Tribute from the president of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Dr. Newton Upanton Cleghorne was certainly one of God’s choicest additions to the human race. He is a great loss to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and particularly, to Northern Caribbean University; a loss also to the human race. He was many things rolled up in one package and gifted to us. He was gracious, kind-hearted and affable.
I became closely acquainted with Pastor Cleghorne and his wife in 1995, when as Youth Ministries Director of Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, I was part of the team that led a contingent of youth and youth leaders from the St. Catherine Federation of Adventist Youth to New York for a twinning with the Sharon
Seventh-day Adventist Church which was shepherded by Pastor Cleghorne at that time. The warmth and kind hospitality with which we were received by the Cleghornes, lingered with me. They even included in the itinerary a trip to the General Conference headquarters in Maryland—a long, long way from New York but we appreciated that so very much. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica benefited immensely from his evangelistic prowess. An outstanding preacher of the Word, Dr. Cleghorne made time on his packed calendar to lead several weeks of evangelistic outreach each year.
As chairman of the Board of Governors of NCU, I interacted closely with Dr.
Cleghorne as he executed his portfolio responsibilities. I can say without fear of contradiction that he served with distinction. As the Apostle Paul said of himself I can say of Dr. Cleghorne , he “fought a good fight, he finished the course, he kept the faith”. I have confidence that a crown of righteousness awaits him.his all-too-soon departure and the finality of it have left our Adventist community with unspeakable grief. I share the grief and the pain of the NCU family, and we empathize with his widow Dr. Wayne Ireland Cleghorne and the other members of their family.
Your loss is our loss also. Yet we are comforted in the hope of the First Resurrection.