SPIRITUAL BIOGRAPHY

Rev Dr V. Desmond Griffith was born in British Guiana, now known as Guyana. The first eight years of his life were dedicated to Roman Catholicism. But after his mother’s conversion, they became Pentecostal. He came to faith at age twelve, and this new religious body became the source of his spiritual formation during those tender years. Even so, to this day he could still reflect on the two years he spent in Parochial school and was exposed to catholic teachings.

The family joined the Gospel Tabernacle [GT] during a high point in the life and ministry of this church. This came about when the church was having an “open air meeting” in the yard where they lived (for those who are not familiar with the term “open air meeting” as it pertains to the church; this is a well planned full blown church worship service held away from the church, by a few of its leaders. The venue was usually a street corner or an area in plain view and hearing of several homes. Rather than waiting for folks to come to the church to hear the gospel message, the message was taken to where they were). It was during one of these meetings that his mother accepted the Lord, and he was there – from the beginning of her Christian journey at the age of eight years. The church was focused on evangelism and this meant that at an early age he was groomed in proselytizing. As a teenager he was very active in the church and in this respect, his mother was his greatest influence as she became a devout Christian and major influence in his life. He believes that his childhood Christian education laid the foundation for his Christian journey.

He came to faith during a crusade at the Dorcus Sports Club; to which his mother and sister took him. After the preaching, they began singing “Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me….” He was thoroughly convicted of sin: sins such as, lying, slipping out of the home against his mother’s instructions to play with his friends, and taking things which were not his. These sins weighed heavily on his heart. He remembers standing and weeping at the altar as his mother stood with him.

Because of God’s grace and mercy, his life would be completely transformed from this point onward. In retrospect, his Pastor, Elder Ramsey and other leaders of the church were well informed, for it was well known to them that he would become a preacher of the gospel. The only problem he said was that he didn’t share in this revelation: he didn’t receive the call until about three decades later when the Lord visited him in the comfort, privacy and solitude of his den. This was a quiet time of revelation, conviction and repentance. He says, there can be no revival without repentance. Things changed so fast; that it wasn’t long after his personal revival, he was ordained as a deacon by Rev C.S. Hamilton, Pastor; Tabernacle Baptist Church, where he, his wife and their three children had been members for ten years.

Three years later, at a time when he was immersed in a personal and intense study of the bible under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Rev Otis Moss III was called to pastor Tabernacle and Deacon Griffith regularly attended bible study under him, as well as BSF International bible study for men. After a year of this regimen of instruction, personal study, and introspection; he enrolled at McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University. He preached his first sermon on January 8, 2002 and was licensed. He was later ordained as a preacher and minister of the gospel on March 29, 2006, by Rev Moss and a specially called council of Pastors from the CSRA. The ordination ceremony was held at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta; on Sunday October 1, 2006 at 4:00 PM, and was presided over by Rev. Dr. Reginald D. Simmons, then Pastor of Universal Ministries Christian Fellowship, and assisted by Rev Alfred Cockfield, Pastor, God’s Batalion of Prayer, Brooklyn, New York and Rev Martha Simmons.

Pastor V-Dez (as his friends call him) believes that the Church must position herself to be the light when people are experiencing the darkest night of their soul. It is not God’s desire that any should perish: therefore we the church must partner with God and be that conduit through which grace, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation and love flows to those who are strangers to grace, never met mercy, always seem to be in need of forgiveness (that’s us) and whose existence is as aliens in the land of their birth and have never experienced Godly love. These might be people from all walks of life, and diverse ethnic origins pleading for the right to live.

Pastor V-Dez says, though there are many worship styles, liturgies, songs of praise and diverse litanies; there is only one Church, one Spirit, one Savior and one Lord. People who have been alienated from their creator ought to be able to join any gathering where Jesus is worshipped and find grace, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation and love. The Church is a Church for all people – God created them all.

Pastor V-Dez’s preparation for ministry included a hefty dose of grace, a Master of Divinity in Theology from McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University; Doctor of Pharmacy, Mercer University; Bachelor of Pharmacy, Long Island University; Associate in Applied Science, With Honors, New York City Community College, City University of New York – He received the Tau Phi Sigma Award.