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Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1
ASSEMBLY DAILY REPORTER
Friday 24 February 2017
V
ice President Karen Kirlew, yesterday, launched the National Blood Drive in the Assembly Talk Session 2.
Book Launch It really is very hard to find ageappropriate Christian education materials for children 12 years and under these days, so when Cynthia Anderson and her team from the Christian Education Department launched its third manual yesterday, it was a welcome moment.
She told us that the blood collection drive, targeting 500 eligible persons giving at least one pint, was one of the activities designed to give tangible expression to what some say is an abstract theme: Being God’s people in God’s world, living the sacrificial life. The National blood bank needs at least 60, 000 units of blood annually to fulfill patient demand. If every Baptist under the age of ...gives at least one pint, the blood bank would have had at least half its quota for the year. The drive is not just targeting Baptists only but all eligible persons. Yesterday, members of the St James Baptist Association along with other delegates went to the Cornwall Regional Hospital and gave blood. Others will go today and others ought to return to their respective communities and give at a facility closest to them. According to Vice President Kirlew, we give blood to serve communities and country to the glory and honour of God. Now if you’re a “what’s-in-it –for – me” kinda a person...and I sure hope you’re not: here’s why you really should donate blood: Blood donation helps to mitigate the risk of cancer. By donating blood the iron stores in the body are maintained at healthy levels. And the reduction in iron levels in the body is linked with low cancer risk Blood donation is beneficial in reducing risk of heart and liver ailments caused by iron overload in the body.
Regular blood donation reduces the weight of the donors. This is helpful to those who are obese and are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and other health disorders. After donating blood, the body works to replenish the blood loss. This stimulates the production of new blood cells and in turn helps in maintaining good
Today is a history-making day when all JBU women look to the heavens and smile with satisfaction. Did I hear a glass shatter? health. There’s one other very good reason: Jesus Christ gave his blood to save your life. If you have any health issues or concerns, consult your doctor before donating blood. It is always good to have healthy diet weeks before the donation. On the day of donation, make sure you are well hydrated so keep drinking plenty of fluids Gwaan go dweet!
The Book titled Growing in Faith, treats with issues of faith in a way in which children can understand and grasp key concepts of salvation, spiritual discipline, stewardship, the word of God and the ordinance. Rev Merlyn Hyde Riley presented a copy to President look under the watchful eye of the General Secretary. In accepting the Book, president Dick opined that children grow up fast and learn fast, therefore we have to teach them and guide them in the way they ought to go. The book has 20 beautifully illustrated pages with an attractive cover design by the Rev Brenard McDonald. It is being sold at the JBU Bookstore desk for $500. If you want to grow your Sunday school, this book may be of some help.
cially when life offers shades of grey rather than pure black and white
Making hard choices...
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hen you have such a slate of excellent topics from which to choose one, it’s kinda difficult—hard choice. So I sat in the workshop facilitated by the Rev Karl Henlin. He gave us food for thought. Our world has changed drastically over the last 50 years and with the changes, making decisions have become more difficult and complex than before. The moods of our present age have been described as postmodern, post Christian and pluralistic and they all have affected how Christians make their decisions today. These are the dominant themes of our world today. What guides decision making?
Pragmatism: Self pleasing preserving and self promoting attitude involved Social acceptability: if it makes me look good, seem good appears good then I’ll do it Prior commitment to certain values and principles espoused by religious conviction Socialisation: how we have been socialized by parents or other significant persons as to deter-
mine what is right or wrong The Nature of our Christian calling is predicated on 7 principles Our understanding of God and the kind of life to which people are called is shaped by the life and teachings of Christ The life of Jesus embodied self giving love undergirded by a willingness to make any sacrifice in the name of love Teachings of Jesus envision a way of life in which God has created a new order . We are called to model it New way of life comes with new directions, new goals, expected outcomes It is always how we act and live in response to the needs of the neighbour which will reflect our commitment to the self-giving life of love Jesus expects of his followers something different from worldly wisdom because we are always expected to go beyond the normal, the popular and the expected Making hard choices requires a commitment to live a self-giving responsible faithful life in light of the faith we hold in Christ espe-
The real choice we have to make is whether we will live exclusively by the law of self-preservation (my reputation, my progress, my possessions etc) or whether we will live by self-giving love which is always sacrificial. Eight 8 guidelines in making hard decisions as Christians
Admit that issues are complex and demanding – a challenge to determine the right and wrong way all the time Affirm Christian ideals and commit to striving for those reflecting the life of Christ Determine what the outcomes would be if different courses were taken and in the process consider which one of them best serves the interest of the neighbour Discern whether we are doing self-preserving rather than selfgiving Search to find what the more responsible action would be Admit that as fallen creatures and impure motives Trust God to work in all things for the good of those who love him Attend to your life of intentional spiritual dieting – spiritual growth
God is not concerned simply with what we do and say. God is concerned with why we do what we do and how we do it. Speaking truth demands sacrifice of self-will selfimage, selfish desires to get back at, risking comfort, risking relationships. We are called to speak truth but to do so responsibly and we are called to speak truth in an age when people say, save yourself, for truth does not matter. What matters is selfpreservation
2 Rev Hyde Riley presents the Children manual to the Presi
Highlights from that GenSec Report
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est we forget, the GenSec reminded us of some notable events etched in the life of the Union: 175th Year since the launch of the Jamaica Baptist Missionary Society that has evolved into the Board of Mission and Evangelism and now to the Jamaica Baptist Union Mission Agency. This society had as its mandate to take the Gospel to Africa. It was out of that missional mindset that the JBU was founded The 500th Anniversary of the reformation when Martin Luther nailed his defiant thesis on the door of the church in Wittennberg, Germany, declaring: The Just shall live by faith Note also that the Union is at that juncture where it has become necessary to set up a Task Force to review the future role and frequency of general assemblies in light of tight fiscal space. The Church Return Form has been redesigned to make it more efficient and user friendly in capturing data and to facilitate on-line reporting. The Riverton Meadows Mission will be received into
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the family on Sunday, thus bringing the number of member churches to 338 including three in Haiti. These churches are served by a mere 92 accredited ministers [Do the math]. The numerical increase in our membership is 1331 since 2010 at an average increase of 221, with j6782 baptisms at an average 1,130 baptized each year. Continued concerns are expressed about the financing ministerial training leading to the exploration of several strategies and options. Within the context of global changes, some of which have impacted negatively the Christian Faith, GenSec exhorted us to change our narrative by shedding pride and haughtiness, adorning ourselves in humility and continue to strive to become God’s people in God’s world. He impressed upon us the need to reaffirm our commitment to care and protection all human beings especially the most vulnerable.