Pastor Peter Kerr Retires After 47 Years of Faithful Service

It was a packed ballroom at The Shore Club on Sunday evening, Feb 15 as church leaders, government officials, family members, and congregants gathered to honour a life poured out in service.

The retirement banquet for Pastor Peter Kerr and Mrs. Jennifer Kerr marked the close of forty-seven years of distinguished ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But more than a formal ceremony, the evening felt like the turning of a national page — a moment of collective gratitude for steady, principled leadership that quietly shaped generations.

 It was clear from the outset that Pastor Kerr’s ministry extended far beyond sermons. It was pastoral care in hospital rooms. It was guidance offered during seasons of national uncertainty. It was counsel given to young families, steady reassurance during church transitions, and discipline in the administration of faith.

Speaker after speaker reflected on a consistent theme: faithfulness.

Former Premier Hon. Galmo Williams, Minister of Religious Affairs Hon. Shaun Malcolm, joined church leaders from across the region and the General Conference of Seventh-day adventists in paying tribute to a man described as measured, principled, and unwavering in conviction.

Yet the most powerful moments captured how the life of this inspiring man of God began, the humble roots that molded him into the man he is today.

A video presentation titled “A Shepherd’s Journey” traced Pastor Kerr’s path from early ministry to conference leadership. Photographs of modest church buildings, youth gatherings, and mission fields served as reminders that legacy is rarely built in grand halls. It is built in ordinary spaces, over long obedience.

Pastor Kerr’s service was not solitary. Beside him throughout the decades stood Mrs. Jennifer Kerr — partner in ministry, teacher and educator, anchor in the home, and spiritual guide to their family. Together, their influence extended beyond the pulpit, pouring into the many lives they touched along the way.

In his tribute, Pastor Kern Tobias, President of the Caribbean Union, described Pastor Kerr as “a shepherd who understood both the weight of responsibility and the gentleness required to carry it.”

Forty-seven years of ministry carries unseen sacrifices — missed holidays, late-night calls, difficult decisions, and the quiet burdens of shepherding people through grief and growth. Yet as the evening unfolded, what emerged most clearly was not sacrifice alone, but stewardship.

Pastor Kerr’s retirement marks the close of an era for the Turks and Caicos Islands Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. But it does not mark the end of influence. If anything, the testimonies offered throughout the evening affirmed that influence forged over decades does not retire. It multiplies through those who were mentored, encouraged, and inspired.

The programme concluded fittingly with the congregation standing to sing, “I Will Sing of the Goodness of God.” The lyrics seemed to capture the spirit of the night — gratitude not merely for years served, but for a life surrendered.

In a world that often celebrates speed and visibility, Sunday evening was a reminder that the most enduring impact is built slowly, faithfully, and with conviction.

And for Pastor Peter Kerr and Mrs. Jennifer Kerr, that legacy now rests securely in the hands of the generations they have shaped.

-Contributed