By Father Joel Almonó
Dear Victor,
Many people think that we met here in Lawrence; let me explain to our nice readers that the first time we met was at nine in the morning in Isabela Aguiar in Sector Herrera in the capital, in the year 1979. We were participating in a meeting convened by Mr. Braulio Portes of the Church of the Christianization, then called Campus Crusade for Christ. We both were beardless, full of big dreams and our temples were populated by mountains of hopes, our heads were covered by black hair and at that time we were remarkably thin; both evangelical pastors, you Pentecostal Church and I, a server of the Free Methodist Church.
For me it did not go unnoticed at that meeting an evangelical pastor would wear a clerical collar, fashioned that you have continued throughout your ministerial life. I remember that meeting, a quiet person whose eyes scanned everything in your environment, a little rebellious which are virtues that adorn the children and descendants of the British West Indies who came to cut cane and settled mostly in the Eastern part of the country.
Again, we got together several times, but I was more surprised to see you here in Lawrence and find a Victor Jarvis, different in all aspects, rebellious, unruly, talkative, clever, true strategist creating religious leaders, taking you in different sectors of society. At that time you wore several hats: you were president of AMEDAL (Association of Evangelical Ministers of the Lawrence area), president of MVP, President of the Commission of Human Rights and Pastor of the Ebenezer Church, among other functions.
I wondered about many important roles you hoard and left no room for stronger leadership like yours. Your answer was more direct than indirect, “Because they have the ability and are called to do, but they don’t want to do it.” I’m afraid this was the incentive for others to see in you the voice that evangelicals should continue. And like our Mexican brothers would say, “you became the sesame of all moles.”
Is inherent that other evangelical leaders would seek your support to boost their public positions. In this regard were confused because you didn’t do it and they soon realized that your voice never rose to support them. You stoically weathered the storm of articles written about you accusing you of all wrongdoings, your response was almost sadistic: silence. That unilateral confrontation described you fully: you enjoy politics without being partisan, that’s why I think you brought the “Cesar popery” to the city, that is, is this state of affairs where political events are permeated by religion and these embrace each other, being the religious tone the one to follow.
I recognize in you a spiritual leader who fights for his parish; you are one of those who think outside the box in which seminaries mold us no matter which denomination they belong to. I say this because as John Wesley you understood that the world is your parish, so is not uncommon to see you in all human, patriotic, or social activity taking place in Lawrence, you are someone who will “roll up” your pants to swim across the river of calamities that overwhelm our city and for that I have a lot of respect for you, for being someone who takes pragmatism to another level, you’re good at sacred oratory but the social and human practice is more in you than high ornate verb.
As pastor you are leaving a diaphanous trail, but you must take care of carefully, as some see you more as a “political than religious” figure, smarter than pastor, more opportunistic than helper. Which is not true, you’re a pastor of souls with social sensitivity. You have managed a tender help to different institutions without being in charge (that, I know), but I fear that this kind of leadership is not easy to grasp.
My memory escapes the author of the maxim goes, “He who is ahead of its time and has an answer to what has not been asked, is condemned to live alone.” With humility I suggest you think about it, you have a different view, some of your colleagues do not understand, or better expressed do not share some of your statements and I fear loneliness then will begin to look like truth in your ministry, but the one who called you and whom you serve, may liberate you in the same way that the Prophet Daniel was freed from the lion’s den.
Rev. Victor Jarvis, thank you very much for having such a different and humane vision of religious ecumenism; with pastors like you we can achieve a better future for our community.
