JOAQUIN RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE

By Noel Serrano

Joaquin Maldonado, the Pastor of  Sinai Pentecostal Church in New York, received an honorary Doctorate on July 28th. He was surrounded by his family and friends as he gazed on the large congregation at the commencement at Christian University at the Great Commission Church in Patterson, NJ. Joaquin, wearing a dark blue robe with festive student mortar seemed subdued and serene. He quietly reflected on the long journey that had led him to this day. He thought of the early days of his youth in "La Sinagoga" He started as  a young boy with a trombone ,struggling to keep up with the stern and dedicated musicians of that era. He thought of the Strong-willed mother and aunts that were always counselling him to be the Man that God want him to become. His life rapidly raced in his mind as he thought of his struggles in the Army and the development of his beloved group "Sounds of Joy" His great challenge was the leadership of the Sunday School in the early 70s . The young man grew in stature and in spirit. God was clearly in his path. He recalled the day his grandfather, Lucas Maldonado passed away in Puerto Rico. It was in that funeral, surrounded by his aunts and family that he pledged to put on his grandfather "boots" and the "Man of Motion" never stopped striving. Joaquin served the Lord with full intensity during the early sixties and worked hard in the labor of the Choir "Echoes of Life" as Assistant Director. In the early years , He became an inspiration to his family as he championed a clarion call and began to assemble a gathering that continues to this present day. The late Rev. Abelardo Berrios began to recognize that this young man had great potential to do the work of God. When Rev Berrios needed musical representation, He knew that he could always depend on Joaquin. Joaquin Maldonado soon became a close Associate to Rev Berrios. As the year raced by, Joaquin was able to go through major trials and was thrusted in many storms that would have blown away the finest of men, but Joaquin has endured and remained steadfast because of  a deep abiding faith in God. Joaquin spends many hours in prayer and loves God more than life. He places all in God's Hands and in God's Will. Joaquin began to think of all God has given him, He thought of his beloved, faithful and dedicated wife Clarita, who was now beaming him a smile with teared filled eyes of love. He thought of all of his children that now have children of their own. Joaquin marched down the long corridor to receive this distinct honor that God had allowed him to receive and humbly lowered his head and thanked God for all His Blessings. May God continue to Bless you, Joaquin! May he continue to give you strength and vigour to keep working in His Will.