Michael Schurton named Goodwill Ambassador Committed to promoting the Olympic Dream

Michael Schurton named Goodwill Ambassador Committed to promoting the Olympic Dream

By Trevesa Ashman and Roxanne Schurton
Sports Champs Senior Editors


July 23, 2010

Chairman of Word Time Ministries of Jamaica and founder of Sports Championships, Michael Schurton J.P. is vowing to continue his work of sports after being named by the City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada as Goodwill Ambassador for Sports on June 17, 2010.

Her Worship Susan Fennell, Mayor of the City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, said that she was delighted to name Schurton Goodwill Ambassador. She also stated that she applauds his efforts in prompting athletic excellence, sports development and humanitarian work in Jamaica. “I wish Michael Schurton a fulfilling and successful experience while representing the City of Brampton, in Kingston, Jamaica” Mayor Fennell said.

She commended the newly named Goodwill Ambassador for his relentless and energetic efforts in pursing the dream of producing and supporting future Olympians. She believed that the designation as Goodwill Ambassador would further the passion and work by Schurton. Additionally, Mayor Fennell is hoping that this honour would inspire both athletes and organizers of Sports Champs. She expressed the view that with the work of Word Time Ministries of Jamaica lead by Chairman Schurton, that Sports Championships will continue to be a great athletic meet and would reap much success in developing future elite athletes. Schurton is expected to bring remarkable dedication and energy to his new role as Goodwill Ambassador for Sports as he does with been chairman of the Sports foundation.


Mayor Fennell also presented Word Time Ministries of Jamaica a special award in recognition of the 10th staging of Sports championships. She said that it was a pleasure on behalf of Members of the council of the corporation of the City of Brampton to recognize the Ministry for ten years of athletic excellence.

This is Michael Schurton's the second ambassadorial designation. He was previously named International Student Ambassador for Hocking College, Nelsonville, Ohio, United States of America by the International Student Society on June 7, 1995.

Chairman Schurton also received another Canadian recognition from the House of Commons of Canada. Parliamentarian the Honourable Gurbax Singh Malhi, P.C., M.P., Member of Parliament for Bramela-Gore-Malton presented him a special award.

He was presented with a Certificate of Recognition in acknowledgement of the outstanding contributions through humanitarian projects and sport development initiatives of the past decade. The Honourable Gurbax Malhi stated that Schurton’s passion and love for sports was inspirational and appreciated by the Jamaican/Canadian community in Canada. “Your passion for fostering the love of sports in Jamaica for youth athletes is inspirational and appreciated by your community in Canada and aboard” Malhi stated.

He further said that he was proud to present the award for the chairman’s endless contributions, dedication and relentless pursuit of inspiring people and offering them hope. The Honourable Gurbax Singh Malhi said “I would like to congratulate you for your tremendous contributions to the lives of young athletes who are preparing to become the Olympians of tomorrow. Your dedication to sports development in Jamaica is commendable and a model for others around the world”.

A media and marketing consultant by profession, Michael Schurton is on a mission to empower young people through the promotion of excellence in sports and academics. At the heart of the mission is the development of sports evangelism. Sports evangelism aims to integrate Godly principles in all aspect of sports and academics. In October 1994 he founded Word Time Ministries of Jamaica, a non-profit youth organization with a mission to transform inspire and empower young people.

An avid sports fan, he has always promoted a healthy lifestyle and involvement in sports. His involvement in track and field started from as early as six years old when he competed in inter-house sports at Falmouth Infant School and later the Falmouth All Age School. He has also competed in several parish development meetings including, the Falmouth Police Youth Club Track meet, and the Trelawny Social Development Commission’s meet. His love for track and field led him to volunteer as a sports official and organizer from age fourteen. He was a successful athlete and house captain for Cooke House at Falmouth All Age School.

He organized several community street meets which provided a great training ground for several athletes and also for his venture in sports administration and organizing sporting events. Under the guidance of Coach Peter Brown he won gold, silver and bronze in the 400m, 800m and 4x400m and medley relays at the primary level. He was double junior cross country champion in the Kiwanis Club of Falmouth, Cross Country Run and junior champ at the Trelawny SDC meet.

His first coach was Peter Brown his music teacher. Schurton later played an important role as sports coordinator, teacher of physical education and the chief announcer at the school’s sports day.

He continued his track career while attending William Knibb Memorial High School in Falmouth, Trelawny and was recruited the school’s track team by Coach Glenmore Brown. Despite his busy schedule as President of the Student Council and the Debating Society, member of the board of governors of the school, and executive member of several school clubs he found time to pursue his interest in track.

The junior cross country champion was also a member of the school track team for both Western Champs and the national Boys Champs. He led his house, Sharpe to victory as house captain. The Falmouth All Age School awarded him for outstanding contribution to the School Development in the field of Sports. In April 1992 he was appointed as Vice Chairman of the St. James Special Olympics Committee.

He has worked as a sports journalist and covered several major sporting events in Jamaica, Cayman Islands, United States and Canada. These sporting events include: ISSA DaCosta Cup, Manning Cup, National Premiere League, ISSA/Grace Boys and Girls Championships, INSPORTS Primary and Junior High Schools Champs, JTA Primary & Junior High Champs, Special Olympics Games, Gibson Relays, Jamaica Invitational, Jamaica National Junior and Senior Trials, Caribbean Union of Teachers Track and Field Championships, IAFF World Junior Championships in Athletics, Carifta Trials, Carifta Games, Sports Championships staged by Word Time Ministries of Jamaica, and the University of Toronto’s Festival of Excellence and the Canadian National Trails.

His commitment to Sports evangelism inspired him to start sports championship. Realizing that there was a need to have a track meet for children in various homes he organized the meet. The ultimate goal was to produce future Olympians. In April 2001 he envisioned sports championships where the least gifted, the unpopular, unknown and the forgotten athletes could be provided with an opportunity to be champions, yes, world and Olympic champions.

Schurton offers valuable leadership both as chairman of Word Time Ministries of Jamaica and the ministry’s sports foundation. However, his favourite role at sports champs has always been the chief announcer and his hoping to have that role for many years to come. His involvement in sports has not just been an athlete, meet organizer, and journalist. He also provides scholarships for the Most Outstanding Performers at Sports Champs. His life’s dream to produce and support future Olympians has fueled his passion and support of sports.

His desire to see the championship develop and become a celebrated meet lead him to attend a number of sports conferences including the Caribbean Sports Conference, Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Sports Conference, Wholelife Sports Ministries, Sports Development Conference. His success is not only in sports. He is a multi gold, silver and bronze medalist in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival of the Performing Arts, Speech Competition. His work and services as an extra ordinary volunteer and youth leader goes beyond church, ministry and sports. He also gives of time in performing civic duties as a Justice of the Peace as well as numerous volunteer roles.

Schurton’s take on sports is that people should begin to see the much bigger picture. He says that the confidence, self esteem and fulfillment athletes receive is much more than the glory of setting records and winning medals.

One of the highlights of his involvement in sports was in December 2009 when he witnessed the Olympic torch run for the Winter Olympic in Canada. Michael Schurton is purpose driven, and celebrated for his inspirational leadership qualities and contribution to sports development. He also seeks to promote healthy interpersonal relationships, servant leadership principles, and a love for the Word of God. He is a single parent and father to daughter photo journalist Roxanne Schurton, who is the chief photographer for sports champs.

He said that his dream of producing and supporting athletes to win Olympic glory will live on. He also expressed delight at be named Goodwill Ambassador for Sports. “I am so humbled with being named Goodwill Ambassador” he said. Michael Schurton by hard work and the quest for excellence in both academics and sports has the honour to be designated both International Student Ambassador and Goodwill Ambassador for Sports. But given his strong spiritual foundation his first and foremost honour is to be an ambassador for Christ.