Rev. Dr. Hope McCormack - Tribute to a woman who served God with Excellence

Rev. Dr. Hope McCormack - Tribute to a woman who served God with Excellence

By Michael Schurton and Trevesa DaSilva-Ashman

October 16, 2010

Rev. Dr. Hope Juliet McCormack J.P. was a great mentor in our lives. Her selflessness and servant spirit was such an example to the entire Word Time Ministries family and also to our personal families.

She battled her illness with fortitude and determination. Dr. Hope always would maintain her deep Christian faith and would say during her illness "I am waiting on the Lord. Whatever He wills"

Through the conversations we shared, she was able to tell of the hope and joy she had through Jesus Christ. Her faith was strong in the power of the Lord. Not understanding at the time, we battled our inner thoughts of why "bad" things happen to good people. Dr. Hope was a good woman. Dr. Hope was a woman who devoted her entire life to serving God and others. Dr. Hope served God with zeal, passion and excellence.

Rev. Dr. Hope McCormack passed from this world and when to be with the Lord on the evening of Saturday, September 25, 2010. Although we don't fully understand God's plan, we were able to witness a person who was completely content with the life she was given.

In the final months of her life she always reminded us to pray and not just pray, but "pray a special prayer." We honoured her request and we prayed. Word Time Ministries of Jamaica had previously revived its International Intercessory Prayer Ministry, the Hour of Healing, Deliverance and Restoration on August 14, 2010 as part of its prayer campaign for the complete healing of Dr. Hope. The Ministry also curtailed several of its outreach programmes and projects in order to allow Dr. Hope to recover during her time of sickness.

Rev. Dr. Hope Juliet McCormack J.P became a member of Word Time Ministries of Jamaica since October 15, 2004. However, long before becoming a member Dr. Hope was special advisor to the President of the Ministry from 1998 and later special Advisor to the Chairman in 2004.

We recalled her words of commitment "anything for the glory of God and especially young people, I am ready to serve". She was more than ready to serve. She served with great commitment and passion. Dr. Hope was an indispensable part of Word Time Ministries of Jamaica. Dr. Hope was the foundation of the Ministry and the matriarch.

Just writing about her now has brought back many memories we have shared with Dr. Hope. She was a wonderful example of a woman of God and an Elder's wife.

She had to be, at one and the same time, a perfect companion, an immaculate housekeeper, an ideal mother, an accomplished teacher, an infallible source of wisdom in matters religious, financial management social, domestic and even economic; a fountain of overflowing sympathy for those who come to her with real troubles.

She had to have poise, sweetness, composure and dignity, even in the midst of the most violent emotional storms that rage about her. And then, when day's work was done, she had to turn cheerleader and convince her Elder-husband that he was not a failure, that his burdens are not too heavy to bear, and that he really has one friend left in a materialistic and unthinking world. She was his greatest friend and he was hers.

Sunday was her big day. Sunday was the day for church and Dr. Hope loved the church. For then she rises with the dawn and feeds her dear husband, Elder McCormack, who, like many public characters, is under tension before facing the public. She must leave the house in first-class condition, and betake herself and the children to Sunday School ahead of time. In her books, to be late would be unforgivable, for the Elder's family and even more so, the McCormack's family must set an example.

She made a lot of preparation on Saturday nights to ensure she was ready for Church at the Pentecostal Gospel Temple, a place of worship for Dr. Hope for 47 years.

She was a stalwart of PGT. From November 1963 she became a foundation member of the Pentecostal Gospel Temple, 111 Windward Road, Kingston 2, having given her life to the Lord at the tender age of nine. She has remained dedicated to the work of the Lord and has laboured assiduously in several areas of service to the Lord and mankind, not only in her own church and has remained faithful by God’s help.

Dr. Hope was proud of her two daughters, Lisa-gaye Hope and Dionne-Sheree Alicia. She ensured that they also took their proper places in the church, community and the Ministry. Dr. Hope brought her entire family to Word Time Ministries. The ministry was now a place for families with the wonderful example of the McCormack family.

Dr. Hope ensured that both her daughters and grandchildren would represent the family well and make their father and grand father Elder Mac proud. Dr. Hope would remind them to meet her after Sunday school, to sit quietly and with proper respect while their father dispenses the Gospel. She also taught a Sunday school class, and must be prepared to do it equally well.

She would have a dinner prepared in advance, for there's no telling when a fellow minister, an old college mate, church member or neighbour would appear, and naturally be invited to stay for dinner.

Dr. Hope was by Elder Mac side every time the church doors open, whether it be prayer meeting, choir practice, committee meeting or other special events meeting, and she must be active in the missionary society. She may had stayed away from meetings of the Board of Management of the church, but she would devote those idle moments to phoning church members who were absent from services last Sunday.

She would call on the sick and afflicted, and give to the orphans, and many in the community who did not have food or clothing. Dr. Hope loved Elder Mac with passion. She was devoted to the ideals of his calling, and she loved people.

Dr. Hope McCormack and Elder Ascott McCormack had been married for 43 years and have two daughters Lisa-Gaye Hope and Dionne-Sheree Alicia and the grandparents of three, namely- Alex Anderson, Dominick and Deidre-Kay Smith.

Dr. Hope McCormack, gone but not forgotten. She who has gone, so we but cherish her memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.