Bishop Ira Dermot Thompson BISHOP IRA Dermot Thompson is a Christian and a community worker.
He has been building walls of comfort, healing, protection, support and example to aid the people of all ages in the communities surrounding his church at South Camp Road.
His work at Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) has given many people a second chance to help themselves and he has the full support of his church members.
Bishop Thompson is the 2002 Governor-General's Achievement Award winner for St. Andrew.
"It's encouraging. I didn't set out for anything like this," he said. "You find yourself in your corner doing what you see needs to be done, and then comes this surprise."
The awards are given to persons of humble background who rise from poverty to make strides and contributions in their communities.
Bishop Thompson was one of 14 children born to Daniel and Alberta Thompson who were small cultivators and shopkeepers. Up to age nine he had no shoes but the family members were dignified and compassionate, and when their meals were prepared each day, he had to run errands taking food to the less fortunate in the district.
He was born in 1934 in St. Ann and attended Muirhouse Elementary School. However, he did not advance any further as his teacher advised his mother to send him to learn a trade. At age 14 he became a Christian. After leaving school he performed several odd jobs before moving to Kingston at age 16.
There, with the aid of a bicycle, he sold various small items around Kingston to support himself. At age 22 he emigrated to England where he held jobs at various times as bus conductor, driver and salesman. He was called to the Christian ministry at age 29, and pastored a small church in Birmingham for seven years.
In 1969 he was sent by the Bethel United Church Apostolic in the United Kingdom to pastor the mission at South Camp Road. There, along with his wife and a faithful and committed congregation, the church has grown from a membership of about 50 to more than 900. He was appointed Bishop in 1986 and now overseas 16 branches throughout the island.
The Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) under Bishop Thompson's leadership, has established several social programmes designed to assist the less fortunate to uplift themselves. These are carried out under the umbrella of Project HELP which was formed in 1977, and which administers the Bethel United Basic School, the Adopt-A-Child programme, Bethel United Training Institute and several others that care for the aged and mentally challenged persons.
Bishop Thompson is a founding member of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union (Apostolic), and served as a member of the board of the Golden Age Home in Kingston. He is married to Phyllis and they have six children.
"This (award) has just put a little gas in my tank to work harder," he said.
His plans include going into the areas he works with (Franklin Town, Allman Town etc.) to clean up the streets.
"If people start to live in a clean environment they will feel a little better about themselves," he said. Also, he plans to petition for a bus to transport senior citizens he works with, to places of recreation.
