Impact June 2012

JBUYD Theme 2011-2013: Blessed & Branded: Ambassadors of Peace

NATIONAL Youth conference and rally

Volume 7 Issue 2 April-June 2012

Special points of interest:  National Youth Conference and Rally 2012  Caribbean Baptist Fellowship Youth Festival

Inside this issue: A Word from the Chairman...

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St. James Youth Retreat Catalyst for Peace

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Clarendon Youth Retreat

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Entrepreneurship

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Outstanding Queen

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This Issue’s Editorial Staff LaTonya Linton Kerry-Ann Reid

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t’s time to start preparing for National Youth Conference and Rally 2012.

The event begins at William Knibb Memorial Baptist Church (Thursday, November 22) and ends at Ocho Rios Baptist Church (Saturday, November 24). The Youth Department’s theme Blessed and Branded: Ambassadors of Peace will be the overarching focus of the activities with sub themes Living it and Loving it!

Saturday, November 24, 2012 National Youth RallyRally 2012 will highlight youth in ministry with an extra dose of Jamaican flavour! We too will celebrate Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Some of the areas of competition have been tailored to reflect celebration of this milestone.

Rally activities include: the conference closing celebrations and competitions in Chorale Singing; Rhythm Piece; Chorale Speaking; Bible Thursday November 22, 2012 Quiz; Dance; Culinary Arts; and Cultural Wear.

Opening ServiceThe service will be held at The Conference fee is $5,000.00. It includes William Knibb Memorial the costs of accommodation, meals, Baptist Church and start at Conference registration package, and 7:00 p.m.. After the service transportation from the opening service conferees will be transported to Nutshell and to Rally and Rally to Nutshell Conference Cenentry fee. tre where the Conference We urge those attending the conferwill be held. ence to access early registration (inclusive of payment) on or before Friday, November 23, 2012 Rehearsals at Youth Rally October 26, 2012. Payments can be ConferenceThis is the interim year of the made at NCB Account # 304533943. Bank 2011-2013 term, therefore the only election receipts along with registration forms should be will be that of the Chairman Elect. There will faxed to 924-6296 or emailed to jbuyouth@gmail.com. be a shorter business meeting and more focus The entry fee for the National Youth Rally in on youth empowerment through training and Ocho Rios is $100 which each person must pay interaction. Conferees will participate in the upon entering the venue. business meeting, workshops, training sessions, Mark the Conference and Rally dates on worship & fellowship. your calendar! Start making plans to attend and The workshops promise to be exciting and encourage as many young persons as you can to thought-provoking. We will look at peace in the be there. Start saving for Conference today or context of the ‘G’ Culture (gangs, guns, gyals, help someone else to pay the fee. Come and ganja etc.); volunteerism; mentoring; and ones make your contribution whilst benefitting from devotional life. In the evening we will celebrate the corporate sessions and sharing with other Jamaica 50 in fine style!

Baptist young people from across the Island.

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Catalysts of Peace: Putting the Pieces Together A reflection on the St. James Baptist Youth Association Retreat by Yolanda Smart & Jamiko Yapp

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t was approximately 9 p.m. on

small fire. This symbolized our submission Friday when our 56 member to God and acceptance of His forgiveness. group (St. James Baptist Youth Associa- It was an inspiring night filled with an tion) arrived on the grounds of Nutshell attitude of worship that set the tone for an Conference Centre. It was the beginning unforgettable weekend. of a weekend the executive committee Most people were up at 6:00 a.m. on had been planning for months.

Saturday morning for exercise. Some of us did a few jumping jacks, some stretches and a short run, while others played football and still others slept.

The two first seminars: “Conflict Resolution”; and “Overcoming Depression” were interactive, educational and informative, leaving us wanting more. We learnt that core values, needs and support are paramount to overcoming depression. For the last session we were divided into two groupsa career talk for those 19 and younger; and a During the session for the night sexual purity session for those 20 and older. dubbed Facedown, Rev. Lloyd Richards I must confess, I wouldn’t have missed led us in a symbolic ceremony. We were the Sexual Purity rap session for the world. asked to write on paper the things/sins The speaker was exceptional and he at no that separated us from God. After a point in his presentation left out the word of prayer of confession and intercession, God. The teens, though jealous, were equally these pieces of paper were burnt in a engaged in their session on career choices.

Persons enjoying a game of netball

Being energetic teens and young adults, we could not wait for the sports to begin.

The netball, football, and track and field competitions, from which we had to be pried away, were embraced with open arms.

Saturday evening’s program, dubbed “Talent Explosion” was the bomb! It included presentations in dialect, cultural dance, rhythm band and fashion show.

With only two hours to prepare, we enjoyed an organized evening that could not have turned out any better.

Sunday morning’s Worship service started with a Spirit filled praise encounter which left no one untouched. The message was delivered by one of our own youth, Marlon Gordon, who conveyed a God filled sermon, leaving youth tearfully praising God for the message he sent through His servant. Lives were greatly affected.

The weekend fulfilled its purpose and we were aware of God constant presence in the midst of our fun and fellowship. One youth noted that he would do it all over again because it brought him closer to God.

You Don’t Have To Be Unemployed!

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nemployment is one of the main issues affecting Jamaican young people today. But are the critics correct when they say too many of us go to school with the expectation of being employed by someone else other than ourselves when we graduate?

There are many benefits to be derived from starting your own business: You get to be your own boss and your efforts are contributing to your own dreams and future. You will be able to provide a stable job for yourself and others; and You will be contributing to your country’s development. Studies have

shown that small and medium size businesses are critical to the economic development of a country.

God had blessed us with special gifts and talents. Paul writing to the Ephesians reminded them “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

This is true for us as young people today. Could it be that the good works God is calling you to, is to start a business that can help persons who have a problem or need?

Is God calling you to provide jobs and contribute to the economic growth and development of your country? Pray about it and if the answer is yes here are some steps you will find helpful along the way.

Steps to starting up your own business Identify a need. Entrepreneurs solve problems. They identify an issue or problem and thinking of a good or service they can provide to solve the existing problem. When you identify that need think of the sustainability of the idea as a business.

Acquire the skills. If you do not have all the skills you need, acquire them or partner with someone does.

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Need to know more about the JBUYD? Visit our website. The site is home to IMPACT and provides a hub for the exchange of information among youth of the JBUYD. The JBUYD Website: http://youth.jbu.org.jm/.

Email: jbuyouth@gmail.com Become a fan of our facebook page: search JBUYD

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A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN… 1 Corinthians 1:9-10 Summer is here!

For those who go to school it is the start of summer holidays. In theory summer holidays means time for sun, fun and relaxation. However in reality it is usually sun, boredom and hours spent online. At times you may even get to the point where you wish school was in session.

Of the many things you can spend your time doing this summer, it would be beneficial for you to allot time to R&R in relationships.

Yes, Reflect and Reconnect. For those of us who don’t necessarily get summer holidays it is still important for us, at this mid point in the year, to R&R. ReflectTake some time to reflect on

where you are in your relationship with Christ. Are you living a life of dependence on and obedience to God? What steps have you been taking to improve your relationship with God? What about your relationship with your family and friends? Do you relate lovingly and positively to the members of your family? Are you a good friend?

Does your relationship with family members and friends encourage them to be the best person they can be? What are the strengths and weakness in these relationships?

After reflecting on your relationships you may see areas that need to be addressed in order to maintain or re-establish relationships. Do not stop at this point. Do something about it.

ReconnectDo the things that will improve your relationship with God, your family members and your friends. Do you need to spend more time in prayer and Bible

Wondering how you can stay up-to-date with JBUYD matters?

It’s simple.

Join our facebook page!

study? Is there someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from? Will you call that friend you have not spoken to for a while?

Will you schedule time to spend with that family member or friend?

Our relationship with God has bearings on our relationship with each other. Unity with others can only truly result from unity with God. Reflecting and reconnecting may not be easy tasks as they may reveal some painful realities and lead us to making hard decisions. However, we must be willing to discard things that are hindrances in fostering healthy relationships and embrace that which will strengthen our relationship with God and others.

Ensure that you R&R this summer and be on a good footing for the rest of the year.

Blessings.

Derri-Ann Palmer

Just go to http://facebook.com/jbuyouth and become a fan .

Clarendon Youth retreat

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n Friday April 27, 2012, 100 Baptist young people from the 13 circuits of Clarendon Baptist Association converged on the Bethel Christian Retreat Centre in Newport Manchester for the youth association’s annual weekend retreat.

The retreat was held under the theme “Know God! Know Peace! With the sub-themes being “ Peace Wid the Father”, “Peace Wid Miself”, “Peace Wid mi Neighbour” and “Peace– to di Worl .”

In a time when so many things seek to rob youth of peace, and others have what could be termed as false peace, attendees were challenged to forge a right relationship with God, as one can only know peace when they know God. Presenters at the retreat: Dea. Dameon Daley; Rev. Milton Bailey; Mrs Donnette Thompson-Wynter; Dea Sylvia Henry; and Mr. Calvin Harris sought to bring the attendees to the understanding of true peace. They highlighted that one needs to have peace with oneself, in order to have peace with God, one’s neighbour and the wider world.

To know God is not to know about Him but to have a personal relationship with Him. It is only when one has peace with the Father; that they have peace with self and others.

The activities for the weekend included: orientation;

worship in which youth were actively involved in a time of prayer, praise and reflection; Bible studies; workshops equipping attendees with the necessary information to share with other young people within their circuits; mini-Olympics; Jamaica 50 concert; and business meeting.

Attendees were placed in four houses named after pastors who served the parish, namely Clark, Chambers, Harris and Jennings. Areas of house participation included: kitchen duties; sports; and debate. Attendees were excited about the sports day and they were seen preparing for the cheerleading competition.

The Field events saw Chambers house taking the lead and the overall championship. The audience was quite enthused at how well the debate went. The competition was heated, yet friendly and interesting as each house supported their moot with biblical facts along with other information.

At the business meeting attendees pledged their support for the plans and programmes of the youth Movement, the Parish Association and National Youth Department.

Coming together in this fashion was a grand opportunity for bonding and fellowshipping. Attendees having spent two days focusing on “Knowing God! Knowing Peace”, were now ready to share the peace they experienced at the retreat “to di worl.”

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“Flesh Out” your ideas. Write a business plan. In your business plan, answer questions like: what product or service will I provide? Who will be my suppliers? Where will I have my business? What is the best price for my product or service?

How will I market and promote? Who will be my customers? Secure Funding. Determine if you have enough money or resources or if you need a loan. You may need to borrow money from a family member or a financial institution.

Formalize it. Choose a name for your business and get registered. This is very important and ensures that no can take your business name.

Useful websites: Companies Office of Jamaica: http://www.orcjamaica.com/ Jamaica Business Development Corporation: http://www.jbdc.net/ Jamaica Intellectual Property Office: http://www.jipo.gov.jm/

OUTSTANDING QUEEN

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n December 29, 2011, Aba Sykes, the 18 year old student of Immaculate Conception High School placed 1st runner up in the Haynes Smith Caribbean Talented Teen Queen 2011/2012 Pageant, held in Basseterre, St Kitts.

Aba who described the experience as one of the most memorable in her life tells IMPACT Newsletter that the different accents, food, Aba Sykes in St. Kitts for the environment and the Haynes Smith Caribbean response of the Kittitians Talented Teen Queen was “very amazing.”

“We are all one Caribbean, so similar but, as I realized, so different. It was fulfilling being in the same region but experiencing so many different cultures all at once,” Aba says.

As a result of the competition, she has forged close friendships with Miss. Anguilla, Keivanee Lake, Miss St. Kitts, Siobhan Phipps (the winner) and Miss British Virgin Islands, Ashellica Fahie.

Aba is currently the Miss Jamaica Caribbean Talented Teen 2011/12, a title which she won in August 2011. She states that so far the year has been quite eventful, while adding that soon after winning the Jamaica leg of the competition, there were many interviews and intense preparation for the regional competition.

“It’s going to get even busier with this year’s competition to assist with as well. Man, being Miss Jamaica Caribbean Talented Teen has been an honour honestly. There’s no one thing that I

can pinpoint because it’s all a mixture of feelings and happenings. You feel humbled, proud, pressured to be carrying the brand “Jamaica”, excited, nervous, and overwhelmed. There is so much attention and admiration. It’s all one big bundle. I will miss every bit of it,” Aba says.

Currently a member of the Phillippo Baptist Church, Aba is also involved in voluntary service at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Pageantry has always been a very sticky subject in the minds of Christians, so seeking the “go ahead” from God was very important to Aba. “I mean, if He didn’t want me to do it, there was no way I was going to, not that I would have been able to anyway. I always asked for His will to be done, not mine. I would have loved to have won the regional competition, but I came second and having asked God to have His way, second place felt like first really. I remember when we were at the table once, the girls asked me to say a few Jamaican bad words, all giggling in amusement. I thought to myself, ‘Does saying it make it right because it was ‘culture’?

“It wasn’t and I simply said no ladies I cannot do that. So I had to ensure that He was first in everything. God is a very important person in my life. Sometimes I fail to remember that He comes first, especially when I want to do my own thing, but He gently reminds me that my plans are in His hands,” Aba adds.

Aba currently has nine Grade Ones in her Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams and three distinctions and a credit at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency level. In the future she hopes to pursue a career in journalism at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) or at Cable News Network (CNN).

We want to hear from you. Send us your views and queries. Write to Impact c/o Jamaica Baptist Union, 2B Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20. E-mail: jbuyouth@gmail.com. Telephone: 969-2223, 969-9835, 931-9225.

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