Today, we’d like to introduce you to Meris Haughton.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Meris Haughton, a well-known Jamaican Tax Administrator and government communicator dubbed the “Tax Lady” in my profession, but my real passion is for Christ. I’m a woman of faith who sees God in everything around me. I have always lived my life helping others.
I enjoy sharing my experiences to encourage and motivate others through speaking and writing. This led to my sharing reflections regularly at my church’s daily Evening Prayer, which began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. When my pastor first asked me to share a reflection, admittedly, I thought he was crazy, but I agreed. My message was inspired by God and well received. Since then I made a personal commitment to share on first Fridays and special occasions.
To my surprise, the meditations shared resulted in the deepening of my own faith and fellowship in Christ. I received positive feedback, not just from my family and friends, but also from colleagues and persons at home and aboard—who I have never met—who viewed the reflections on my church’s social media platforms. They shared that the messages strengthened their faith and prayed that I continue in my lay ministry. The feedback and words of encouragement received touched and humbled me.
I know that the Christian walk, to borrow a line from a popular reggae song, “is not an easy road.” Truthfully, some of the teachings are hard to understand and harder to follow. This was as true in Biblical times—when many disciples deserted Jesus—as it is for many persons in our time. However, being able to relate Bible stories to everyday life helped me to understand them and deepen my own faith journey. I have been inspired to write and share some of the devotional reflections to empower, encourage, and strengthen others on their own Christian journey.
The book, From the Pews: Reflections From Key Scriptures To Grow Your Faith, was born out of my being obedient to God. The reflections cover everyday life situations, such as celebrations, seasons, storms, observances, principles, miracles, and blessings. As I prepared to launch the book, I had a Samuel moment. I heard a voice say, “gift the proceeds of the book sales to your church”. This could only have been a message from God. So again I was obedient and announced it at the launch.
But who am I? Next to my faith, is my love of my family who are proud of our Jamaican heritage and our lineage of being connected to the Jamaican national hero Paul Bogle. I am a born and bred country girl, who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s in the small seaside town of Yallahs, St. Thomas, Jamaica. My own journey of faith started with me being baptized as a baby in the Catholic church. My mother, Peaches, an Anglican, and my Aunt Monica, a Roman Catholic, were my early role models of Christian living and giving. Like many of my generation, on Sundays I would go to church and attend Sunday school. This was at St. David’s Anglican Church where I also received my confirmation as a pre-teen.
As I grew older, I became active in our church’s youth ministry and was part of the youth group of the Anglican, Catholic, and Methodist churches. You see, this was pre-internet and multiple television stations, so there was not much else to do in the country, if you don’t count going to the beach, playing games, climbing trees and having fun with my many siblings, cousins and friends. However, being involved in activities at all these churches gave me an appreciation for different Christian denominations, so thankfully, I do not have the hang ups about different churches as some persons do.
My Christian journey also led me to be involved in service clubs and to embrace the values of Mercy Charism of dignity, excellence, justice, service, and stewardship while in high school at the Alpha Academy. This is an all-girls school operated by the Catholic church.
Sadly, my journey took a different turn in 1991, around the time my father, who was just fifty-three, died. I was twenty-two. Alas, I began to drift away from church. You see, I had recently finished college, started to work, and told myself I had to live life to the fullest, as no one knows what tomorrow brings. I guess it was my own “eat, drink and be merry” period. My direction shifted to going to nightclubs, reggae shows, and soca sessions. As a good friend of mine used to say, “Every pan knock, I was there.”
Much to my mother’s distress, I became part of what my now pastor and friend calls the “hatch, match and dispatch” group. I only went to church for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Therefore, I understand when young people stray from church. So, don’t give them a hard time, as thankfully, they usually continue to serve and eventually return.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I was still very service-oriented, continuing to do good deeds. I was active—and still am— in a Kiwanis Club and serving my Alma Mater. However, the Bible tells us that doing good works alone is not enough, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works”. (Ephesians 2:8,9) (scripture ref). We need to have a personal relationship with Christ. We must walk with Him and for Him.
Although I did not have a prodigal son, rock-bottom experience, I knew something was missing. I could not quite put my finger on it, but there was a void. I did not feel like I was being purposeful. I felt like I was just going through the motions.
I would periodically visit the Church of St. Margaret, Liguanea, as I had relocated to the city. My turning point started in 1997. I had attended a special church service arranged for our inaugural Bogle Family reunion, celebrating our rich heritage and family togetherness. The message delivered by the pastor was on the importance of not just our family but more importantly on the family of God. It stuck with me. The following year when I turned thirty, I remember making a conscious decision to start going back to church.
Thankfully, I never forgot my Christian upbringing. I remembered that Jesus is the answer and slowly began to walk with Christ again. I started going back to church more regularly and becoming involved in church organizations and activities and reading the Bible more consistently. In addition, more importantly, again having a personal relationship with Christ Jesus and doing daily devotions.
The good news is that there are others like me who walk away for a while and return to Jesus. We should always encourage others and help them find their way back to Christ. We have to help them along the way in their walk. Sadly, some leave and never return. Others, like the Apostle Peter, remain steadfast followers and leaders in their own right.
However, even those of us who remain with or return to Christ are tested. Walking with Christ does not mean we will not have moments when we struggle. Like many other persons, I too face struggles. One of the biggest struggles I faced was in 2018 when I went from the high of a weeklong celebration for my 50th birthday, to—just a week later—the low of the news that my mother’s cancer was back with a bang.
The next few months, from her sickness to her earthly exit, were an emotional and physical rollercoaster. However, through it all, I remained rooted and grounded in Christ. I found strength in prayer and the tremendous support of my church and witnessing my mom’s continued faith in the face of fear. Besides, I am forever grateful for the many earth angels and my own village people who walked with me, and still do.
I firmly believe we never walk alone. Sure, there will be moments when we feel we cannot take another step and think that Christ has deserted us. However, it is at these times that Christ will lift us up and carry us along, through the support of family, friends, and faith.
So, through my reflections I urge others to build up their stamina for the hills and valleys of their own Christian journey by reading the Word daily, praying without ceasing, deepening their understanding through Bible study, fellowshipping in church, and giving of their talent, time and treasure to their church, service organizations and to others. Discipleship or following Christ is something we have to do intentionally.
I believe that my purpose is to strengthen others through my words and deeds. I’m grateful to my family, friends, church and Crystal Daye of DayeLight Publishing for their continued support.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every road has bumps, but no bump is insurmountable. During the process of writing the book I had several distractions.
I have a demanding job, but added to that I experienced the flare up of a health challenge and I continue to struggle with caring for my niece who experienced the trauma of the sudden death of her mom, my sister a couple years ago. But through family, faith and friends I was able to get through.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the head of communications of Jamaica’s Tax Authority. As a member of the senior leader team of this critical government agency I’m responsible for managing the public relations, internal and external communications.
I do a lot of stakeholder engagements. I’m a well-respected public relations and communications practitioner and enjoy a good working relationship with the media, various business and professional associations and persons in the public and private sectors, as well as regional and international bodies. As a key spokesperson for Tax Administration Jamaica, I’ve been dubbed as the “Tax Lady”.
I am proud to have presented at several seminars, workshops and other engagements locally, regionally and internationally on Taxpayer Service and to have guided the organization’s communications programmes and strategies through several successful modernization programmes, resulting in considerable improvements.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me success happens on different levels. I’m financially stable, I’ve achieved recognition professionally and more importantly I’m perceived as a good person who is able to help others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @meris_haughton
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/merishaughton
- Twitter: @TheRealMerisH
