for the chance to serve his community and recognized his wife, Suehedy Balootje, for her integral role in their joint ministry.
