NEW YORK METRO DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
Bishop Devon Douglas Dawson, an ordained minister with the UPCI for almost 50 years, has been the under-shepherd of All Nations Apostolic Tabernacle (ANAT), a thriving church in the heart of the cosmopolitan community of Jamaica, New York, since its inception in 1993. This ministry extends into Valley Stream and New Rochelle communities, with two newly established churches under the leadership of Pastors Steve Williams and Clayton Mattis, respectively. There are also seven evangelistic outreach arms internally designated as zones. Complementing his pastoral assignment, Bishop Dawson is honored to have previously served the UPCI’s New York Metro District as a presbyter and district superintendent.
Bishop Dawson’s tenacious and visionary leadership was forged on both local and foreign mission fields. His first formal assignment began after his graduation from the Caribbean Bible Institute (CBI), in Kingston, Jamaica on March 21, 1971 when he was sent to the parish of St. Thomas to lead a small congregation. From there he went on to lay the groundwork for and pastor the Life Tabernacle Church (LTC), United Pentecostal Church of Jamaica (UPCJ) in East Kingston, an assembly which remains viable today.
In March 1976, Bishop Dawson together with his wife, Joy Marjorie, were commissioned to be missionaries to the nation of Guyana, South America by the UPC of Jamaica in collaboration with the United Pentecostal Church International.
After 17.5 years in Guyana, 15 churches were established, the Apostolic Bible Institute—the training center for ministers—was created, the entire constituents within the denomination numbered approximately 3,500, and there were 32 licensed and ordained ministers. During the last five years of his 17.5-year stint in Guyana, Pastor Dawson’s responsibilities were extended to the country of Trinidad and Tobago [T&T]. At their departure, a T&T based national organization of the UPC was established along with eight churches, and a fully operational Bible school.