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Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1
ASSEMBLY DAILY REPORTER
Sunday 26 February
resident Dr Devon Dick delivering the sermon at the first of two closing ceremonies on Sunday said the Church had become too self-absorbed, indifferent and complacent in their witness; consequently he challenged Christians to become Chief Evangelistic Organizers (CEOs) of what he called Project OUT: Outward Urgent Thrust toward Mission.
WANTED !CEOs for project OUT!
He called for more fervent witnessing, emphasizing the need to push forward promptly with persistence and passion even in the face of obstacles and concluding that Christians existed for no reason than to be “Jesus people, a Jesus movement, a Jesus community, engaged in witnessing fervently.”
Outward vision Using St John 4 as his text, JBU President chided us for behaving like ’selfies’ with God’s mission, focusing too much on internal material needs rather than the genuine outward needs of nonbelievers. Too many Christians, churches and denominations, he said had become satisfied with mediocrity and under-achievement, resting on stale legacy, marking time, while “the world moves on .” “What we need are some CEOs, who have the outward vision that desires to pound the pavement, door to door, street to street, lane to lane with a message of hope,” he declared.
Urgency in a state of emergency President Dick criticized the church for lacking a sense of urgency, noting that there was movement without mission; passion without purpose; zeal without knowledge and Christians were moving fast and furious but foolish, always in a state of emergency but no urgency. He added that what was even more poignant was the fact that Baptists did not seem to be able to discern the difference.
Thrust against obstacles
Pastor of the Kitson Town Circuit, Rev Norva Rodney took the preachers baton from President Dick on Sunday afternoon and in a powerful and impassioned sermon he reminded us that “we must, through tribulations enter the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 14: 21). Speaking to the topic, Witnessing fervently in spite of… Rev Rodney said for the Christian, going the route of the cross is a divinely ordained imperative that required a divine initiative that will inevitably redound to a divinely ordained incentive. The divine imperative he explained, is of vital importance and an absolute necessity. Therefore, the call to Christian witness was not an option but an imperative that required us to submit to the supreme wisdom and the sovereign will of God.
Submission to the will of God required us to exercise the initiative to drop self-centred entitlements and adopt a crosscentred consciousness “pledging to go through and endure whatever persecution and tribulations we must…” This willingness to take up the cross will result in the heavenly reward of the kingdom of God. The preacher interpreted the kingdom of God as “an ever emerging new order, a new way of thinking and living! In Christ Jesus, the kingdom of God is about our experiencing a change in our attitudes, affection and actions.” Rev Rodney emphasized the fact that Christians have the God-given resilience to bounce right back like the cunny doctor bud, when experiencing tribulations.
Highlights of the closing ceremonies
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BU General Secretary Karl Johnson welcomed delegates to the first of two closing ceremonies and presented a photographic montage that captured synopsis of the four days of activities leading to the closing ceremonies .
Greetings from the GG His excellency, the most honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica also worshipped with us. In bringing greetings, he commended the JBU for its excellent organising of
In welcoming specially invited guests, including the Governor General, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, Custodes of Portland, and St Catherine, other clergy and Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Agency, the GenSec quipped that Montego Bay would never be the same again. the service. He noted that JBU was progressive in electing a female president –elect from among extremely talented female pastors in the Union. Sir Patrick also expressed concerns about the prevailing social ills in Jamaica and opined that Christians must always have a cause with which to contend. He made an urgent call for more persons to offer themselves to serve as Justices of the Peace. He said that the country needs people who can model wholesome values of honesty and integrity. Anointing fell on him and boots. Mr Gordon who accepted on behalf of the team expressed his gratitude to the Union and urged us to keep doing what we are doing.
God breathed his word through President Devon Dick who made himself available. He called us to work outward with a sense of urgency and to press forward in the face of obstacles. General Secretay Karl Johnson heeded the prompting of the Holy Spirit and made the call for persons wishing to commit to evangelism. No one hesitated. Welcome to the family
Giving freely He presented to the Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Agency, Mr Audley Gordon and his team gift packages containing tools of their trade, including gloves, raincoats
lia McKoy, Orane Shaw and Trudi Morrison Reid. The Ministry of the Combined Choir and Rev Alyn Waller was a blessing.
More than 7, 000 congregants attended the service which was led by Deacon Jeanie Robinson Foster from the Calvary Baptist Church. Scripture readings were done in both the Jamaican Creole and the Standard English by Ce-
Rev Michael Barnett , newly ordained Minister serving in the Rock River Circuit also received his accreditation. The Riverton Meadows Mission was extended the right hand of fellowship and now become a part of the Mamby Park Circuit. The service climaxed with the ordinance of sacrament. Evening Service The evening service was led by Ministerial student Travis Drummond. Associate General Secretary Merlyn Hyde Riley gave the welcome and announcements. The Sunday school was on form with its music ministry, choral presentation and dance that led into the God-powered sermon preached by the Rev Norva Rodney on the topic, Witnessing fervently, in spite of...
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