Pastor Amresh Semurath
Pastor Amresh Semurath was born in 1950 and the Lord saved him at age 12. He entered into full-time ministry in January 1972. Later on, he studied theology at Jamaica Bible College, Mandeville, Jamaica. He became Pastor of the Newtown Evangelical Church (Port of Spain) on May 1st, 1977. In 1984 the name of the church was changed to The Reformed Evangelical Church.
In 1975, Pastor Semurath was brought to the discovery of Reformed doctrines and a faithful example of true expository preaching in the Jamaican church he attended. After months of diligent studies Pastor Semurath embraced the Reformed Faith as the faith “which was once for all handed down to the saints” by the Lord Jesus and His apostles (Jude 1:3). The same diligent studies also resulted in Pastor Semurath becoming a fully committed Baptist.
An ardent defender of the truth of the Biblical gospel, Pastor Semurath’s ministry has been defined by diligent study, careful expository preaching, and faithful evangelism. He is also deeply committed to the training of men and women in theological studies and Biblical Counselling (2 Tim.2:2). The goal is to ensure that sound doctrine will always be accurately taught and preached at The Reformed Evangelical Church for generations to come.
Pastor Semurath was happily married to Patricia (deceased) for 41 years and God blessed them with two sons. He remarried his second wife Shalimar and they both continue to faithfully serve in our church. He enjoys his coffee as much as his books and spending time with his grandchildren.
Pastor Sugrim Ramesar
Pastor Sugrim Ramesar was born in 1965 and the Lord saved him in 1980.
He graduated from Lexington Baptist College in 1988 after which he returned to Trinidad and Tobago and pastored the Kelly Bible Baptist Church from 1990 to 2007.
In 2010 he joined the staff of the Reformed Evangelical Church and was eventually ordained as a pastor in 2013 where he presently serves.
Pastor Sugrim is married to Lisa and has three children.
Pastor Akel Bowrin
Pastor Akel Bowrin was born in 1989. The Lord saved him in 2006 at age 17 after the tragic death of one of his closest relatives. After the Lord saved him, he faithfully served in various ministries at the church he formally attended.
Between 2010 and 2014, the Lord began to expose him to "the doctrines of grace" through the preaching and teaching ministries of men like Pastor John MacArthur. This exposure led him to have a greater desire to hear the word of God taught boldly and accurately. In God's providence, the Lord led Pastor Akel to attend the Reformed Evangelical Church. He became a member in 2014 and sat under the ministry of God's word by Pastors Amresh Semurath, Sugrim Ramesar and Winston McIntosh (Emeritus).
In 2016 Pastor Akel was enrolled into the M.Div. program at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary, Owensboro, Kentucky as part of a partnership program between the seminary and REC. In 2017 he married his wife Cherisse and was ordained as one of the Pastors of the Reformed Evangelical Church in 2018. He is still pursuing his studies at CBTS.
He and his wife have two children.
Pastor Akil Forde
Pastor Akil Forde was born on the beautiful island of Barbados in 1990. He grew up in a Pentecostal church, where he first heard the gospel preached.
In his teenage years, the Lord took dramatic hold of his life and saved him. He first encountered the doctrines of grace through two close friends. As a result, he was exposed to the ministries of Paul Washer, John Piper and R C Sproul. Through these ministries, he grew in a firmer understanding of the gospel and the doctrines of grace.
While studying at UWI Cavehill, Pastor Forde realized two loves. First, communicating God’s truth as opportunities to share God’s word were afforded to him. Second, his Trinidadian wife. It was during this time that he first sensed a call to the ministry. Though he wanted to pursue theological studies, the Lord had a different plan. That plan was to marry, move to Trinidad and Tobago, and become a member of the Reformed Evangelical Church (REC).
Pastor Forde sensed the call to ministry again in earnest during the pandemic. In 2022, he came on staff at REC and enrolled as an M.Div. student at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. On November 3rd, 2024, Pastor Forde was ordained to the ministry to serve alongside the four Pastors Christ has set aside to shepherd this church.
He is married to Amanda and the Lord has blessed them with three boys.
Pastor Praveenkumar Bunsee
Pastor Praveenkumar Bunsee was born in 1986, in Trinidad. He grew up attending a Presbyterian school and began developing familiarity with the Bible through Sunday School. At the age of 12, after his father's passing, he started attending a new church where he repented and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, marking the beginning of his Christian walk. He became involved in youth ministry, preaching, and music. Through a missionary friend, he learned the significance of the Puritans and was introduced to Reformed theology. His understanding of the Scriptures grew, leading to various roles in church involvement, including musician, deacon, and elder.
One providential occasion while visiting from his previous church, he heard the preaching of Pastor Sugrim Ramesar here at the Reformed Evangelical Church (REC). He began feeling God calling him to visit again. He felt “at home” in this church that preached and taught the biblical convictions he held to. Eventually he parted ways with his previous church and joined REC where he would continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
In January 2023, he became a ministerial trainee and in November 2024, he was ordained as a pastor. He holds a BA in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Praveene and they have one daughter, Charis.
