Considered a visionary and one of the most influential church leaders in Jamaica, Rev Al Miller, president/founder of Whole Life Ministries and senior pastor at Fellowship Tabernacle, is widely known for his forthright and uncompromising views on national issues.

He has been very vocal in his view that the church should be a witness and a positive influence on national issues and has remained undeterred in his call for good governance and accountability among the nation's leaders. In promoting his vision for Jamaica, Rev Al Miller has been a strong proponent of the idea for a government of national unity, which he believes will "unite and galvanise the nation to break the back of the negative cycle of tribal politics and help lay a new foundation for Jamaica's political system."

He is also known to be unafraid of taking risks, even if it earns him the disapproval of his peers in the clergy. A case in point was his staging of Culture Clash in the early 1990s, where secular and gospel artistes shared the same stage, in his effort to influence the nation's youth and to help them to recognise that there is meaning and purpose to their lives. The event attracted some 15,000 youths in Liguanea Park, New Kingston.

Al Miller also has a strong commitment to social issues, which led to his formation of the Build Jamaica Foundation, a non-profit, organisation committed to contributing to Jamaica's social and economic development through various initiatives.

He is the chairman of the Institute of Sports and chaplain of the Reggae Boyz, and continues to make an invaluable contribution to the national football team and to the development of sports in Jamaica.

Morgan

His closest friend is Bishop C.B. Peter Morgan, co-founder of Deeper Life Ministries in Jamaica, former senior pastor of Covenant Community Churches and a founding director and the executive secretary of the International Third World Leaders Association. Since June 2004, Bishop Morgan has been spearheading a new work in the heart of the city of Kingston - Community Impact Ministries International.

In this week's feature, Peter Morgan tells us of Al Miller's humorous personality, his creativity and his genuine love for people, in particular the nation's youths.

How did you meet Rev Al Miller, and how long have you been friends?

I met him over 25 years ago. At that time he was a young evangelist and very active as a young leader in Jamaica Youth for Christ. But I got to know him personally when I went to Red Hills Baptist Church where he was a youth leader. I would go to the church on his invitation to speak to the young people there.

He is a strong activist for the things he believes in, and we share a common vision as it relates to building and motivating people and helping them to develop their potential. We also shared the same views regarding the role of the Church in the state. I think we have remained friends because of this common passion and interest.

Tell us what you admire most about him, and why you think you have remained friends all these years.

I admire his vision for the nation and the fact that he has always been a focused and determined person. In addition, he has always been a visionary, always looking at the big picture and the future.

He speaks in a straightforward manner on issues that affect him greatly, such as national issues. He also has a very strong moral determination and contends for truth and justice on behalf of others, and what comes across greatly is his compassion.

We are both similar but different, so we complement each other. I tend to be more reflective and philosophical and he tends to be more forthright and daring in pursuing things, but I think it is the thrust of the common vision that we share that bonds us together. I also trust his heart and recognise him as a man of integrity, and so it has been easy to relate to him as a friend.

Tell us something interesting about Rev Al.

I have to begin with the fact that he is very humorous, and many people don't realise that it is part of his personality, and that it is a central part of his message. It helps him to communicate the intensity of what he believes. His humour compels our attention and I think that is why young people gravitate to him. But they also gravitate to him because he is genuine and he really believes in them.

He is also creative ... he sings and he loves music. He loves to write and spends a lot of time transposing his mind to paper. He also spends a lot of time by himself in prayer, reflection and in worship.

He is also very passionate about his family. The love and camaraderie he shares with his son and daughter is noteworthy, and so is his love for his wife.

Interestingly, he is the baby of his family, yet in a real sense he is looked upon as a leader by his siblings and they admire him tremendously. As a young boy, even before his teen years, his family recognised that he was quite gifted and that he was a leader among his peers and within his family.

What are some of the things you talk about when you get together?

Although he is always seen on the platform, he is a very good listener and is always willing to hear another person's perspective.

We talk about national issues as we are both intense about this subject. We also talk about deep personal issues and in that way we entrust ourselves to each other. In a period in my own life when I was going through my deepest agony, he was one of the few persons I was able to sit and talk with.

Share with us one of the happiest moments you have experienced with him.

Our travels together to Israel ... this was about 1980. Our time there was very significant as we shared a lot in terms of our spiritual faith and the things we observed. We also spend a lot of time together with other Third World leaders and those moments have provided times of social interaction that are filled with lots of laughter, humour, ribbing and teasing. These are leaders of the highest calibre, and during these social moments, Al is often the one providing the laughter and teasing.

Tell us the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of him, and why.

Intensity ... He is intense but good-humoured and he is also a man of integrity.

What are his favourite food, favourite music and favourite sport?

Al just loves a good dish.

As long as the music is local and indigenous to Jamaica, Al will love it.

Clearly, he is an ardent soccer fan. However, he is genuinely interested and committed to all forms of sports through Whole Life Ministries Sports, of which he is a founder, as well as his active involvement in the International Sports Coalition, where he serves as a member of the executive.

Tell us the colour that you associate with him:

Yellow - signifying someone you'll never forget

Orange - signifying someone you consider your true friend

Red - signifying someone you really love

Green - signifying someone who has had a significant impact on your life

I think Al is a rainbow of all those colours because of what he represents to many people, but for me it would be the colour green, as he has a significant impact on me and people in general. This colour represents what is central to who he is in my life. We are covenant brothers, and even when we don't agree on some things we still stand up together and allow each other to be different with the greatest of respect.