Rev. Vincent gives new life to Abundant Life
Maine native and family happy to be pastoring local church
SUSSEX -
Rev. Richard Vincent is the newest member of the Sussex Christian community. He took a position at Abundant Life United Pentecostal Church seven weeks ago. The Main Street church was without a minister for six months.
Originally from Augusta, Maine, Vincent was 12 when his mother sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in Bangor because of instability at home due to alcohol.
His aunt and uncle took him to their pentecostal church, where he found his calling.
"I was confused, with a low self-image and wanted reassurance," he said.
He was a little uncomfortable at first, but really enjoyed the music and clapping of hands and tapping of feet.
After a couple of months, a pastor asked him if he wanted to be baptized. The result was so powerful that he said he felt God working through him the hair on the back of his arms and neck were raised and his arms were trembling.
When he received his water baptism at 12, Vincent heard the voice of God telling him that he was to spread the gospel and that's why he became a pastor.
He attended the United Pentecost Bible Institute in Fredericton. After graduation in 1991, he took a position as a youth pastor in Cherryfield, Maine.
He landed a position in 1993 at the Apostolic Pentecostal church in Mars Hill, Maine where he met his wife Daffaine.
They have three children, Michaela, Storm and Mycah.
Before coming to Sussex, he was preaching at a church in Fort Fairfield, Maine.
Vincent has travelled widely and shared some of his experiences with the Kings County Record. He remembers going to a bathroom while on a crusade in Kenya, Africa.
"It's was just a hut with a hole in the ground," said Vincent, chuckling. "There was a chain hanging from the roof and I was wondering if it just flushed everything away or if it had a secret trap door in the dirt. Well, I pulled the chain and water stared pouring down on me. I realized it was a shower."
This is just one of the many differences he has seen in his adventures across the ocean. Some of the more serious things he's witnessed are blind men seeing after prayers and sick people cured. This he attributes to the "divine work of God."
Vincent is working on getting more youth activities going in the church and welcomes anyone who wishes to attend.
"It's not about religion, it's about God. A name or a door does not save a man. What saves a man is the gospel."
The reverend said he and his family like the area, describing the people as friendly.
Services are Wednesday at 7:30 p.m, and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
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