By IANTHIA SMITH, Guardian Staff Reporter

ianthia@nasguard.com

The Bahamas has once again stepped into the world's spotlight after renowned Bishop Neil Ellis was elevated to the second highest post in one of the fastest growing, most influential Christian organisations in this hemisphere.

The senior pastor of Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church has recently secured his spot as the second presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International.

Founding International Presiding Bishop Paul Morton, senior pastor of the Greater Saint Stephen's Full Gospel Baptist Church located in both New Orleans and Atlanta, made the announcement last week at a religious conference in the US. The Senior Pastor of New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church Bishop Odis Floyd who had been battling an illness for several years previously filled the position. According to a statement issued by Bishop Ellis' church, he was already doing the work and shouldering the responsibilities of the position.

"Bishop Morton, at the opening session, after a powerful message by Bishop Albert Jamison of New York, stated that he felt that it was now time to elevate Bishop Ellis to the post."

Before being elevated, Bishop Ellis held the position as the third presiding bishop and has been recognised as a "diligent member of this international organisation," and over the years has been elevated throughout the ranks. Bishop Ellis' first appointment in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship came in 1994 when a number of local churches joined the then one-year-old fellowship and at that time he was appointed State Overseer for The Bahamas. In 1995 he was consecrated into the Bishopric by the Fellowship and appointed to be both the Regional Bishop of The Bahamas and Bishop of Foreign Ministries, covering all churches outside of the US. A few years later, Bishop Ellis was once again elevated to a newly created position of Chairman of the College of Bishops, assuming responsibility for all Bishops not on the Bishop's Council. A year later he was called to the post of First Assistant to the International Presiding Bishop and two years ago he was appointed to the position of the third presiding Bishop of the Fellowship.

His church family believes that God has been preparing him for this latest promotion as he was named Acting Presiding Bishop of the Fellowship when both the Fellowship's International Headquarters and church of Presiding Bishop Paul Morton were left in ruins after Hurricane Katrina unleashed her fury on the Big Easy in New Orleans last August.

"Over the years, Bishop Ellis' work ethic, unwavering commitment to both the vision and the visionary of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and his sensitivity...has distinguished him as a highly respected, anointed leader of insight and integrity," the release said.