A Publication of the Gregory Park SDA Church Communication Department September 2012
Issue #11
The Youth Enlist in ‘
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he Few, the Proud, the Righteous! Forty-one ‘cadets’ packed their bags for Youth Retreat 2012 at the Robin’s Bay Village and Beach Resort in the Northeast coast parish of St. Mary for two nights and three days between August 4 and 6. The theme; BOOT Camp - Building on Our Testimonies: We May not have it all together but together we have it all.” On Sabbath morning, August 4, the retreaters boarded at the Gregory Park SDA Church after a brief worship session and set off. The first stop was the Tom’s River Seventh-day Adventist Church just on the border of St. Andrew and St. Mary. The quaint little church on a hilltop were gracious hosts, as they allowed the ‘Youth Retreat’ choir to present
two specials in their divine hour service and provide the praise team, while Melissa Brown offered the Children’s Story. Next stop for the troops was camp site. Despite the army theme and metaphors, the retreat site was anything but militaristic. Robin’s Bay Village was a gorgeous tropical setting far removed from the hustle and bustle of the City. Former Associate Pastor Waren 'Elijah Powers' Muir joined the group, along with friends from the Clear Park SDA Church in St. Catherine and his present church in Northern California to conduct the AY Service. Pastor Muir acknowledged that he relished the invitation to reunite and speak with members of his former congregation. The 34year old pastor expressed just how
’ for 2012 Retreat
much he embraced the theme of ‘we may not have it all together, but together we have it all’ – speaking to the value of unity of the saints in lifting up each other. He also took testimonies from the group on how God had given them the power to overcome sin, trials and worry. The night cap was a ‘jump up’ social which featured a number of action games including follow the leader, dog and bone and retreat favorites atoms and ring delly-oh. Sunday morning started bright and early at 0530 hours, with a nature walk, worship and exercise at the nearby
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Scenes from the Quarter
Boot Camp: Scenes From Youth Retreat 2012
From the Pastor
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A Response From the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
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Congrats To our Grads
Adventist Resources
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Where are They Now?
Prophecy Corner
Publications
The Light 11
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Health: Safety at Play
The Family Empowered!
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beach. Breakfast was followed by a series of presentations - the first on human sexuality presented by Marcia Johnson. The second team building exercise led by Youth Elder Angela Chambers saw groups of four using a sheet of paper, four elastic bands, four paperclips and three straws to construct a bridge. In the third and final exercise chaired by Melissa Brown and Michca-Mae Bonner, the group wrote anonymous testimonies on slips of paper and placed them in a receptacle, after which they were read aloud. Amidst the rainy weather from Tropical Storm Ernesto as it passed by the island, the euphoria of Jamaica 50 celebrations and triumph in the London Olympics men’s 100 metres earlier in the day, Sunday’s Jamaica Night was one to remember. Persons came out in a parade of Jamaican colours. The music, the items, the fashion - all reflected the patriotism all Jamaicans were feeling as the country at large celebrated it’s Golden Jubilee. Songs like I’m on a Mission, Rise Up and Sweet Jamdown were
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Health: Is it Ringworm?
News
Youth Enlist in ‘BOOT Camp’
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interspersed between the various items. The final few hours of the Retreat on a windy Independence Day Monday morning wrapped up with the ‘Olympic’ sports day on the terrace of the Resort, overlooking the rough Caribbean Sea. The three teams - black, green and gold–participated in a newspaper race, freeze dance, heel and toe and chair relay among other events. The closing exercise allowed the retreaters to thank the AY Council for putting on one of the more memorable, fun-filled youth retreats in years and the Council in turn thanked everyone for their support in attending this year’s retreat. The Council also asked for continued support for the activities of the Council and encouraged retreaters to continue the fellowship they had established - so that together they can truly have it all!
- Damian Wilson, Communication Director
Calendar of Events Editorial Committee Michca-Mae Bonner Tashawna Harrison Wayne Harrison Marjorie Stone Fiona Dyer Wilson Damian Wilson
T he L i g h t
Scenes from Youth Retreat 2012 Robin’s Bay Village and Beach Resort, St. Mary
Building on our Testimonies
“We may not have it all Together, but Together We have it All”
1. Retreaters participate in a team-building exercise 2. Pastor Waren ‘Elijah’ Powers’ Muir conducts the AY Presentation 3. The Pool area is always a favourite for retreaters 4. Angela Sinclair in her flag-inspired Jamaica Night outfit 5. The ‘Freeze Dance’ Event at the Retreat ‘Olympics’ 6. Group picture at the end of Jamaica Night 7. The Choir performs an item at the Tom’s River SDA Church
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Blondel CAMPBELL
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Pastor, Gregory Park Circuit of Churches
he third quarter was ‘abuzz’ with activities that proved that the Church is indeed holistic in its ministry to members and community. These activities ranged from the Church’s involvement in an evangelistic series, day outing, weekend retreat and celebration of our children’s and youth’s achievements – all to the glory of God. The Church continues its mission of increasing the Kingdom of our Lord with the hosting of the ‘Empowering the Family’ Bible series from July 1 – 28, 2012. Evangelist Hopeton Moving must be commended for allowing the Holy Spirit to use him with such clarity and power to present the ‘good news’ of God’s salvation. As usual the membership showed true evangelistic spirit by their involvement as Bible Workers, Ushers, Prayer Warriors, Musical Evangelists and support by their nightly attendance. Indeed to God be the glory, at the end of such an enriching series 29 precious souls were added to the Kingdom of God as members of the Gregory Park SDA Church. A big thank you to all for a work well done to the glory of God. It was now time for fun, relaxation and frolic with a spiritual dimension. The Sabbath School department ensured that the members of all age groups got the opportunity to relax for one day at the beautiful Somerset Falls in Portland – it was a day to remember as we all let our hair down and had fun. If this wasn’t enough, the Adventist Youth department hosted a most memorable Youth Retreat at the scenic Robin’s Bay Village and Beach Resort in the lovely parish of St. Mary, from August 4 to 6. It was not all fun and frolic for the youth as Pastor Muir, former Associate Pastor of Gregory Park was involved in the weekend activities that satisfied the spiritual needs of the youth. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Pastor Muir for his involvement in the retreat and also for allowing the Lord to use him to present another soul stirring message to the brethren the following Sabbath. Well done Youth department for another inspiring program. As the summer came to an, the focus turned to our children and teens who sat external examinations. On behalf of the Church family, I extend a hearty congratulations to our GSAT achievers and other students who were successful in their examinations and wish them God’s leading as they continue their academic journey. Not to be overlooked, are our graduates who were also successful in their exams and will be moving to a higher calling, we say congratulations and abide in the Lord always. Recently, our children were featured on NCU Radio as they participated in the program, ‘Children’s Time’, which was aired on Sabbath, September 1. Indeed, the program was a blessing to all. As such we express our gratitude and congratulations to the children, the children’s department and parents for their support, encouragement and preparation for the program. As we come to the end of another quarter the Church now turns its attention to the selection of officers to take place in the coming quarter. We therefore, ask that all the members participate in this process by praying earnestly for God’s guidance in selecting the members to lead out in service to our Lord. We take this opportunity to extend our condolences to Pastor Claude Brown and his family at the passing of a daughter and sister. We pray that the family will continue to find comfort in the Lord. As we enter the final quarter of the year 2012, let us be reminded of the imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The signs that are everywhere should not have us wondering and vacillating as to what we should do. It is high time that we make our calling and election sure. Jesus came on this earth and lived for us, and then He died for us, and is presently interceding to save us. May we walk in the light He gives us and live so that others may be drawn to Him.
Revelation 1412 is a website which provides Adventist Resources including videos, news, features, events, literature and study groups http://revelation1412.org/ The Official book store of the Inter-American Division Publishing Association offers bibles, hymnals, devotionals and a range of books on any number of topics. The site offers great rates and monthly specials http://store.iadpa.org/ GaiN, the Global Adventist Internet Network, is a community of Seventh-day Adventist technologists, evangelists and communicators who connect to discuss the creative use of Internet technology in their work and in the lives of those they serve http://gain.adventist.org/ The North American Division Evangelism Institute educates, equips and empowers for evangelistic ministry. Students experience supervised instruction and participation in the work of personal and public evangelism. http://www.nadei.org/ Adventist Match is designed for Adventist singles who are looking for Christian dating and friendships through chat and email. Unlike more general Christian dating sites, they are dedicated specifically to helping SDA singles connect with other Seventh-day Adventists throughout the world. http://adventistmatch.com/
T he L i g h t
FROM THE
Pastor Levi Johnson, President of Central Jamaica Conference, offers the closing prayer during the Empowering the Family Bible Series. The Series was conducted by Elder Hopeton Moving (background) from July 1-28, 2012
Marlon Roper hands little Ethan Josh Roper to Pastor Blondel Campbell to be blessed while mommy Ceraphia Roper looks on— Sabbath August 11, 2012.
The children proudly show off their artwork during Vacation Bible School. VBS ran from July 16-26, 2012
Pastor Blondel Campbell extends the right hand of fellowship to the recently baptised members, Sabbath September 15, 2012
Graduates of Northern Caribbean University perform ‘What if God is unhappy with Our Praise’ during AY Service, Sabbath September 15, 2012
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Graduation is a time to celebrate your achievements, prepare for a future of opportunities and embrace a world of infinite possibilities.
GRADUATES!! To all our: High School & University Grads • CSEC & CAPE Awardees Other Graduates & Awardees GSAT Placements Lauryn Brown Ardenne High School
Chevaughn Thompson St. Catherine High School
Demil Watson Kingston College
Santina Hall Greater Portmore High School
Rickena Brown St. Hugh’s High School
Alex Davis Camperdown High School
Lamar Smith Calabar High School
If you haven’t received last quarter’s is sue of The Light via email, email us at the address below. If you are interested in submitting material to THE LIGHT for publication, you may see any member of the editorial committee or indicate via email. Please send your comments, opinions or feedback to:
communications.gpsda@gmail.com
T he Li ght
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he tall, stately, gracious and talented Paulette Pettigrew became a member of the Gregory Park SDA church in the mid 1980’s. She came to Gregory Park from the Meadowvale SDA Church where she had been baptized by Pastor Claude Brown on September 10, 1978. Her dedication to the Lord and her commitment to excellence did not go unnoticed at Gregory Park. Soon her expertise and versatility began to be felt and seen in the various capacities in which she served. Indeed she has left an indelible mark at Gregory Park and has set high standards of faithfulness, integrity and industry for those who will follow. She was a hard worker who served in capacities such as Adventist Youth Leader, Pathfinder Director, Deaconess and Education Director. She also served in the Sabbath School Division and is also fondly remembered for her role in decorating the church. There was no doubt as to her creativity when each Sabbath morning we witnessed the transforming effect of the beautiful floral arrangements she made. These truly enhanced the worship service. Sis. Petti-
grew was not selfish and willingly shared her skills in floral arrangement with the Women’s Ministry when asked to do so. An educator by profession, Sis. Pettigrew taught at Port Maria Preparatory, St. Catherine High and Swallowfield Pri-
parents. Though not an easy task, Sis. Pettigrew with her usual dedication has committed herself to the task and is being empowered by God daily. Taking care of her parents effectively meant that Sis. Pettigrew had to migrate to St. Mary. She now holds membership in the Hunts Town SDA church in the Northeast Conference. The church at Hunts Town has been tremendously blessed by her presence. She continues to be industrious and assists in any area she sees a need. She has served in Pathfindering, Ushering and Decorating. So impressed are they with her work that on June 9, 2012 the Hunts Town church awarded her with a plaque to recognize her invaluable service. Paulette Pettigrew We at Gregory Park are proud of her continued determination to offer high mary. She dedicated 38 years to educat- quality service wherever she goes. As we ing the nation’s children and cites her journey together to the Promised Land most rewarding experience as seeing a let us continue to pray for each other child learn to read. She is committed to that the Lord will keep us faithful and moulding rather than marring students committed to the end. entrusted to her care. She opted for early retirement in 2011 in order to take care of her ailing - Marjorie Stone
Publications of the Quarter Counsels to Parents, Teachers & Students This book, first published in 1913 brings to view the principles and methods of presenting a Christian education to today's children. The responsibilities and duties of parents, counsel to guide teachers in their work, and practical instruction for chidren and youth are clearly presented. Contents include: The Aim of Our Schools, The Home School, The Church School, The Teacher and the Work, The Bible in Education and the Holy Spirit in Our Schools.
Christian Education "It is the privilege of every student to take the life and teach ings of Christ as his daily study. Christian education means the acceptance, in sentiment and principle, of the teach ings of the Saviour." This is the book to read if you want a broad, Bible-based view of education. There is much in this book for everyone who would like to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually.
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Prophecy
Babylon in
Bible Prophecy
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aniel was a young man when he was taken into captivity. Daniel, however remained faithful to God throughout his life and God spoke through him allowing us to have prophetic revelations and guidance today regarding the time of the end. This quarter we begin to study the prophecies revealed to Daniel. Daniel was blessed by God because he was able to interpret visions and dreams. The book of Daniel Chapter 2 sets the backdrop for the remarkable revelation of God’s power. Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's (King of Babylon) dream in Daniel 2 gives us an outline, as revealed by the Lord, of the world’s history down to the time of the end when Jesus will return the second time. Daniel 2 says - And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. Of course if we should follow the remaining story as recorded in the Bible, we discover that the wise men could not fulfill the King’s request. Daniel, having faith in the true God, prayed with his friends then returned to the king and told him that God had revealed the dream to him (Dan 2:28 - But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets). Daniel's interpretation follows:
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces … 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine 31
hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Babylon in Bible Prophecy The Bible explains this prophetic symbol. We see from the scripture that the ’head of gold’ represents the kingdom of Babylon. During the time of King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, Babylon at that time of the world’s history was the centre of wealth and power. Gold was the most prominent metal and was found in many of the artefacts of the empire centuries after it was conquered; even the treasures from the temple in Jerusalem were brought to Babylon following the captivity of God’s people. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "Babylon hath been a gold cup in the Lord's hand." (Jeremiah 51:7). However, as God revealed in prophecy to Daniel, Babylon's prominence was short lived and after 70 years it would be conquered by the next Kingdom to take the world stage. The word ‘Babylon’, however, is significant to prophetic study as it essentially means confusion. If we remember God’s intervention in confusing the language of the people of earth, which prohibited them from building the tower of Babel (root word) then we will understand the use of the word in the spiritual context as found also in the prophetic book of Revelation. As we near the end of time, the prophetic words found in Revelation warns of a modern day Babylon “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues”.(Rev 18:4). In other words, God reveals that systems of spiritual and religious confusion will exist in the time of the end such as is evident in our world today. Statistics estimates that there are over 200 Protestant denominations, all claiming to be the ‘correct’ or ‘true’ church. It is clear from God’s word that there will be one true church in the time of the end. Just as God revealed to prophet Daniel that the Kingdom of Babylon would fall to another world empire we have a sure word of prophecy that all false religious systems of worship will come to an end before Jesus returns the second time. Let us all heed the prophetic warnings and endeavour to be among those who are redeemed, who give worship to the true living God by keeping “his commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. Next quarter we will continue our fascinating look at the image of Daniel Chapter 2.
- Elder Wayne Harrison
T he L i g h t
Leaders of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists issued the following response to the Pacific Union Conference’s vote on August 19 to ordain ministers without regard to gender. Constituents of the California-based Union voted 79 to 21 percent to “approve ordinations to the gospel ministry without regard to gender.” A mid-Atlantic United States Union and the Maryland-based Columbia Union Conference recently voted a similar action. The Adventist Church currently does not ordain females as ministers. General Conference President, Ted N.C. Wilson
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he 17 million members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are united through the Holy Spirit in a common commitment to Christ and the truths of His Word, an urgent end-time mission, and a divinely inspired church organization. A threat to any one of these places at risk the unity of the church. It is for this reason that the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church affirms the Pacific Union’s action not to change their Constitution and remain in harmony with the world church. This represents a step in a positive direction. The General Conference leadership is seriously concerned, though, with the Pacific Union’s subsequent action to preempt the collective decisions of the world church regarding ordination. Unilateral actions contrary to the voted decisions of the global church seriously threaten the unity of the church. The world church recognizes the vital role that women play in the life, ministry and leadership of the church and encourages their active involvement. Because the General Conference Administrative Committee has already voted and commenced the most comprehensive study in our history on the subject of ordination, which will include the study of the ordination of women, the action of the Pacific Union to grant Ministerial Ordination “without respect to gender” preempts the process voted for the current study of ordination theology and practices by committing the Pacific Union Conference to a particular outcome before the study-anddiscussion process is completed. It also expresses a lack of trust in the integrity of the general process accepted and voted by General Conference administrators and personnel, division officers, and pastors and lay members from all the world divisions who serve on the General Conference Executive Committee, which includes the presidents of the 125 unions representing the world church, regarding how we approach common challenges. Further, the action is contrary to General Conference Working Policy and sets aside the 1990 and 1995 decisions of the General Conference in Session respecting the practice of ordination. The action taken by the Pacific Union Conference represents a serious threat to the unity of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, and thus, at its next meeting in October 2012, as indicated in another recent public statement by General Conference officers and division presidents, the General Conference Executive Committee will carefully review the situation and determine how to respond. In the spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the officers of the General Conference appeal to all entities, organizations, and individuals, including the Pacific Union Conference, to refrain from independent and unilateral decisions and from implementing any such actions. It is our prayer that the “oneness” Jesus prayed for in His great intercessory prayer in John 17, and that which the disciples experienced in Acts 2, will be manifest in His church today. We pray that the result of this “oneness” will be lives transformed by His grace, united in His love, and empowered by His Spirit to proclaim His last-day message in all of its fullness to a perishing planet, hastening the glorious return of our Lord. Ted N. C. Wilson, President ▐ G. T. Ng, Secretary — General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
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Robert E. Lemon, Treasurer
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wenty-nine converted hearts decided to join the family of Christ in baptism during the “Empowering the Family Bible Series.” The Family Life crusade with Evangelist Hopeton Moving ran from July 1-28, 2012 at the Gregory Park SDA Church. Four weeks and five Sabbaths of preaching provided church members and Families in particular, with tools and scriptural instructions on how to strengthen family bonds both for earth and in preparation for eternity. The presentations included a range of subjects from parenting, marriage, sex, conflict resolution and stress. Nightly topics included the captivating: Three big secrets to a happy family, Seven Steps for resolving conflict, Ten things every man should know about a woman and Is it really love: seven ways to tell. Evangelist Moving was supported by his wife, Violet, a nurse by profession, who also provided health lectures. Elder Moving is the first elder of the Palmer’s Cross SDA Church in Clarendon, a naturopathic doctor, motivational speaker and a trained and experienced counselling psychologist. The Elder anchored his presentations in Bible truths – drawing a parallel between earthly relationships and well known Bible stories such as the Prodigal Son, the creation story, the raising of Lazarus from the dead and the baptism of Christ. As the series closed on July 28 – the theme song ‘I’m so Glad I’m a part of the Family of God’ rang ever so true: You may notice we say brother and sister 'round here, It's because we're a family and our folks are so dear, When one has an heartache, we all share the pain, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear. -Damian Wilson
Evangelist Moving assists Vincent Blackwood out of the baptismal pool.
Members of the Congregation respond to one of the nightly altar calls made by Evangelist Hopeton Moving
T he L i g h t NEWS
Prime Minister Conferred with Honorary Doctorate by NCU
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he Bible says that a city set upon a hill cannot be hidden, and NCU, formerly West Indies College, has been lit in a bright, shiny education beacon which has more than 100 years of contribution in education," This was the sentiment expressed by Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller as she accepted the honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from the Northern Caribbean Unity on August 12, 2012. "You are the next generation of Jamaican leaders. Armed with your degrees and enthusiasm, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on Jamaica and the world," the Prime Minister charged. "I believe that we have only scratched the surface of our greatness as a nation. Linking the NCU graduation with Jamaica's 50th year as an independent nation and the 174 years since emancipation, Simpson-Miller said: "What it means is that you are leading the next generation into the future. For the next 50 years you are the ones who will be our standard bearers. You are equipped with specialist knowledge and skills to build productive lives and serve your country and people.” A total of 908 persons graduated over two commencement ceremonies held at the university's Mandeville campus. Ambassador Audrey Marks, Jamaica's former ambassador to the United States and Paymaster founder, was also conferred with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree by the university during the afternoon service.
Adventist High School Students Ace CSEC Exams
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Brian Willis
Olivia Valentine
mong the top achievers in this year’s CSEC examinations are students of Adventist institutions. One is sixteen year-old Olivia Valentine, then head girl of Victor Dixon High School (VDHS) in Mandeville, and the other is Brian Willis, head boy of Harrison Memorial High School, in Mt. Salem Montego Bay. Seventeen-year old Brian Willis gained 13 CSEC subjects which included distinctions in Mathematics, Physics, English A, Technical Drawing, Principles of Accounts, Information Technology, Social Studies, General Biology, Human & Social Biology; credits in Caribbean History, Geography Chemistry, and a pass in Spanish. Meanwhile Olivia made a clean sweep of all eleven subjects she sat, including the sciences Physics, General Biology, Human and Social Biology and Chemistry - along with Mathematics, English A, English B, Information Technology, Food and Nutrition, Social Studies and Spanish.
Dr. Trevor Gardner, president of Northern Caribbean University, confers the honorary Doctor of Public Service degree on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller during the University’s graduation ceremony, Sunday August 12, 2012 Both students attributed their success to God, their parents and their respective institution. “I thank God for carrying me through, and my teachers who helped me in the preparation; they did a great job. My parents were towers of strength, they assisted with my academic work, and they even took off some of my housework, so I could prepare” said Brian. “I know it’s the work of God. I want to praise the teachers at Victor Dixon High School who have been a tower of strength. They really pushed us hard and we were complaining, but now we are grateful for it,” said Olivia. Brian’s father, Michael Willis, is a senior teacher at the Montego Bay High School; and his wife Winsome is the acting viceprincipal at Harrison Memorial High School. Olivia’s father, Donald Valentine, is the Pastor of the Bellas Gate SDA District of Churches in St. Catherine. “I felt she could do it,” he said. “We are happy for the Church School System that the Adventist Church offers from kindergarten to the tertiary level at Northern Caribbean University (NCU). I believe it helped a lot,” commented Pastor Valentine. “We provide an environment of love and care for our children, our spirituality, the discipline and proper moral values that we also instilled also helped," said the senior Willis. Brian is a junior councillor at the St James Parish Council, a self-taught saxophone player, a member of the drum corp at the King's Seventh-day Adventist Church; and while at school, he was on the football team, choir and a drama club member. Also of note is the success of Jonique Smith, a schoolmate of Olivia, who was joint valedictorian and joint student of the year award recipient at the school’s graduation held on July 1, 2012. Jonique, for her part, copped nine distinctions and a credit in her tensubject haul. "Olivia and Jonique both served as valedictorians at graduation this year because of their excellent academic performance from first form to fifth form, and their involvement in competitions and cocurricular activities," said Orchid Smith, principal of VDHS. "I am delighted with their performance and confidently assert that they will be two of Jamaica's best students as they pursue their tertiary education." Olivia enrolled at NCU this September to pursue a first degree in Medical Technology and plans to go on to fulfill her life’s dream of becoming a medical doctor. Source: The Daily Gleaner & Jamaica Union Conference
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Health as a Lifestyle
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s children head back to school this September, many will be participating in sporting activities for the very first time. Participation in any sport, whether it's recreational or competitive, can teach children to stretch their limits and learn sportsmanship and discipline. But any sport also carries the potential for injury. By knowing the causes of sports injuries and how to prevent them, you can help make athletics a positive experience for your child. . Children can be particularly susceptible to sports injuries for a variety of reasons. Children, especially those younger than 8 years old, are less coordinated and have slower reaction times than adults because they are still growing and developing. . In addition, children mature at different rates. Often there's a substantial difference in height and weight between kids of the same age. And when kids of varying sizes play sports together, there may be an increased risk of injury. As children grow bigger and stronger, the potential for injury increases, largely because of the amount of force involved. Also, children may not assess the risks of certain activities as fully as adults might. So they might unknowingly take risks that can result in injuries. You can help prevent your kids from being injured by following some simple guidelines: : Use of Proper Equipment . It's important for children to use proper equipment and safety gear that is the correct size and fits well. For example, they should wear helmets for bicycle riding, skating or riding scooters and skateboards.
Adequate Adult Supervision and Commitment to Safety . Any team sport or activity that children participate in should be supervised by qualified adults, preferably persons who have training in first aid and CPR, and the coach's should promote players' well-being. A coach with a win-at-all-costs attitude may encourage kids to play through injury and may not foster good sportsmanship. Be sure that the coach enforces playing rules and requires that safety equipment be used at all times. . Additionally, make sure children are matched for sports according to their skill level, size, and physical and emotional maturity. . Proper Preparation . Just as you wouldn't send a child who can't swim to a swimming pool, it's important not to send kids to play a sport that they're unprepared to play. Make sure that your child knows how to play the sport before going out on the field. Your child should be adequately prepared with warm-ups and training sessions before practices as well as before games. This will help ensure that your child has fun and reduce the chances of an injury. In addition, kids should drink plenty of fluids and be allowed to rest during practices and games.
Adapted from Kidshealth.org Reviewed by: Alfred Atanda Jr., MD November, 2011
T he Li ght
Health as a Lifestyle
Red,
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Skin…is it Ringworm?
hildren are far more likely to get ringworm. But what is ringworm, what are its causes, what are the types of ringworm and how is it treated?
capitis often appears as patchy, scaling bald spots on the scalp. (Other scalp conditions, such as seborrhea or dandruff, do not cause hair loss).
What is Ringworm? Ringworm is a common fungal skin infection otherwise known as tinea. Ringworm most commonly affects the skin on the body (tinea corporis), the scalp (tinea capitis), the feet (tinea pedis, or athlete's foot), or the groin (tinea cruris, or jock itch.).
Ringworm of the Foot (Tinea Pedis) Tinea pedis is an extremely common skin disorder, also known as athlete's foot. This fungal infection may cause scaling and inflammation in the toe webs, especially the one between the fourth and fifth toes. Other symptoms include itching, burning, redness, and stinging on the soles of the feet.
Does Ringworm Mean I Have Worms? No. Ringworm is not caused by a worm. It's a fungal infection that often forms a ringshaped rash. It can have a red center (seen here) or normal skin tone inside the ring. Other rashes can look like ringworm, including spider bites, nummular eczema, and Lyme disease, a more serious infection that produces a bull's-eye shaped rash. These require different treatments, so it's important to consult a medical professional What Causes Ringworm? Certain fungi can help the body, but the dermatophyte type that cause ringworm irritate the skin instead. These fungi live off the dead tissues of your skin, hair, and nails. Dermatophytes thrive in warm, moist areas, such as the skin folds of the groin area or between the toes. You’re at greater risk of getting ringworm if you sweat excessively or have minor injuries to your skin, scalp, or nails. Ringworm of the Body (Tinea Corporis) There are several types of ringworm (tinea) that can affect different parts of the body. When fungus affects the skin of the body, it often produces itchy, red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze. The patches often have sharply defined edges. They are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center, creating the appearance of a ring. Your skin may also appear unusually dark or light. Ringworm of the Scalp (Tinea Capitis) Ringworm of the scalp commonly affects children in late childhood or adolescence. This condition may spread in schools. Tinea
Ringworm of the Face (Tinea Faciei) Ringworm on the face outside of the beard area is called tinea faciei. On the face, ringworm is rarely ring-shaped. Characteristically, it causes red, scaly patches with indistinct edges. Ringworm of the Hand (Tinea Manus) Ringworm may involve the hands, particularly the palms and the spaces between the fingers. It typically causes thickening (hyperkeratosis) of these areas, often on only one hand. Tinea manus is a common companion of tinea pedis (ringworm of the feet). It is also called tinea manuum. Ringworm of the Nails (Tinea Unguium) Ringworm is the most common fungal infection of the nails, also called onychomycosis. It can make fingernails look white, thick, opaque, and brittle, but more often toenails look yellow, thick, and brittle. Artificial nails increase the risk for tinea unguium as emery boards can carry infection, and water can collect under the artificial nail, creating a moist area for fungal growth. Spreads on Contact Ringworm is highly contagious and can be spread multiple ways.
Catching Ringworm From Pets Ringworm is an example of a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans). Cats are among the most commonly affected animals. If a cat has ringworm, a person in the house often gets the infection. Dogs, cows, goats, pigs, and horses can also spread ringworm to humans. People catch ringworm from touching the animals, or touching their bedding, grooming items, saddles, carpeting, etc. How Is Ringworm Diagnosed? Sometimes, the diagnosis of ringworm is obvious from its location and appearance. Otherwise, doctors can test skin scrapings for tinea fungus. How Is Ringworm Treated? Ringworm can be treated with antifungal creams containing clotrimazole (Cruex, Lotrimin), miconazole (Desenex, Monistat-Derm), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and terbinafine (Lamisil). In cases of severe or resistant infections on the scalp or nails, doctors may prescribe oral medicines such as terbinafine, itraconazole (Sporanox), griseofulvin, fluconazole (Diflucan), ciclopirox, or naftifine. Tips for Preventing Ringworm Ringworm is difficult to prevent, but here are tips to reduce your risk:
Don’t share clothing, sports gear, towels, or sheets.
Wear slippers in lockers rooms and public pool and bathing areas.
Shower after any sport that includes skin-to-skin contact
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Change your socks and underwear at lease once a day.
You can get it from an infected person, animal, object, and even soil.
Keep skin clean and dry. Dry yourself completely after showering
Heat and moisture help fungi grow and thrive, which makes them more common in areas where you sweat.
If you have athlete's foot, put your socks on before your underwear to prevent spreading to your groin
Fungi also grows in skin folds such as those in the groin or between the toes.
Take your pet to the vet if it has patches of missing hair, which could be a sign of a fungal infection - Source: WebMD.com
I s s ue # 1 1
October Mon 1
Pastors’ & Bible Workers’ Meeting - CJC Board Room Mon-Wed 1-31 Senior Citizens & Disabilities Emphasis Mon-Wed 1-31 Ingathering Emphasis Month Sab 6* Tell the World: In the Community Sab 6* Spirit of Prophecy Day Sab 6 Day of Prayer and Fasting Sab 6 Ingathering Launch Sab 6 Vision One Million Rally (PM) Mon 8 3rd Quarter Reports due at CJC Office Tue 9 Pastors’ Community Outreach – St. Cath erine Wed 10 3rd Quarter Churches’ Statistical Report due at CJC Office Thur 11 Evangelism Committee Sab 13*+ Day of Kindness and Compassion Sab 13 Adventist Teachers’ Day Sab 13 Sabbath School Community Relations Day (Senior Citizens, Disabled, Shut In’s - Em phasis) Sab 13 Sabbath School/Lay Workers Federation AGM - Clarendon Sab 13 Church Membership Count (All Churches) Sun-Sab 14-20 Children’s Week of Prayer Mon 15 National Heroes Day Wed 17 Prayer and Heeding the Word Convention – St. Catherine (Portmore Church) Sab 20* Adventist Children’s Day Sab 20* Day of the Pastor Sab 27 Creation Sabbath Sab 27 CJC Connect - Clarendon Sab 27 Spiritual Revival Emphasis – Nurturing and Conservation
November Thur-Fri 1-30 Parents’ Month Sab-Sab 3*-10 Week of Prayer Sab 3 Back to Church Day – Returning to His Arms Sun 4 Pastors’ Evaluation Day Sab 10*+ Annual Sacrifice (Offering)
Sab 10*
Trust Services Emphasis Day in the Churches Sab 10 Sabbath School/Lay Workers Federation AGM - Manchester Wed 14 Executive Committee Meeting Sab 17 Youth’s Day Sab 17 Church Membership Count (All Churches) Thur-Sun 22-25 NCU Homecoming Sab 24 Bible Emphasis (Heed the Word) Sab 24 HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Sab 24 Sabbath School/Lay Workers Federation AGM – St. Catherine Sab 24 Andrews Memorial Hospital Offering Sun 25 Prayer Coordinators’ Meeting – CJC Office Sun-Fri 25-30 Stewardship Week – Spiritual Emphasis
December Sab-Sun 1-2
Planning Retreat/Youth End of Year Rally – Camp Verley Sab-Mon 1 -31 Church Beautification Emphasis Month Sab 1 World Stewardship Day Thur-Mon 6-10 IAD Bible Bowl Finals - Trinidad Wed 12 Executive Committee Meeting Wed-Sab 12-15 Lay Institute & Camp Meeting Sab 22 Special Offering (District Projects) Tue 25 Christmas Day Wed 26 Boxing Day Sab 29 Pathfinder and Adventurer AY Programme Sab 29# Vision One Million Baptismal Day Sab 29 Book and Nutrition Centre Book Review During Personal Ministry Time (Conference-wide) Sab 29 13th Sabbath Offering (South American Division) Sab 29 Adventist Original Song Finals/Community Concert *Programme provided by the General Conference or by the Inter-American Division +Worldwide Offering. Special offerings are included in the systematic plan of the Division # Organized Baptisms are conducted and recognition of those baptized during the quarter