Life Story

Cedeon Metius Olibrice

Early Life and Ministry

His ministry started under the tutelage of his father Metius Olibrice and the anointing of the Holy Spirit by laying his hand on little Cedeon. He proclaimed and prophesied over him that he should be a servant of God his whole life. Under his father's tutelage, he led services, proclaiming the gospel. With the push of his father, he went to and graduated Bible college at Bolose in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

A Divine Partnership

As a young man, he had an earnest desire to serve the Lord. But, he felt something was missing and this could be a hindrance to him being a faithful servant. He went before the Lord God with a simple prayer to secure his walk before the Almighty. He prayed, "Father if you love me give me a wife. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.” That same night God revealed to him the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. A wife for his entire earthly life: the beautiful Anna C. Pierre. Henceforth his ministerial work would never be the same. As a woman of God, Anna Olibrice has ministered since her youth in children ministry and woman ministry, respectively. As the wife of our late Pastor, they had 7 Children together.

Pastoral Work and Leadership

In the early years with his wife by his side, Cedeon was ordained in 1972 and he pastored his first church (Salem) in a small town in Terneve, Haiti. Through that ministry he started a school and helped many in different ways. When he left that church in 1979, he mentored a young man and ordained him. Pastor Olibrice mentored many church leaders and musicians over his 50 years of ministry.

The Call to Continue

During the course of serving the Lord and meeting the needs of his family, Pastor Olibrice moved to Miami, then to New York and back to Miami. With the many pressures of life, Pastor Olibrice considered stepping away from ministerial work; however, he knew as the Apostle Paul testified in Romans 11:29, “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” He could not set aside or escape the lifelong pronouncement made with the laying on of hands over him by his father. God positioned certain people to continuously encourage and anchor him in that arduous and yet blessed path of service. Many pressed him forward to fully immerse himself by saying, to him, if he did not begin a church, they will stop going to church.

Legacy and Transition

After ministering before the Lord God for over 50 years, Pastor Olibrice rested in the presence of the Lord in 2020. With the help of the Leaders he mentored, Salem Evangelical continues to do the Lord's work in Miami. Along with the Deacons, one of his sons Kenan, took on many responsibilities of the ministry to help fill the void left by his passing, until our now ordained Pastor Odiles Nelson, who was attending bible school could fully take up the mantle.