Spotlight - Elder Bertram A. Straker

He is known as a great Sabbath School teacher at the Hanson Place Seventh-day Adventist Church where he is loved by the "students" of class number twelve. He taught in the New York City school system for approximately 29 years - a job many of today’s teachers would rarely complete in the same teaching cycle without quitting from burnout, exhaustion and frustration. Not too long after retirement, he was called back by the New York City Board of Education to the teaching profession as a mentor to first-year teachers - an assignment he enthusiastically accepted.

Elder Bertram Straker is an avid Bible worker and energetic Christian. He was simultaneously a pastor and teacher of the Flint Seventh-day Adventist church in Michigan. In June 1953 he was called to work in a evangelist a crusade in Indianapolis, Indiana under Rafael Warnick. After the crusade he was responsible for conducting the Sunday night public evangelistic meeting at 810 Park Place - former location of the Hanson Place Church. As a result of his efforts, many precious souls were won to Christ. Because of his diligence and vast knowledge of the Bible and denominational history, this Founding member of the Hanson Place Church was later asked to assist in starting the Goshen Seventh-day Adventist Church, now located on Church Avenue, in 1980. By 1994 the membership had grown to an impressive 900 members.

Elder Straker, together with his close friends from Caribbean Union College (Anderson Nurse, Roy Hoyte, Sylvanus and Prisca Dejonge, Murtle Shorey, Alfred Boyce, Albert Pierre, Virginia Wilson, Godwin Mitchell, Samson Archer, Hugh King, Fredrick van Putten, Mavis Alleyne) and other friends (Lawrence Duncan, Noel Roper and Earl Millington) were instrumental in starting the "Inter-American Seventh-day Adventist Church" on October 18, 1958 at 1393 Pacific Street. As the congregation rapidly grew, the church was forced to relocate to 810 Park Place, 179 New York Ave, 595 Classon Ave and finally to 88 Hanson Place - on July 20, 1963. Elder Straker, together with his colleagues, were responsible for finding and purchasing this landmark building and providing leadership to the new congregation. A.R. Haig became the first Pastor of the Hanson Place Church, under the distinguished Northeastern Conference President H.D. Singleton and R.T. Hudson who served as the local Pastor. Hanson Place continues to provide historic input to Adventism in New York and North America.

Today, Elder Bertram A. Straker is still a well regarded and respected weekly Hanson Place Church attendee. He has served in many capacities at Hanson Place Church: Seven years as First Elder, member of the Hanson Place School Board / Church Board, Member of the A.R. Haig Corporation Board of Directors, "Member of the Committee of Seventeen" and a Delegate to the Northeastern Conference. He later became a member of its Executive Committee for a three-year term.

Known as the "Eldest Statesman" of the Straker Family, Elder Straker is highly cherished and admired by his children and family. He is the proud father of 5 children, including Honorable Louis H. Straker Sr., who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grandfather of several children, including Louis Straker Jr., former AY Leader of the Hanson Place Church.

For his commitment, mentorship, dedication, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, vision, friendship and strong leadership, the Hanson Place Church recognizes and honors Elder Bertram A. Straker as one of our Black Achievers.

Congratulations, Elder Straker! Thank you for the great work, your strong leadership and commitment to the Hanson Place Church and the community. Your input and involvement are recognized and well appreciated. May God continue to bless you abundantly.

-- Written by Dr. Rawle F. Philbert
February 19, 2006