Baptist%20reporter%20 %202016%20june%20

THE JAMAICA June 2016

Established 1874

Rev Dylan Toussaint leading the Bible study

P

that has God’s mission and therefore a church that is not engaged in mission is not the body of Christ and can-not remain relevant until it does what it is called to do.”

Seminars

In treating with the topic, Mission without conditionalities, Rev Marvia Lawes posited that the Church was pressured by its context to set conditions to sustain respectability, social acceptance and remain competitive; but in her opinion, the only condition attached to mission was love. She urged the JBU to discard confining structures and embrace interorganizational relationships that sustained mission.

resident of the Jamaica Theological Seminary, the Reverend Dr Garnett Roper, was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Baptist Union Mission Agency (JBUMA) three-day Mission Conference, held recently, in Montego Bay, St James, under the theme, Mission NOW: Nurturing our Witness. He impressed upon his audience the need to value modest gains and set modest goals; restore the credibility of the Church by addressing the problems that undermined such credibility; and prepare to chart and cross new frontiers with God’s mission.

The New Haven Baptist Pastor Tanecia McFarlane set the tone for the seminars with a presentation on Mission without exception. She noted that none of us was exempted from mission and that we should be prepared to make ourselves vulnerable so that others might experience emotional and spiritual value.

UTCWI Warden, Reverend Dr Glenroy Lalor took the baton and asserted, through the sub-theme, Mission without excuse that the Church by its nature and purpose could not be excused from and could not make excuses for not engaging in mission, because God is by nature missional. “He is the agency of mission; it is God’s mission that has a church rather than a church

Pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church, the Rev Burchell Taylor marshalled the topic, Mission without delay.

He distinguished between what he called “our permanent state of emergency into which we had placed ourselves and a state of permanent emergency into which Jesus had called us,” to make the point that the Baptists had lost their focus, in their attempt to keep pace with other denominations and as a consequence, had wasted time lamenting about loss of control and influence; lack of resources; the diminishing returns from evangelistic efforts and the amount of money spent on evangelism.

Daily Bible studies

Dorrett R Campbell

Daily Bible studies were conducted by Rev Dr Dylan Toussaint, Pastor of Edgewater Baptist Church. He referenced St John 4 to illustrate the importance of being inclusive, flexible, simple, civil, sensitive, establishing commonality and exercising fixity of purpose in our one-to-one witnessing.

He cautioned against narrow-mindedness, farsightedness and self-centeredness in our witness and urged us to model the example of the Samaritan woman in keeping our testimony personal, factual, inviting, inspirational and convincing.

Worship, a premier evangelistic opportunity I participated in two workshops: A world gone viral: Appropriating technology, facilitated by Marvia Lawes and Worship, a premier evangelistic opportunity, by Rev Deonie Duncan, Pastor of the Buff Bay Circuit.

Reverend Lawes made the claim that technology, which is disrupting, yet shrinking and flattening the world, ought to play a critical role in our mission. We cannot ignore it, she added, because “it is invasive yet assistive.” Therefore, the Church has to adapt and adopt the technology to advance mission as well as to

President’s Message

Reclaiming a positive life-affirming reality I take this opportunity to communicate with you on the 2016-2018 sub-theme that we set ourselves, as a Denomination, Living the Sacrificial Life.

We do not believe that this sub-theme was arrived at by chance, but it was impressed upon us by collective discernment of the leading of the Holy Spirit.

There is a sense of critical urgency that is attendant upon the need to address the subject.

Quite apart from the direct need related to our own constituency, there is at the same time, a need to give a lead on the matter, in relation to the wider Church community. In this regard there are obvious signs that, given certain dominant social, political and cultural values and their seductive pressures on Church and its individual members, foundational aspects of the Christian witness are at risk. Our thematic emphasis on the sacrificial life is one such aspect.

We are dealing with a recall to a matter of foundational significance for our entire Christian life together and as individuals. It is absolutely necessary for the spiritual renewal so badly needed for the effective witnessing presence and practice, absolutely essential to our calling as the people of God. On this basis, it is our desire to remind you of what our thematic emphasis represents, at best.

A rediscovery of the Divine ideal The True and Living God revealed in Christ Jesus and enduringly witnessed to by the Holy Spirit, is the eternal self-giving God. This gets to the very heart of the matter. We owe everything to this fact in terms of human life, hope, salvation and destiny and the future and one text that gives expression to the thought: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

God is the ultimate self-giver. This is done not as a deal-making exercise; not with any self-serving condition laid down; and not as a more or less subtle favourseeking mission. It is God’s own free, self-initiated, gracious, self-giving, suffering love, for the welfare and well-being of humankind and the whole creation. This is

EDITORIAL

J

2

where we see the incarnation and the atoning work of Christ Jesus pointing. There is no doubt that this stands at the heart of our Christian faith.

All our reflections on our theme must take their point of departure as the Divine Ideal that stands behind it and which must inform it all times.

It is reclaiming a positive life-affirming reality.

Looking at the concept of sacrifice through the lens of the Divine Ideal enables us to see it from a faith-perspective. In the world of our daily life, sacrifice is largely a negative concept. It is essentially something to be avoided at all costs and set aside at the soonest possible occasion. It is something that is imposed and enforced by self but more often than not externally. Even if there are envisaged good results, it is nevertheless detested in the process.

The Divine Ideal makes sacrifice a matter of life – for life’s sake. It liberates, transforms, enhances, reveals and exposes possibilities and potential for good, often beyond all imagination. And so, even in the midst of it, the struggles, pains and challenges it generates, the life affirming realities make their presence felt.

Such is the statement as well as demonstration of the self-giving love of God in the Crucified and Resurrected Christ.

It means that our thematic emphasis must by no means be miscast or misrepresented in the worldly negative manner. This is a far cry from the positive life-affirming reality it really is. The Apostle (1Cor. 15:15 NRSV) sees it in terms of victory: But thanks be to God who gives us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a reawakening to a neglected privilege and purpose The sacrificial life is essentially a privilege and purpose of God’s grace in Christ, enabled and sustained by the Spirit. This is always what it is and will always be. It is not a ‘bargaining chip’ in relation to God. It does not have an eye on any reward.

As God shares God’s best with us, we have been given the enormous privilege and purpose to become sharers and givers on God’s behalf in God’s service in the name of Christ Jesus and the power of the Spirit. Freely we have received, freely give (Matt. 10:8).

Hurricanes of our time

une signals the start of what has been predicted to be an active hurricane season. Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 was a teachable moment for Jamaicans. And what a lesson! We are no longer dismissive of warnings and preparedness. Environmentalists argue that the intensity of natural disasters is dotted to the effects of climate change, a consequence of man’s irresponsible stewardship of the environment.

There are the several egregious man-made disasters that wreak more physical, social and emotional havoc on humanity than any hurricane could do. A most recent, is the Omar Mateen massacre of 49 people and wounding of more than 50 others at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida; just on the heels of the horrifying 2015 onslaught on the AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Those atrocities intensified the debate on the necessity for stronger gun-control regulation in the United States.

Unlike hurricanes, guns can’t bark by themselves; guns are man-made disasters. Legislating the use of guns will serve only to plaster, but not heal the gaping wound created by man’s contempt of God’s creation, thus descending our society into a quagmire of social and moral decadence, better described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-7. “…Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Can we learn and accept some truths about ourselves; if not from the hurricanes or offshore massacres, but from the atrocities on our own doorstep: the slaughter of innocence, the 2002 New Years’ Day 100 Lane murders, the 2005 Barnes Avenue burning of 10-year old Sasha Kaye and family, the 2015 Campbellton massacre, and yes… the Tivoli incursion.?

The 900-page report of the just concluded David Simmonds led West Kingston Commission of Enquiry on the Tivoli incursion is now public fodder. We applaud the Commission for its work. While we bewail the excesses of the Security Forces, let’s not forget how perilously close we had come to be sieged by evil forces.

The common denominator in all these atrocities is man’s inhumanity against God’s creation. Our centre is not holding because man’s disobedience has placed himself in contention with his Creator and His creation.

The falcon cannot hear the falconer; the sheep will not hear the Shepherd; and until we come to that knowledge of the truth and repair the breach in our relationship with God, things will continue to fall apart and we will continue to blame everything but the hate, disrespect, self-centredness, callousness and intolerance in our hearts.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER Official publication of the JAMAICA BAPTIST UNION 2B Washington Boulevard Kingston 20 Telephone: 969-6268 Fax: 924-6296 Email: info@jbu.org.jm Website: www.jbu.org.jm Editorial Committee Dorrett R Campbell (Editor) Diedre Callam Clinton Chisolm Ptako Davis (Design and layout) Arlene Henry (JBU Programme Coordinator) Erica James King Dylan Toussaint Sophia Williams We invite you to submit your articles, stories, poems and comments by email, fax or send them to the above address.

2

From the Desk of the General Secretary “…if anyone wants to come with me…” (St Luke 9:23 ff)

which to do so, as the time in which we now live. This theme, probably more than the others so far in this decade, can be described as counter-cultural.

Jamaica Baptist Union Brotherhood Mr. Dave Dillon

This edition of the Baptist Reporter is the first since what some have dubbed ‘an unforgettable’ General Assembly. Those who have ascribed that designation to the most anticipated event on the denominational calendar offer two arguments to support their position; namely, the General Assembly that survived the General Elections and the launch of one of the more challenging sub-themes in our recent history!

The sacrificial life is counter cultural and calls us to embrace a life of self-denial, self-emptying and selfgiving. It is a life of totality in which we imitate Christ as we seek to fulfil God’s purposes in the world.

This calls for individual and corporate commitments even against our will and which are at odds with the dominant cultural practices, ethos and belief systems.

The current world-view is one that is self- preserving, self -serving, self - promoting and self–destructive.

PARISH ASSOCIATIONS

Slated, as has been our custom for decades, to begin on the Wednesday immediately preceding the last Sunday of February, the announcement of the General Elections for Thursday, February 25, 2016 meant that for the second time in this century (the first being 2003) we had to demonstrate organizational ‘nimbleness’ concerning the plans for our annual gathering. There were jitters and concerns in many a quarter concerning the staging of the General Assembly during the week of the Elections and many suggestions, recommendations and proposals were received about what should be done.

After due consideration, it was decided that the General Assembly would begin on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Boulevard Baptist Church.

The Assembly continued on Monday, February 22, 2016 through to Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. We then reconvened on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the National Arena for the Closing Services.

We thank God for enabling us to listen to and follow God’s counsel and leading. Our hearts rejoiced when we witness how God blessed us during our assembling.

The General Assembly also signalled the commencement of the new two-year theme - Living the Sacrificial Life. Let me remind you that the JBU is being guided by a decade-long theme, ‘Being God’s People in God’s World’ which is unpacked via two-year subthemes. So far we have explored the subthemes of, Living in Hope (2010-2012), Living in Peace (20122014) and Living by Faith (2014-2016).

Of all the sub-themes thus far this has the potential to be the most challenging as it goes to the heart of being God’s people in God’s world. It is a theme which is at one and the same time a statement of how we understand God and ourselves. It challenges God’s people to reaffirm that God loves, and embraces God’s created order and calls us to see ourselves, the Church, as those who believe in, and belong to, the God who calls and sends us. We, God’s people, are more than a motley, disparate set of individuals, who are rallying around a common cause; we are the body of Christ; we bear Christ’s identity and we must live in ways that demonstrate that reality.

How we bear Christ’s identity and live in ways that demonstrate that reality, is, as always, the mandate for every generation of believers and, some would posit, no other time has been as complex and challenging in

To take it seriously is to put ourselves on a collision path with the way of the world and requires our ‘full hundred’. As our Immediate Past President said in his Opening Address at the Assembly “any life which is to be lived sacrificially must begin with total surrender of that life to God. Not surrendering partly, not partial surrender, not periodic surrender, but surrendering continually and completely”.

Our sense of some of the challenges this sub-theme will pose became more acute as the President, other officers and I, went on a ‘message sharing’ mission to the Associations in April and May. Arising from those reasonings/soundings we noted some of the ways we could accompany the churches in developing a better understanding of living sacrificially and so being better stewards of the grace of salvation. But equally important, we felt and observed a strong resolve to being and becoming more faithful witnesses of the Gospel and Gospel living.

Among the decisions made by the General Assembly was agreeing to the team that will comprise the Executive Committee over the next two years. The Assembly affirmed the Rev. Dr. Devon Merrick Dick, pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church as president.

Other members of the leadership team are: VICE PRESIDENTS Rev. Karen Kirlew Rev. Johnathan Hemmings GENERAL SECRETARY Rev. Karl B. Johnson TREASURER

Mr. Phillip Rattray

JBUMA SECRETARY Rev. Dr. Learoy Campbell ASSOCIATE GENERAL SECRETARY YOUTH AND TRAINING Rev. Merlyn Hyde-Riley IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Rev. Michael Shim-Hue

CLERK

Rev. Taniecia McFarlane

WARDEN - U.T.C.W.I. Rev. Dr. Glenroy Lalor

Portland St. Mary Trelawny St. James Westmoreland Hanover St. Elizabeth/ Manchester Clarendon St. Catherine Kingston & St. Andrew St. Thomas St. Ann

Mr. Locksley Johnson Rev. Claude Williams Rev. Stephen Henry Rev. Wayne Smith Ms. Vivette McIntosh-Yates Mr. Leroy Dawes Mr. Clinton Campbell Rev. Stacey Lalor-Knowles Rev. Robert Campbell Rev. Calvin Matthews Rev. Brenda Walker Ms. Marlene Davidson

ELECTED MEMBERS Ms. Evadney Coye Mr. Anthony Falloon Rev. Karl Henlin Mrs. Sylvia Henry Rev. Everton Jackson Rev. Dr. Stephen Jennings Ms. Veronica Marsh Miss Celia McKoy Rev. Norva Rodney Rev. Dr. Burchell Taylor Rev. Luke Shaw Let us keep this team that God has set apart to God’s work constantly in our prayers.

I wish to use this space to pay tribute to one of God’s servants who died in March of this year, the Rev. Oscar Bloise. The Rev. Mr. Bloise was an instrumental, integral and important member of the Fellowship of Baptists, a group formed with the expressed purpose of developing wholesome relationships with other Baptist groups in Jamaica. Its first meeting was held in 1994 at the Webster United Church, Half Way Tree Road, with all the Baptist denominations that could then be found. These were the Association of (Ind.) Baptists, the Free Baptists, the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Jamaica Fellowship of (Ind.) Baptist Churches and the National Baptists.

Over the years, Oscar, was easily the ‘face and force’ of the Fellowship. He urged regular meetings, hosted the gatherings and kept in touch with many of us.

We thank God for his life and ministry and pledge to resuscitate the Fellowship in which he and others like the late Rubye Gayle and Neville Callam deposited so much of their time and energy.

DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES

God’s blessings be yours continually and I make my annual appeal for you to be alert and prepared during the hurricane season.

Christian Education

Dr. Cynthia Anderson

And they shall know that we are Christians by …

Youth

Mrs. Natalie Bender-Holness

Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation

Mrs. Sylvia Henry

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

Karl B. Johnson 2016 June

3

Ministries and Mission

JBUMA Growing castor bean for community development

T

he Jamaica Baptist Union Mission Agency (JBUMA) continues to pursue initiatives that can improve the quality of life of the peoples in communities in which it serves.

The most recent initiative is the National Grow Castor Bean Project, a partial response to a call from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to have a sustained production of castor beans in the island to meet the demand of local and overseas markets for products such as lubricants, plastics, paints, and hair and skin care ointments.

Chairman of the Urban and Rural Ministry Committee, Dr Judith Johnston explained that the project had its genesis in a 2007 initiative when the Ministry had explored with Brazil, the possibility of growing castor bean as bio-diesel feedstock and oil import substitution. However, since 2014, it had embarked on a drive

to get people to invest in castor bean production for the export market.

In addition to supporting the Ministry’s drive, the JBUMA has designed its castor bean project to achieve three specific objectives: to reduce the poverty index in project communities to 6% by the year 2020; build human capacity through the certification of at least 80% of project participants by the end of 2017; and build physical capacity by bringing 800 acres of marginal and underutilised land into productive use.

“In April, five regional meetings were held with project participants; contracts were executed and castor plant demonstration sessions held. Upon receipt of donor funding, seeds will be distributed to participants, bringing at least 400 acres into production in Phase 1,” Dr Johnston said.

Haiti circuit growing in grace On Sunday 17th April 2016, La Nouvelle Eglise Baptiste Du Calvaire D’Haiti Circuit celebrated its 33rd anniversary. This day was marked by a wonderful and blessed worship service.

According to the testimonies of members, it was the first time in about 20 years that the Circuit had experienced an anniversary worship service such as this.

The celebrants comprised approximately 200 persons, with performances from a children orchestra, youth choir from the church at Ka Fab and the Women’s Federation from the Petite Place Cazeau Church.

Host Pastor Jean Rony Bataille led the Service and Rev. Dr. Learoy Campbell, Pastor of the Mandeville Circuit delivered the sermon. The Service was one of the most blessed and memorable moments in the life of the congregation.

the pastorate three months after he assumed the position. The work was continued

by Mr. Nicanor Obetenu, under whose leadership the church was renamed Eglise Baptiste Du Calvaire De Petite Place Cazeau and had become one of the pioneering Christian protestant churches within the community, boasting a membership of over 600.

However, in July 1996, this established and fast growing church experienced turmoil that led to a three-way split in the congregation. A remnant of six members continued the long and painful task of rebuilding under the name of Eglise Baptiste Christianisme Du Calvaire D’Haiti; and with the help of God and some devoted Christians more persons became a part of the church.

The church experienced a turning point when Pastor Nicanor Obtenu made a Macedonian call to the Jamaica Baptist Union to come over and help. The Rev. Glenroy Lalor was sent by the Union and praise be to God, the Lord has transformed the relationship from help to a family, as in April 2016, the Circuit received full membership into the Baptist family!

Within the margins of the Anniversary Service, the Circuit also staged a two week evangelistic campaign under the theme, Ebenezer, thus far the Lord has help us. Evangelist Steve McDonald from Jamaica, preached during the first week; and our friends from the Jim Rice Ministry of the USA, preached in the second.

In the second week, we conducted open-air evangelistic services, every afternoon, within the different communities. We also conducted devotional exercises in the different schools in the Petite Place Cazeau community.

These two weeks were a total blessing for the church and the communities which gladly participated in the planned activities.

Under the leadership of Rev. Jean Rony Bataille, the Circuit has assumed a new name, Nouvelle Eglise Baptiste Du Calvaire D’Haiti, and within the one year, we have seen signs of growth and development.

The way forward

In moments like these however, we pause to reflect on the journey thus far.

The Circuit will be engaged in several activities and has prioritised some goals that include the continued administrative strengthening and re-structuring of the Circuit; the purchasing of land for the Petite Place Cazeau church and the construction of the temple.

Brief history This work was started on 17th April 1983, by Pastor Erilus St Sauveur who demitted

We ask for the prayers of the entire Baptist family and we know that the Lord will see us through.

4

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

4

Ministries AND MISSION

Brotherhood in action on Mothering Sunday On Sunday, 8 May, 2016, the men of Tarrant Baptist Church recognized in a special way, their mothers, by asking them all to stand while a member of the Brotherhood serenaded them in traditional fashion, with guitar, song and applause. The men chose their “John Legend” balladeer from among their esteemed ranks to deliver that special note of love to the women.

Immediately after the rendition, chocolate delicacies exquisitely wrapped on a stick covered in transparent wrapping paper laced with colorful bows and ribbons were presented on silver platters to the women. So regaled were the women by the gesture that words of acclaim could be heard among some quarters like “classy,” “distinguished gentlemen,” “lawd dem hot sah.”

M

othering Sunday is a celebration honouring the mothers of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the general influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days across the world, but most commonly in the month of May. In a matriarchal society like the Caribbean, the concept of “Mothering Day” has been coined to reflect the broader definition of a mother to extend beyond the biological concept and to recognize the role of so many women who have nurtured children who were not products of their own womb.

In Jamaica therefore, Mothering Sunday recognizes not only biological mothers but also aunts, cousins, grandmothers, female teachers and other caregivers, many of whom did not physically give birth to an offspring.

Amidst doubts and uncertainties about the safety of travel, owing to the announcement of the February 25 General Elections, the sisters of the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation gathered at the Boulevard Baptist Church for their sectional meeting on Tuesday, 23 February 2016.

Approximately 1000 women were present in their usual white apparel.

This honouring of mothers by the Tarrant men was typical of many of our Baptist Churches. One rural church in St. Ann had cake and ice cream for their mothers after church service; another gave roses and some gave a simple pen. But it is the thought and gesture that count.

Men of God must celebrate and honour our mothers and parents. It is the only commandment with a promise for longer life!

The National Brotherhood can take pride in the satisfaction felt by the women as they were “well pleased” on Mother’s Day. To God be all the praise, glory and honor.

of us. Second: Mrs. Henry stated that the sacrificial lifestyle should be shaped by faith which would require “courage and an unwavering belief” in God’s will and purpose for our lives.

The congregation was marked by much praise and thanksgiving to God for bringing them together to share in fellowship and worship under the theme, Being God’s People in God’s World: Living the Sacrificial Life. There was a deep sense of celebration and anticipation throughout.

One of the highlights of the Gathering was the charge from the new president, Sylvia Henry. Referencing Genesis 22:1-13, Mrs. Henry exhorted the sisters to “embrace the sacrificial lifestyle.” She said Abraham willingly gave up all in response to God’s call on his life. She pointed to three distinct features of the sacrificial lifestyle.

First: she said the sacrificial lifestyle ought to be marked by obedience which would require a conscious decision to be and do what God asked

Third: the president explained that the sacrificial lifestyle would demand “selfless service” which would require a changed disposition.

Mrs. Henry encouraged the sisters to continue to trust God’s guidance and direction for their lives. She told the women that at all times they should offer their best to God who would use the circumstances of their lives to fulfill His purpose.

Some special features of this year’s Sectional Gathering included the launch of Parish Prayer Partners Sacrificial Love Gift; a presentation by Mrs. Valrie Wilson from the Women’s Centre; the award of two scholarships by then President and CEO of the Health Education and Counselling Institute (HECOIN), Dr. Clover Jarrett and the launch of the JBWF Agricultural Revolving Project by Honorary Consul for Australia in Jamaica, Mrs. Marjory Kennedy.

The meeting was brought to a close with the sisters covenanting.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

5

Youth News

T

Natalie Bender & Joneil Powell

he Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department (JBUYD) has been putting its passion into action by engaging in several activities that embody its theme, living the sacrificial life: Speak it; Believe it: Live it.

Passion review The first of a series of activities was the 31st National Youth Conference and Rally held at the Jamaica Baptist Union Conference Centre and the Ocho Rios Baptist Church, respectively, from November 19-21, 2015 under the theme, Extending your Boundaries, Claiming Your Victory. We had over 75 conferees in attendance. Captivating workshops were hosted and our Youth Ministry Training Handbook was launched.

One of the most significant activities of the weekend was a Road March against Child Abuse, on Friday 20th November 2015. We marched to Duncans Square, under the thematic banner, March for Life. Save our Children.

On Saturday, the highly anticipated Annual Youth Rally took place at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church, with more than 800 persons in attendance. The creativity of Baptist youth was evident in the quality performances.

Our next event was the 166th Jamaica Baptist Union General Assembly, which commenced on February 21, 2016 and ended on February 28, 2016.

As is customary, the departments under the Jamaica Baptist Union during the week of Assembly meetings had sectional meetings. The Youth Sectional Meeting, this year, took the form of a Panel Discussion titled, Come Mek Wi Reason, on February 23, 2016, at the Bethel Baptist Church (Half Way Tree).

The session included a combination of praise and worship and a presentation highlighting the existing possibilities for growth in the Youth Department and the Baptist Union on the whole. This was followed by a panel discussion on factors contributing to the slow rate of growth of the Union and strategies to engage youth.

The Youth Fellowship Committee restarted its parish interventions and the first stop was in Hanover, on February 6, 2016. The event took the form of a discussion forum where representatives from both active and inactive fellowships discussed negative factors affecting their fellowships and achievements gained by the active fellowships. The goal is to reactivate at least three of the 10 inactive fellowships in the parish by the end the administrative year.

Based on feedback and suggestions given, the Youth Department decided to create a logo to brand and establish identity. Consequently, two logos were created, one with our two-year theme, which is an adaptation of the current JBU thematic logo and the other, the official JBUYD logo.

Passion Ahead Camps 2016 (July 11- 30) promises to be a different, dynamic experience for our campers. The theme for Camps is, Life: OMG (Offering My Gifts) and sub-themes that will guide the week of Camps are: Giving All, Giving Up, Giving Back and Giving Over.

National Youth Conference and Rally will follow on November 24 – 26, 2016, embracing the theme, Living the Sacrificial Life: Speak It, Believe It, Live It. It promises to be very exciting!

Rally 2016 has been dubbed the All or Nothing Edition and our Competition Areas this year will be Chorale Singing, Choral Speaking, Bible Quiz, Dance – Drama, Deejay, Short Story, Mural and Sports.

We hope that these two years will see more young people being involved in the activities of not only our Youth Department but the wider JBU. For more information on our upcoming activities or any other youth related queries please feel free to contact us at jbuyouth@gmail.com.

Persons left renewed, energized and resolved to lend support to the JBUYD in whatever areas they could.

Passion renewed Our Youth Fellowship and Young Adult Fellowship committees had also engaged our youth in active ministry. The Young Adult Fellowship launched a series of Bible Talk Seminars on March 4, 2016, under the theme, Relationships: the Married, the Single and the Searching. The seminars were well attended and persons enjoyed and benefitted from the discussions as well as the fellowship.

6

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

ORDINATIONS

Rev Frantz Camille

Warsop Circuit of Baptist Churches

T

he Rev Frantz Camille was ordained to Christian Ministry and inducted into the Pastorate of the Trelawny based Warsop Circuit of Baptist Churches on 17 September 2015.

It was a moment of joy for both the Circuit and the community as we came together to give God thanks for calling Rev. Camille to serve the Circuit for this season.

The Rev. Dr. Burchell Taylor declared, “Thus saith the Lord,” by using the well-known priestly benediction recorded in I Timothy 1:2. Guided by the Holy Spirit, he reminded us of the pattern of a Christ-like ministry which is based on grace, mercy and peace.

This ministry, he said, was cross-shaped and calling us to love without counting the cost.

According to Rev Taylor, we are challenged, as we

do ministry, to show grace, which is priceless, boundless and timeless.

Pastors and people are reminded that the ministry we are called to offer must be based on mercy, hence it ought to be compassion oriented.

“Such a spiritual discipline will take us out of the routine in order to care, so much so we will be able to see with the eyes of Christ; see Christ in others and see others for Christ, ” Rev Taylor said Reverend Taylor posited that pastor’s ministry was a ministry based on peace. Therefore, it must at all times be community sensitive and Christians must be peacemakers, promote equality, mutuality and generosity.

Rev Camille being inducted by then President Michael Shim-Hue. Trelawny. September 2015

Rev Gareth Irvin

Balaclava Circuit of Baptist Churches The Reverend Gareth Irvin was ordained to Christian Ministry and inducted into the Pastorate of the Balaclava Circuit on 3 September 2015.

This highly anticipated moment proved more than an event as it caused the ordinand to truly reflect on this faith journey on which he had embarked. It stood as a reminder that this was but another aspect of one’s calling to Ministry.

The partnership and participation of young and old in executing duties throughout the worship experience exemplified the harmony expected within God’s kingdom as well as the variation in gifts of God’s agents.

The message from the preacher, the Rev. Dr. Glenroy Lalor, was based on Hosea 9:7: The

prophet is a fool; the Man of the Spirit is MAD. He pointed to the importance of maintaining the integrity of the office, and reminded participants that though persons had things to say about the prophet, they still acknowledged him as a prophet.

There were several impacting moments for the ordinand, including the ministry of junior and senior choirs, taking of vows and laying of hands.

The ordinand said he was most inspired, however, by the wide cross-section of persons in attendance, indicative of those who had touched his life as well as those whose lives he had touched.

Rev Irvin seated next to his Superintendent Karl Henlin.

St. Elizabeth. September 2015

Rev Gary Johnson

Walkerswood Circuit of Baptist Churches The Rev Gary Johnson was ordained and inducted to the Walkerswood Circuit of Baptist churches in a service held on Thursday 10 September 2015 at the Walkerswood Baptist Church in St Ann. Officiating ministers were then President of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Rev Michael ShimHue; General Secretary, the Rev Karl Johnson and Superintendent Minister for the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland, the Rev Johnathan Hemmings.

Pastor of the Gregory Park Circuit of Baptist Churches, the Rev Karl Henlin delivered the word, based on 2 Tim 4: 2-5. He emphasized the importance of the pastor’s ministry as one of declaration which should be clear, consistent, contextual, confrontational, yet comforting.

He further stated that the pastor’s ministry was one of discipleship which involved correcting, rebuking and encouraging others with grace, so that they may learn, love and live the faith.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

Rev Gary Johnson being inducted by then President Michael Shim-Hue. St. Ann. September 2015

7

WINDOW ON THE WORD

God’s family, God’s creation, boundless and beautiful Sermon preached on Christ for Today to mark Disaster Preparedness Sunday 5 June 2016

Norva Rodney

humankind’s disobedience and improper stewardship and is now subjected to worthlessness [Greek: mataiotēs] , unable to fulfil the purpose for which it was created.

Today, the earth brings forth wild plants more easily than it produces useful crops. The wonderful world, created

by God, for the glory of God and for the mutual care of humankind has been drawn into Adam’s downfall. The blessings graciously bequeathed to our forebears - the fertility of the soil and the trees, the friendliness of animals – have all been diminished, because of human rebellion against God.

M

y brothers and sisters, may grace, mercy and peace be yours in abundance. In this season when the church joins with others in celebrating the dynamic and diverse character of family, we use this morning’s meditation to reconnect with our roots.

Indeed, for us to speak of ‘disaster awareness’ is to make a subtle acknowledgement of our failings as stewards of God’s creation and of the subsequent adverse consequences experienced.

It is probably not a bad thing then, that the day set aside for such focus, finds location amidst our much talked about family. The fact is, both the natural environment and the human family have been subjected to similar contempt and abuse born out of the unwholesome approach we take to them in this our materialistic and consumer oriented society.

I wonder, could it be that our attitude towards and concern for the family are direct spin-offs from our attitude towards the natural environment? What if we were to celebrate the creative and redemptive motif of God as all inclusive, as embodying hope for the created order as much as for the human family? Were these the issues that occupied St. Paul’s thoughts as he penned this section of his letter to the Romans?

Creation’s bondage to decay My friends, both creation narratives in Genesis 1 and 2, speak to the essential goodness of creation and in Psalm 148, the Psalmist speaks eloquently of the world as God had created it to be. In the words of an old and familiar hymn, it is a world where “all nature sings, and round us rings, the music of the spheres.” In the latter of the two creation stories in Genesis, at each interval of creation, it is as though God were a cheer-leader declaring over and over, “it was good! It was good! It was good! And finally, it was very good!

But we fast-forward a few millennia and discover from the testimony of St. Paul, in Romans 8:18, that something has gone terribly wrong with that which was initially deemed “good.” It is not just about the fall of the human family.

It is not just about us, whose lives have been broken and damaged morally and spiritually. As Paul puts it here, in Romans 8:22, it is about “the whole of creation” that has been “subjected to futility,” that is, indeed, “in bondage to decay.” It is the whole created order that - as it were - has been groaning and travailing as if in pains similar to that experienced at childbirth!

But what is the cause and nature of the creation’s bondage to decay? My sisters and brothers, creation’s fallen state is not the same as that of humanity. The latter is the result of our disobedience to God’s command. On the contrary, the natural environment has become the victim of

8

It is this catastrophe that Paul realizes and bemoans, that our human indiscretion has not only resulted in sin, but a subsequent “bondage to decay” and the “slavery of corruption,” which now affects all material creation.

even in its ‘fallenness,’ God is still “seeking to redeem creation, in and through Jesus Christ and that caring for the natural environment, is nothing less than the noblest of calling for Christians.

My friends, it is a vital part of our Judaeo-Christian faith, heritage and family values to care for the environment and to share in the redemption of God’s good creation!

Creation’s adoption So then, creation groans in anticipation of its adoption, its redemption from the exploitative, consumerist commitments of human beings who have lost our way. In a similar way, there are many within the church family and the wider society who long for redemption, rooted in another form of adoption.

Creation’s redemption The biblical basis for this adoption is concisely Thankfully, Paul is not just speaking to that which has stated in James 1:27, where the writer implies that an gone wrong. He is also describing authentic spirituality is based on an the redemption of the environment “episkeptomai” - a looking after or Some of us are guilty of in and through the merits and a taking care of orphans and widows emphasizing the place and blessings of Jesus, as the Christ. He in their tribulations. For James, those is speaking of how God intends the purpose of the individual within without parents or husbands were and natural environment once again to God’s created order at the expense still are a particular needy segment of become, like the world of Psalm 148, of any comparable emphasis on God’s economy. Like the innocent and a redemption that has not yet been vulnerable created order, they are oft the natural environment. fully accomplished. unable to reciprocate materially, and so adopting and assuming responsibility He writes that the creation waits in eager longing, even as for them demonstrates true, sacrificial, Christ-like love! we, the human family, wait for our adoption as children of God. What a powerful unifying analogy! What Paul is As Christians, have we not by the grace of God, been saying here is that the “redemption,” the “healing” and adopted into God’s family without limitation or restriction? “restoring” of our lives, morally and spiritually, ought Do we not enjoy all of the rights and privileges bestowed not to be and cannot be separated from the redemption upon all God’s children? of our roots – the healing and restoration of a fallen and broken natural environment, yet to be fully realized.

Love God’s Creation So what does this mean for us today? It means my friends, that as Christians, and on this particular day, dubbed Disaster Awareness Sunday, we are called to participate with God in not only our redemption, morally and spiritually but that we are also called to participate with God in the healing, the restoring, indeed, in the redeeming of the natural environment. This is consistent with how the second creation story in Genesis - which is actually older than the first creation story – described God instructing humankind to be good care-takers of the natural, created world which is spoken of in the narrative as a “garden.”

Unfortunately, some of us are guilty of emphasizing the place and purpose of the individual within God’s created order at the expense of any comparable emphasis on the natural environment.

In other words, for every “once in a blue moon” sermon we have heard on the stewardship of the environment, of creation groaning in travail, waiting with eager longing, for its adoption - for its redemption, - we have heard countless others, concerning our own private and personal spiritual condition, of our being lost, in relation to God and of God’s initiative in “seeking to save us.”

Indeed such is the unbalanced evangelism we hear being advertised in the media and which screams at us from many a pulpit. It is this spirituality that has regrettably influenced domestic practices and economic policies locally and globally. It is an unsound theology, which claims that God’s purpose is to destroy the world, and the sooner the better.

It is a doctrine that arrogantly dismisses what the Word of God so clearly teaches: that God’s creation is good; that THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

Through the lens of both the created order and the human family, we come to conclude by faith, that adoption is an issue that is on the heart of God. An authentic spirituality ought to manifest itself in sacrificial love. For us today, such love must be directed at one and the same time toward the natural environment and toward all who exist on the margins and are often treated with contempt by and within the human family.

This means reaching down to the abandoned person who is helpless and may die without our physical care and spiritual nurturing. It also means practising stewardship which commits us to wholesome environmental care - from effectively disposing of our garbage to resisting the real disasters of greed, selfishness and injustice at individual and corporate levels, which are inimical to the health of the created order.

The Milbank Baptist Church took a battering from recent flood rains. Portland. May 2016

iSSUES AND COMMENTARIES

Critical thinking is not sloppy thinking

I

t continues to irritate and concern me when I hear or read the sloppy arguments that critics level at the Church. Take the recent Gleaner Editors Forum as reported in the Sunday Gleaner of April 24, 2016.

Rev. Clinton Chisholm

The report opened thus “Faced with charges that the moral decay in society and the level of murders reflect the failure of Jamaica’s Christian community…”

For crying out loud, what is the logical causal or contributory connection between the Church and moral decay and murders in our society?

Don’t misread and misunderstand the words “you will all likewise perish” in v.3 as meaning you will die by slaughter like them. No the force is you too, you also, will perish unless you repent. No false sense of personal security because of your sloppy thinking about people’s spiritual status based on the mishaps in their lives.

Incident # 2: Luke 13.4: Another story unique to Luke’s gospel, 18 persons killed in the natural disaster of the toppled tower in Siloam. “Do you think they were more guilty and deserving of punishment than all other Jerusalemites, [you here included]?”

Would any organisation escape ridicule for idiocy after convening a meeting of lawyers and medical doctors and there charge them with failure in light of increased crime and the rampancy of diseases/illnesses in Jamaica? Like seriously?

“No, they were not more deserving of punishment than all other Jerusalemites, [you here included]! Hear me well unless you all repent [resolutely turn your back on sin and head in the path of right living before God] you too will all perish.”

There is no logical causative connection between Churches and the negative moral state of a society just like there is no causal nexus between doctors and illnesses in society or between lawyers and crime. Forgetting lawyers for the time being since they are normally consulted after the fact, doctors like Churches can only prescribe remedies for maladies but people have to take the medicine to get well. Blame the patients and their response to the medicine not the prescribing doctor or church: Sloppy thinking.

Jesus’ challenge was a shocker to his hearers because people too easily indulge in sloppy thinking in both private and public dialogue.

Let us all determine to think critically and logically before we open our mouths or engage one another in dialogue. The Gleaner Editors Forum needs better content planning.

First published in the Jamaica Observer 26 March 2016

Whatever else Church folk see Jesus as, it is very unlikely that many if any would readily think of Jesus as being a model in critical thinking. Not because Church folk do not like to think too much, though that is true in part, but it is just that critical thinking is not appreciated as a spiritual enterprise hence that side of Jesus is not well known or appreciated.

Sloppy thinking is, in my view, an impediment in understanding the truths of Scripture and is a major factor why some people do not appreciate some of the truth claims of Christianity.

In the gospel of Luke Jesus questions and rebukes sloppy thinking in two incidents that he cites.

Incident # 1: St Luke 13.1: At the opportune moment when Jesus was teaching about interpreting the times (Lk. 12. 54-56), some folk came along and told him about people from Galilee who were slaughtered at the command of the governmental agent, Procurator Pontius Pilate, while they were sacrificing animals in worship in Jerusalem. The persons who related this tragedy possibly thought that Jesus would use their story as a sign in line with what he was just teaching about but Jesus turned the tables on them and the others.

Jesus asks a tough question which challenges the sloppy line of reasoning that was forming in many minds concerning the tragedy involving the Galileans. “Do you think these Galileans who were slaughtered were worse sinners than all other Galileans, [you here included]? No, they were not worse sinners! Hear me well unless you all repent [resolutely turn your back on sin and head in the path of right living before God] you too will all perish.”

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

9

ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS

Opening Ceremony

T

he 166th Annual General Assembly of the more than 40 –thousand-strong Jamaica Baptist Union was initially slated for February 24 - 28, under the theme, Being God’s people in God’s world, living the sacrificial life. The Union’s decision to change the date to February 21- 24 and 28 came on the heels of the announcement of the General Elections scheduled for Thursday, February 25.

A section of the congregation

Joneil Powell, solo dance

Presidential Address The Reverend Michael Shim-Hue in his presidential address at the opening ceremony, on Sunday, appealed to the electorate to vote, asserting that it was both a godly and civic responsibility of all adults to exercise their democratic rights by engaging in the polls.

Reverend Shim-Hue cautioned political aspirants to refuse to be controlled by the love and arrogance of power that only served to “reduce others to dependency, deprivation and bondage.”

In speaking to the theme, Rev Shim-Hue exhorted congregants to surrender all for God’s Creation, God’s Calling and God’s Community.

President, Michael Shim-Hue delivers the opening address

Ministers’ conference

Ambition versus Sacrifice On Wednesday, the Assembly hosted four seminars for its delegates: The Reverend Trevor Edwards, Pastor of the Barbican Baptist Church facilitated the workshop titled Ambition vs Sacrifice. He illustrated three points: To have a soul-filled ambition is healthy but “reckless, ruthless, rigid and soul-less ambition” is the enemy of Christian sacrifice.

Individuals need to cease sacrificing family, friends, reputation and principles to pursue selfish ambition. The church should stop sacrificing its members to protect image and find a way to minister to the needs of those who may be different as well as those who have faltered or fallen.

Reverend Robert Campbell facilitated the workshop on a Community of Practice and gave examples of sacrificial servanthood drawn from communities within our denomination; Rev. Dr. Donald Roberts explored the topic, You can’t have one without the other and spoke to the inseparability of sacrificial living and discipleship; and Rev Courtney Walters identified some of the barriers to sacrificial living and proffered suggestions on how to tear those barriers down.

Resolutions During one of the business sessions of the Assembly, five resolutions were moved and accepted in principle for further exploration by the Social Issues Study Commission. The first resolution addressed the grievous issue of human trafficking; and urged local congregations to implement awareness building initiatives on the subject; the second, raised concerns about the unprofessional conduct of members of the security forces and encouraged local churches and parish associations to forge relationships with parish law enforcement commanding officers with a view to offering friendly and caring support to those members; the third, sought to provide a response to the high incidence of crime and violence in the country and to explore ways in which the Union,

10

Delegates giving praise to God

Ambition vs Sacrifice workshop

Tuesday night preacher, Rev. Denzil Jack

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

Youth Booth

Panelists: Revs Karl Henlin, Johnathan Hemmings and Stephen Jennings

Delegates worshipping during the Bible study

ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS through its parish associations, could play an active role in crime prevention and victim support.

Retirement Citation presented to Rev. Dr. George Simpson

Resolution 4 examined the potential to expand Baptist ministry outreach through regions connected by the Trans-Jamaica highway network. The fifth resolution committed the Union to seeking dialogue with the Jamaica Football Federation with a view to changing the date for the international football match that is usually scheduled on Good Friday.

Mrs. Joan Simpson accepts a token from President Dick

Closing Ceremonies Led by Rev Judith Johnson Grant, the first of two services saw Deacon Anthony Falloon from the East Queen Street Baptist delivering a powerful sermon, titled, What shall I render to thee?

Referencing Psalm116:3-17, Deacon Falloon charged Baptist congregants to give God unreserved gratitude; unwavering commitment and unconditional service. The full text of his sermon can be found on the JBU website: http://www.jbu.org.jm/component/ content/archive?year=2016&month

Women rejoicing at the election of first female Vice President, Rev. Karen Kirlew

Awesome responsibility Reverend Dr Devon Dick, Pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church was installed on Sunday, (February 28) as the JBU President in the closing services held at the National Arena.

As President, Reverend Dick provides leadership to 337 congregations of which three are located in Haiti and one – the St. James based Lilliput Baptist - was added on Sunday.

Youth a t attenti on

eads to l d a o r All na the are

Reverend Dick is being supported by vice-presidents Karen Kirlew, Pastor of the St. Ann’s Bay Circuit of Baptist Churches and Johnathan Hemmings, Pastor of the Ocho Rios Circuit, as well as a 32-member Executive, including General Secretary Karl B Johnson. This is the third time in the history of the Jamaica Baptist Union that a female has been elected Vice President and first time that a female clergy serves in that office.

In a statement following his installation, Reverend Dick acknowledged the ‘awesome responsibility’ of leading the Union at this time, noting that his primary focus would be on mission. He pointed to the Mission 2020 goal of adding 20, 000 members and urged all Baptists to use every opportunity to reach more people with the Gospel.

ads to All road le the arena

Rev. Mic hae installat l Shimhue perfo ion of n r ms e Rev. Dev w President on Dick

Not My Will but Thine Outgoing President Shim-Hue closed the curtains of the Assembly by calling upon congregants to give their lives to Jesus, noting that “the giving life is given by God” therefore we ought to give back to him in total surrender, total submission and total subjection.

Welcome Ministers Five newly ordained Ministers Frantz Camille, Gareth Irvin and Gary Johnson, as well as the St James based Lilliput Mission were welcomed into the Union. (See profiles on page 7 of this newspaper).

Some members of the recently elected JBU Executive

Port Antonio Youth making music out of indigenous materials

Sunday School Exam awards presentations

President Dick greets recently accredited minister Sherna Gail Levy

Members of the congregation share in the communion

Paul Henry, saxophonist along with other musicians

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

Little ones singing their hearts out 11

News from around the Churches

T

he Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay is blessed with a rich and colourful history. It had its genesis in the year 1846. Those who formed the first congregation were originally members of Burchell Memorial Baptist Church, the first Baptist church established in Montego Bay. This courageous and faithful congregation was originally named at various times as ‘Second Baptist’ and ‘Little Baptist.’

The church is extremely grateful to God for His faithfulness these 170 years and the call to be a servant fellowship within the community. Our ministry is expressed in various departments, committees and auxiliaries. Community outreach includes the Calvary Baptist Evening Institute geared toward preparing students for CSEC examinations in various subjects; and a feeding programme for the homeless.

It is historically worthy of note that the National Hero, Sam Sharpe, who died in1832, was a Deacon at Burchell. Some of the founders of Calvary ex-slaves themselves - rubbed shoulders with this hero while he was at Burchell. The daughter and granddaughter of Sam Sharpe were later members of Calvary. This emerging church was located on Market Street, the same street on which Burchell Baptist is still located.

The church has been blessed with faithful pastors, namely the Rev. John Henderson – the first pastor who served 1846 – 1885; the Rev. Glaister Knight (1919 – 1939); the Rev. Sydney Helwig (1940 – 1967); the Rev. C. S. Reid (1969 – 2003) in partnership with the Rev. Karl Johnson (1995 – 2002) and the incumbent Rev. Everton Jackson who assumed leadership in 2005.

We thank God for the numerous men and women who partnered with these men of God as well those who played leadership roles during interim times when the church was without a pastor.

To celebrate the goodness of God, year-long celebratory activities are being held under the theme, We have come this far by faith.

A thanksgiving service was held on Thursday June 2 at 3:00 pm.

The guest preacher was the Rev. Dr. Devon Dick, President of the Jamaica Baptist Union and the worship leader was the Rev. Wayne Smith, Moderator of the St. James Baptist Association.

Greetings were expressed by the Hon. Ewen Corrodus, Custos of St. James; the Rev. Karl B. Johnson, General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union; the Rev. J. Anderson, Deputy Moderator of the St. James Baptist Association; the Rev. Davewin Thomas, Pastor, Burchell Baptist Church and the Rev. Glendon Powell, Chairman of the St. James Ministers’ Fraternal.

A week of evangelistic meetings was also planned for June 5 – 12 at 7:00 pm nightly.

The preacher was Evangelist Sheldon Givans. This is a part of the year-long thrust to win 170 souls for Christ.

Upcoming activities include a wellness fair for the public; a church history quiz competition; an emancipation lecture; a prayer breakfast; a gala banquet and a dramatic production. An anniversary magazine will also be published.

Ebony Vale has come into its own

Mothering Sunday or Mother’s day for others: What a day to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of a church that has been like a mother in its community! That’s what the Ebony Vale Baptist did on Sunday, May 8.

Led by its new Pastor, the Rev Oniel Brown, the 25th Anniversary Service saw the Rev. Dr. Clinton Chisholm Pastor of the Sligoville Circuit of Baptist Churches challenging the congregation to live, serve and celebrate responsibly for the day of accountability is near.

But what has journey been like for Ebony in attaining this milestone?

The Ebony Vale Baptist Church started as a mission outreach in 1987 when members of the Phillippo Baptist Church led by the Spirit began a Sunday School on the grounds of the Ebony Vale community playing field. As the work grew and the Lord raised up labourers, it became necessary to find a new location to house the mission. A new location was secured when permission was sought from the Parish Council to erect a structure on Lot 456 Cedar Drive, Ebony Vale.

The site, which would later become the Home of the Ebony Vale Baptist Church, was subsequently inspected by members of the Executive of the Jamaica Baptist Union. This new mission site received the full blessings from the members of the Executive and the leadership of the Phillippo Baptist Church. This initiative was dubbed the Mission Station of the Phillippo Baptist Church.

In May 1991 a board structure was constructed on the site. It was on mother’s day 1991 that the first Worship Service was held in the newly constructed wooden building. As this Mission grew so did the ministries and in 1992 a choir, Women’s Federation, Brotherhood,

12

Youth Fellowship and Ushers Board were formed.

By February 1993 the mission had reached church status. The church was now ready to be accepted as a member church of the Jamaica Baptist Union. The eventful day came on 28 February 1993 when the Right Hand of Fellowship was extended to the Pastor and representatives of the now Ebony Vale Baptist Church at the 143rd sitting of the General Assembly of the Jamaica Baptist Union.

On 10 December 1995, a ground breaking ceremony for the new chapel was held and though the construction is still ongoing, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us” over the years.

The church has operated as a unit of The Phillippo Circuit and the Sligoville/Ebony Vale Circuit respectively. On 28 September 2014, the Church became a single entity and today we are celebrating 25 years in Christian ministry.

On May 15 a Symbolic Walk and Praise Splash was held. The walk commenced at the Phillippo Baptist Church Metropolitan Site where we journeyed along William Street across the Spanish Town Bypass on to St. John’s Road to the Ebony Vale Baptist Church.

The marchers were led by the police and a marching band. On arrival at the church grounds, we lit candles around the original location of the church to give honour to God. Some of the other activities planned to highlight the anniversary are a 5K Run/Walk in November, a Community Fun Day on December 26 and an Awards Banquet 31 March 2017.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

Assembly News News from around the Churches

I

Have Baptists lost the cause?

mmediate Past President of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Rev Michael Shim-Hue, is of the opinion that Baptists in Jamaica have lost touch with their rich tradition of social advocacy and in the process, have lost their past and cause.

In an interview with The Baptist Reporter, Rev Shim-Hue said the Jamaica Baptist Union has become “somewhat too disconnected from the past that should instruct us and … from the people whom we ought to serve and empower; and from the communities, which we should be helping to develop.”

“I think the Baptist Church needs to take up again the mantle of the business of God’s people in Jamaica. God would be so pleased if we were to take up the people’s business.”

Rev Shim-Hue said, the Baptist pastors are the greatest asset to community development...

They now need to build their confidence and become spiritual leaders and social activists in the communities in which they serve, advocating for social and environmental justice.

The immediate past president is of the firm belief that God has called the Rev Dr. Devon Dick to the presidency at this time, because of his scholarship as a historian and as a son of St. Thomas.

According to Rev Shim-Hue, “the Union needs leaders who are sacrificing self every day, even to the point of death, like Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul Bogle, Sam Sharpe... Those who are leading must see, hear and discern.”

“I believe that the people are ripe for leadership that is sincere, honest and empowering; our people want leaders who can raise their morality, vision and potential to higher heights and sights and in the process lift themselves too,” Rev Shim-Hue said.

Referring to the JBU mantra, Rev Shim-Hue averred that “Illuminating, liberating and transforming lives, communities and country must be the mission and message of those who lead.”

Rev Shim-Hue’s uncanny ability to remember faces and call congregants by name when he is addressing them has been noted. This, he said, resonated with one of his priorities to ensure that he connected with the people on the ground, to inspire them to own the work of the Union.

Immediate Past President Shim-Hue made every effort to visit as many local churches as possible and dialogued with the congregants. This, he said he did at the expense of giving attention to management systems and administrative processes of the Union.

If he could have done anything differently, he explained, it would be to take a more hands-on approach to those processes; and be more flexible and less intimidating in his demeanour. He is advising President Dick to pay keen attention to the systems and processes of the Union.

He described his tenure as “a time that we did not have, and wanted, but were never without…”

“Devon must now use that to lead the Union back to taking care of the people’s business in communities,” Rev Shim-Hue suggested.

Leah Watson, Our Beloved Centenarian Active and agile beyond her 104 years, Leah Watson, who lives in Brissett, Lucea is likely to make the Guinness Book of Records for longevity.

Her only daughter Eugennie lives on the same plot of land and has given her a host of grand and greatgrand-children, some of whom she still nurtures.

Miss Leah worked as a laundress for student boarders at Rusea’s High School, before getting a permanent job with West Indies Sugar Company, which operated a Sugar Cane Hoist in Brissett.

This was where she met and interacted with many persons who grew to love and respect her very much.

We remain amazed at the level of Sister Leah’s strength and vitality. She has no hypertension, no diabetes, no arthritis, no high cholesterol.

This is not surprising since she eats fish and vegetables only.

Sister Leah fixes her breakfast every morning when she is well and is still strong enough to wash her clothes and those of her grand and great grandchildren.

Born on 18 September 1912 in the hilly rural district of Mt. Peace, two miles southeast of Lucea, Leah is the second child for Arabella James and James Watson. She and her siblings attended Clifton Elementary School, but her siblings and many of her schoolmates and friends have since predeceased her.

As a young woman, Leah settled down to farming root crops and vegetables for home use as well as a means of livelihood. In the interim Leah had a family of her own, three boys and a girl. One of her sons predeceased her twenty years ago.

Miss Leah became a baptised member of Lucea Baptist church thirty-five years ago and has remained a very outstanding member. Up until two years ago, she would walk more than a mile to and from church every Sunday.

Called Sister Leah by everyone at church, she participates in almost all activities.

She dances, slaps, sings and shouts the loudest ‘Amens’ and ‘Hallelujahs’ and has become one of the greatest sales persons where fundraising is concerned.

We continue to thank God for His grace and blessing that has sustained her to this milestone.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

13

Regional & International A South African in the BWA driver’s seat

P

astor of the Peniel-Salem Baptist Church in Pretoria, Ngwedla Paul Msiza was installed as the second African to be President of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), the global organization for Baptist Christians. The ceremony took place on July 25, 2015 during the Baptist World Congress in Durban, South Africa.

Msiza succeeds John Upton of the United States, and is the first African to hold the office since William Tolbert of Liberia served as president of the BWA from 1965-1970.

In his response, the new president pointed to the theme, Jesus Christ, the Door, declaring that the church ought to swing the door wide open for those who would come to Christ, rather than acting as doorkeepers, deciding who were to be admitted and who to be kept out. As doorkeepers, some installed locks that “only they can open.”

Msiza asserted that where the church is concerned, “the door is Christ.” It is the one door, the only door, “single entry,” open to “all human beings, made in the image of God,” a demonstration that “we all belong together.”

A vice president from 2010-2015, Msiza has been actively involved in the BWA since 2000, serving on its governing bodies and several key committees and commissions.

He also served as President of the All Africa Baptist Fellowship, one of six regional fellowships of the BWA and General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of South Africa (BCSA).

He chaired the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2015 congress meeting in Durban.

Msiza was trained at the Hebron Teacher Training College and worked bi-vocationally as a pastor and school teacher from 1988, until he became founding Principal of the Baptist Convention College in 1995 and later served as General Secretary of BCSA.He holds diplomas and degrees from the University of Witwatersrand, the University of South Africa, the Baptist Theological Seminary of Southern Africa and the Baptist Bible Institute.

Twelve vice presidents were also installed along with Msiza. They are Michael Okwakol, Uganda; Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Ghana; Tapan Chowdhury, Bangladesh; Miyon Chung, Australia; Anslem Warrick, Trinidad and Tobago; Jules Casseus, Haiti; Dimitrina Oprenova, Bulgaria; Jan Saethre, Norway; Naomi Tyler-Lloyd and Jerry Carlisle of the United States; Jorge Quinteros, Chile; and Luiz Roberto Silvado, Brazil. Saethre of Norway will serve as first vice president.

The new slate of leaders serves until the next global gathering of Baptists in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2020.

14

Caribbean Baptists united for service Anslem Warrick, Trinidad and Tobago

I

beg to differ from those who assert that Caribbean people could never unite.

Caribbean Baptists are united and as such are poised and ready for service rather than to appeal for unity.

We are one people The Caribbean people have so much in common. In the first place, we are the people who came; having been uprooted from somewhere and brought here. As such, we share a common history.

Secondly, we share a common space. The Caribbean is unique for its weather, its warmth and friendliness. We are envied by many around the world. We are similar in our experience from slavery to emancipation and colonialism to independence.

I have been to a number of the islands and was surprised by our similarities. We seem to have the same problems: violence among our teens and youth; problems in our education systems and with politicians, some of whom ostensibly fatten their pockets at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.

I also believe that as Baptists, we are one people. This oneness, however, is not based on our name or our history or our geography or even our liturgy, but on our common experience of being recipients of God’s amazing grace. Biblical unity is not about being in one location, or about having the same worship styles. It is not even about having the same creed, or being of the same race. Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it succinctly, “Christian unity consists in what Christ has done for us. He is the basis of our communion.”

We are different These differences are reflected in aspects of our history, geography, liturgy, personalities, spiritual experiences as well as spiritual gifts. Paul in 1 Cor 12:4 says, there are diversities of gifts, differences of operations, and administrations.

We should both acknowledge and celebrate our differences and ensure that we are not motivated by selfish pride or destructive intentions. Real unity is not about uniformity; it is a deep and meaningful appreciation of our God-given unique location, history, experiences, talents and gifts.

We are ready We are one Caribbean people, despite our differences. Therefore, as Caribbean Baptists, we should allow the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us; to cause understanding, appreciation and celebration. When we do, we will see the fruit of goodness, godliness, growth and blessings.

Grenada Baptist Association, now member of BWA The Grenada Baptist Association established in 1984 with six churches and four hundred members was accepted into the membership of the Baptist World Alliance on July 6, during the meeting of the General Council.

The application for membership by the GBA was supported by recommendations from the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship and the Jamaica Baptist Union.

The recommendation of the Executive for membership status to be accorded to the GBA was moved by the Rev. Devon Dick, President of the Jamaica Baptist Union and unanimously supported by the General Council.

The Caribbean Baptist Fellowship congratulates the Grenada Baptist Association.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

YOUTH VIEWS

Wake up and live!

I

Winning essay in the Rita Marley Foundation Essay Competition by Nastacia Linton, Grade 10 Student at William Knibb High School

f one desires to understand the context from which Jamaican culture evolved then one could best liken this to a lad who inherits a magnificent house, adorned with fine furniture of France, expensive stones from the English Palaces and gold from the Spanish coffers. Envious his neighbours are, for this is their desire. They are disappointed therefore when one day he rips its contents apart, redesigning it into a home that better reflected him.

become aware that this is not the time to “stay there and gesture.”

They must defend their culture.

African descendants’ efforts towards establishing their culture are best reflected in Bob Marley’s words “children get your culture, and don’t stay there and gesture or the battle will be hotter and you won’t get no supper. Wake up and Live.” Revolutionaries including Paul Bogle, Nanny, Sam Sharpe and their followers, who were infused with the ancestral spirit of Akan, Zulu, Igbo and Yoruba never welcomed the imperialist order, and therefore collectively toppled European slavery.

European imperialism, commonly referred to as Babylon by Rastafarians, remained resolute in attempting to subjugate the Jamaican culture even into the post-colonial era. However, the ancestral spirit of resilience led cultural pioneers to feverishly fight this imposition. Their effort gave rise to cultural expressions such as The National Dance Theatre which gave audience in Jamaica and abroad a repertoire inspired by our own diverse ethnic culture, the Ward Theatre and Little Theatre which rejected European fairy-tale characters and instead honoured West African characters including Bredda Anancy and Bra Tacooma. The ancestral cry of, “Wake up and Live” also reverberated in unique musical genres the people created including Mento, Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae and Dancehall (Ministry of Education, 2003).

One must acknowledge that each generation must continue to combat Babylon’s imposing ideals. Generations cannot afford to, “stay there and gesture,” or their culture will be swept from under their feet. It is therefore distressing that the youths have again become complacent, failing to realise that all their forefathers have fought for, is still being attacked by Babylon. Bob’s rallying Cry, “Wake up and Live!” therefore still persists. Youths today must be aware of those imperialistic factors striving to challenge their culture, and like their ancestors oppose them.

Social media is one imperialistic factor that attempts to challenge the African culture. Social media creates for its users a cyber-world which possesses its own cultural ideals. Many of these ideals are however akin to those of the European environments from which they emerge. The people of African descent have become engrossed in social media.

However, this environment’s ulterior motive is to transmit subliminal messages geared at getting the people to ignore or become antagonistic towards Africa’s culture (Gilani, 2014). Like globalisation, the significant impact this has had on the people is evident in their practices. These include the risqué behaviours of youths who broadcast their sexual escapades and other immoral activities on social media platforms, the desire to copy and perpetuate practices of the popular culture such as skin bleaching and salacious dressing. In this cyber world western propaganda about Africa and the African culture are fed to its users daily. Babylon’s attempt at cultural destabilisation rages on through these platforms. Youth therefore must

Another imperialistic factor aspiring to challenge the African culture is globalisation. Positively, globalisation provides opportunities for societies worldwide to establish and maintain economic relationships that can help to stimulate growth.

However, it is usually a European power spearheading this relationship and often demands that the host culture take steps to ensure that the European culture is comfortably accommodated. This accommodation involves the host culture’s removal of cultural barriers.

The removal of such barriers will eventually lead the masses of the host culture to accept, and even assimilate the ideals of the imposing culture. Globalisation therefore contributes to cultural erosion as many of the host’s cultural ideals have to be totally obliterated if accommodation is supposed to be achieved (Zarate, 2011). Normally the masses lose certain financial opportunities aligned to their culture. Already local artistes are struggling to earn an income because the people have begun to display a preference for international artistes. Locally manufactured goods are also struggling to compete with the influx of European goods, as the people have developed an appetite for these. Arable lands and commercial zones have been sold to foreign investors who are at liberty of exploiting the people who they employ. Youths need to “Wake up and Live!”

Another imperialistic factor seeking to challenge the African culture is the scant regard for education. Under slavery the plantocratic society perpetuated the lie that blacks had little need for education and also that they were not desirous of it (Thompson, 2005). Education therefore was reserved for the white, privileged minority. This is evident in the fact that only 45 of the present 165 schools existed in Jamaica prior to 1962. It is time therefore for youth to awake, dispel this lie, and recognise that their history began before the inception of European enslavement.

An examination of their rich lineage would reveal that Western medicine originated in Ancient Egypt some 5000 years ago.

The Youth cognizance of their culture would reveal that Egyptian physician Imhotep diagnosed and treated over 200 diseases, 15 abdominal, 11 bladderrelated, 10 rectal, 29 visual and 18 skin, hair, nail and tongue related 2,600 years before Greek physician Hippocrates who Europeans proclaimed as “the father of Medicine.” They will learn too that in the 12th century Africans and Europeans were educated in the three universities of Timbuktu (Windsor, 1969). They will realise too that the Moors ruled Spain for 800 years (711 AD – 1492). During this time, Spain and the rest of Europe made scientific progress in Astronomy and The Sciences. The Apathetic response to education therefore is not innate to Africans; instead it is a slavery infection.

In concluding, Bob Marley reassures the Youth, “have no fear in this generation for none a dem can stop the time.” It serves as a reminder that the ancestral spirit of revolution still flows through their veins. Therefore, they must work collectively in the restoration of the urn of resilience that has been buried under Babylon’s imperial order.

It is time to heed the call, “Wake up and Live!”

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

15

News from around the Churches

BWA Congress…and we were there “Matters of leadership cannot be ignored,” he stated, and pastoral leadership is about being open and responsive to the Spirit,” he concluded.

Focus group discussions

M

ore than 2,600 participants from 82 countries and territories attended the 21st Congress of the Baptist World Alliance, held recently in Durban, South Africa, under the theme, Jesus Christ, the Door.

The five-day Congress, which opened on the 22nd July 2015, was marked by worship enriched by inspirational sermons, thought-provoking Bible studies, vibrant singing and warm fellowship.

Caribbean Baptists were out in their numbers, and of the more than 60-strong delegation, several made remarkable contributions to the Congress, either by facilitating focus group discussions, conducting Bible studies or delivering a keynote address.

Jesus Christ the door to liberty Pastor of the Gregory Park Circuit of Baptist Churches, Reverend Karl Henlin conducted a Bible study on the theme, Jesus Christ the Door to Liberty. He explained that while an interpretation of the theme was rooted in cultural, social and theological context, there were fundamental freedoms given to every single human person made in the image of God. He defined liberty as freedom to flourish and to live in harmony with others and the natural environment. In his estimation, anything or anyone who restricted or prevented this liberty was oppressive and enslaving. According to him, the theme reflected the essence of our faith and conviction.

Reverend Henlin further explained that liberty opposed oppression and enslavement, but signalled harmony, peace, enjoying the possibilities for human potential and living in harmony with nature. It is a freedom to choose our future and not having our future enforced upon us.

“Anyone or any people or country for whom these options are absent or taken away, the image of God is demeaned and marred, the programme of good for God’s good creation is frustrated and that reality stands in need of freedom,” he asserted.

I am the door, a devotional thought Pastor of the Haut Limbé Baptist Churche, Haiti, Reverend Dr Jules Cassius, in his devotional thought, titled, I am the Door, referenced John 10:9 to make the point that Jesus used the metaphor to underscore the exclusive nature of salvation. He explained that Jesus was telling us that He is not only the shepherd of the sheep, but also the door of the sheep. In doing so, He was vividly contrasting Himself with the religious leaders of His time, whom He described as “thieves and robbers.”

Pastor of the Kitson Town Circuit, Rev Norva Rodney, noted that the environmental conflict was both a historical sin and a current reality. This conflict, he explained, had its genesis in competition among individuals and institutions over finite environmental resources, which when not effectively managed, could escalate and intensify.

Reverend Rodney posited a Christ-centered response as the solution. He emphasized that “as Christians, we must now unapologetically offer enlightened leadership and prophetic guidance to state officials in demonstrating wholesome commitment to restoring and preserving the environment.” Therefore, “the church needs to find a way of overcoming political obstacles” that serve “to impede the essential mission toward sustainable redemptive action,” he concluded.

De-stressing and the spiritual disciplines Psychiatrist Dr Lisabeth Nugent, in facilitating a focus group on De-stressing and the Spiritual Disciplines, suggested that the Church should provide psycho-social support systems for those who were distressed or traumatised by an unexpected event or an incident for which they were un-prepared or could not control.

Psychological first aid should also be offered, including non-intrusive practical care and support; helping people address basic needs of food and water; helping people connect to information services and social supports; and protecting persons from further harm.

A call for unity At the closing plenary, BWA General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Neville Callam renewed a call for the unity of Baptist family. He noted that the worldwide fellowship was keen on becoming “a vehicle for both the experience of that oneness and the furtherance of Baptist unity. He challenged the Baptist Christians to keep the word of God in their hearts; to model a loving and united movement… and moving forward as a people, united in God. Four BWA member organizations - the Baptist Association of South Africa, the Baptist Convention of South Africa, the Baptist Mission of South Africa and the Baptist Union of Southern Africa - played host.

On the eve of the congress, the city of Durban held a special event where Durban’s Mayor, James Nxumalo, extended welcome to all South African and international participants.

It was the first congress in Africa since 1905, when the meetings began in London, England.

Pastor of the Antioch Baptist in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Anthony Carroll was one of the conference speakers. He presented Jesus as the model for leadership and, subsequently urged pastors to avoid the pitfalls of leadership.

16

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

News from around the Churches

Harry Sylvester Jarrett, faithful family man

T

he Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) is grateful to God for an opportunity to reflect on the life of one created by Him and called into the full-time ministry of His church. We do so conscious of the fact that there are always lessons for us to learn from the lives of each other about the ways of God and the living of life. Of course the challenge for us when we reflect on the life of a fellow human being is to resist the temptation of being tunnelvisioned and/or close minded about what we can learn.

Today we pay tribute to a man whom God called unto God-self and in turn laid upon him the mantle of the pastoral vocation.

We thank God that it was through the vehicle of the JBU that God allowed him to live out this calling. Shaped and formed for the work of the ministry alongside persons such as Solomon Goode, who died on July 2, Vivian Panton, who pre-deceased him and Wesley Green, who currently pastors in Florida.

Ordained in 1968 the Rev. Dr. Harry Sylvester Jarrett served as pastor of the following circuits, Bamboo (1968 -1977); Port Maria (1977 – 1984); Lottery/ Salter’s Hill (1984 – 1990) and Kitson Town (1990 - 2002).

Blessed with a calm and unruffled demeanour, and seized with a passion to see persons commit their lives to the Lordship of Christ, the Rev. Mr. Jarrett gave himself fully to the work of Ministry through the pastorate and beyond.

His years of faithful and consistent service made him an example of what Christlike ministry ought to be as he sought to accent those things that would best mediate the gospel of Christ to persons in need.

Lives were touched and changed as God used him as an instrument to demonstrate his grace and love for them in whatever circumstance they found themselves in. Wherever he served he involved himself in the life of the people and communities, becoming accessible to, and approachable by, them.

The Jamaica Baptist Union viewed Brother Harry as someone upon whom it could rely to uphold its name and to serve its interests and causes wherever he was located. He was a valuable member of the leadership of the Union at different levels of our organization: the Executive Committee, the Board of Mission and Evangelism, now the JBU Mission Agency, which he served as Secretary; the Christian Workers Training Programme and the JBU Superintendency.

Among the many things we shall remember about Brother Harry will be his particular interest in and focus on strengthening the family unit as a key element of his calling. He had a keen interest in the welfare of the family and that was matched and modelled by his approach to his own family. It would not be surprising if one of the more lasting and endearing pictures one has of Harry Jarrett is seeing him and his beloved, Clover, walking side by side, like peas in a pod! She in her own right had made an invaluable contribution to our Union, using her God given gifts in the life of each congregation of which she had been a part. They were a team long before it became a fad! It is no wonder that she followed closely behind him to make a team in heaven.

Once again death forces us to reflect on life and the many lessons that God would have us embrace and reaffirm from the life and death of the Rev. Dr. Harry Sylvester Jarrett.

Clover Pearl Jarrett, precious and priceless pearl A service in memory and celebration of the life and ministry of Dr. Clover Pearl Jarrett held at East Queen Baptist Church (April 9, 2016) I bring tribute this morning on behalf of the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation (JBWF) in memory and celebration of a sister and friend who lived a godly life by deeds done in humility and from a heart of wisdom.

Clover was a beautiful soul, a precious pearl and a priceless gem that radiated light to all the women who crossed her path. She actively lived out her faith. She served the JBWF faithfully and sacrificially as President, a member of the Executive and on various committees for many years. Many valuable lessons were shared, taught and lived through the gifts and talents with which God has blessed her.

The Clover we knew and loved was a Nurturer. Her compassion and understanding were genuine and all-embracing. She counselled, cared for and consoled us all. Clover was discerning. She knew those whose hearts were hurting and those who were in the midst of worrying situations. Clover was an empathetic listener. Many of the sisters willingly confided in her and many bruised spirits were soothed. Clover felt and loved deeply.

The Clover we knew and loved was always available. Her personal involvement, outstanding achievements and accomplishments did not interfere or overshadow her commitment to the JBWF; neither did it intrude on how she related to others.

Clover was the official pianist at all sectional meetings, conferences and retreats; a service she carried out lovingly and willingly without pressure of financial

Sylvia Henry

compensation. Last August 2015 after her beloved Harry’s transition, we thought she would have been absent from conference; to our surprise Clover was there in her place at the key board despite her own loneliness and grief. Clover’s voice will be missed at our meetings as she helped to shape the discussions and decisions. She was always alert, frank and probing and would persist when an answer was not forth-coming. However, she was always gracious and respectful...never raised her voice or showed signs of impatience.

The Clover we knew and loved was a source of inspiration.

She had a natural charm and a deep sense of calm which endeared everyone to her. She looked for good everywhere and in everyone and was never one to damage, dampen or deflate. Like Barnabas, she was an encourager and like Lydia, she used her resources to help others. Her generosity of spirit enabled others to walk taller, become stronger and aspire to something more. To many women, she was a guiding light .

The Clover we knew and loved was a woman of prayer, a peacemaker and a true servant of God and so we say farewell to a remarkable woman and one of our outstanding sisters of the Faith .We thank God for loaning her to us.

To the bereaved family and friends especially the children Heather, Charmaine, Colin and Dave; we say “you do not walk alone, for the eternal God, Clover’s God, your mother’s God, is your refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms. He will bear you up, He will sustain you as you adjust to life without her.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

17

News

Basil McLeod, God’s yes man

A

loyalty and support from the ministerial team and is grounded in one of our Ordination vows.

Upon graduating from the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) he began his probationary period in the Stewart Town Circuit in 1980. In fact he was commissioned on 1 August 1980.

After a period of 13 years, he assumed the pastorate of the Mandeville circuit on January 1, where he served for 16 years.

We hail the Rev. Basil Anthony McLeod as a good ambassador not only of Christ but of the denomination. The Union’s leadership called upon him so often to represent its cause and work in these parts that it will take some time for us to get accustomed to his absence. Whenever we called him to serve on deputations, he said yes; whenever we were in need of having someone offer interim pastoral oversight and we called him, he said yes; whenever we had situations that required the wisdom and sensitivity of mature leadership, we could turn to Basil; when we wanted someone to spend time in Haiti some years ago, we turned to Basil; and his ministry among the brethren left a lasting impact on the saints in the churches there…You can well imagine how thrilled they were to see him in April of last year when he attended the ordination service of the Rev. Jean Rony Bataille; when we wanted to provide focused pastoral assistance to the Lluidasvale Baptist church, Basil said ‘here am I, send me.’

nswering the call in the ideological and nationalistic days of the 1970’s, Basil McLeod began his ministerial formation in 1976 along with Baris Malcolm and Horace Roberts, who predeceased him.

Ordained on 22 July 1982 our brother exercised a ministry marked by a compassionate heart, Whenever we called him evangelistic fervour, an to serve on deputations, approachable and affable demeanour and to the very end a robust resilience and compelling confidence in the God of his faith. he said yes; whenever we His preaching was accompanied by a passion and sincerity which winged the Good News to hearers with force and power. Under his care and watchful eyes many lives were impacted for good as he sought to be a conduit of God’s love to all and sundry. During his years as an ordained and accredited minister of the denomination, the Rev. Mr. McLeod made himself available to serve in varied ways and at different levels of the organization.

were in need of having someone offer interim pastoral oversight and we called him, he said yes

A popular saying in the Union is that its ministers are their men and women on the ground and in the case of Basil it was no different. It is a saying that presumes

Mission now:

Cont’d from page 1

reach young people who are native users of ICTs. Perhaps the most radical, if not the most controversial of all the sessions was Rev Duncan’s workshop. She posited that the regular Sunday worship ought to be the premier opportunity for evangelism.

She premised her thesis on the communal practices of the Early Church and offered six assumptions: the worship service is consistent in its meetings; cost effective; provides an opportunity for communal confession and for the reiteration of the good news of salvation. In her opinion, if the liturgy were effectively organized, then more persons would attend Sunday worship services than at a oneshot evangelistic campaign.

Closing communion The curtains came down on the conference with a communion service led by JBU General Secretary Karl Johnson. The closing charge was given by the Chairman of the JBU Mission Agency, Rev. Dr. Learoy Campbell, who reminded participants of the urgency of God’s mission; exhorting us to rise up from complacency; move out of our comfort zones and familiar territory; disturb our charm; stop being politically correct in our sermons and declare the undiluted word of God as part of our mission.

He was numbered among the first set of Superintendent Ministers appointed by the JBU in 1994; he was the preacher at the first Mass communion service of the Closing Services of the 139th General Assembly at the National Area on Sunday, 26 February 1989.

And how can we forget his labour of love to our Camps Ministry: For some 20 years, Basil carved out time to serve as a member of the leadership team, especially to our Junior Campers. Through that avenue, hundreds of Baptist children and youth came under his influence and tutelage.

As a Union we are indebted to Basil for remaining committed to the pastoral calling.

We hail him as a dependable and resilient servant of God whose love for God and God’s Church never waned. The Jamaica Baptist Union hails him publicly as a man of God who has etched his name on the scroll of our denomination.

We who are alive and remain will hold close to our hearts the lessons he taught us as the disease ravaged his body and the reality of his mortality gripped him. In the midst of all that Basil remained Basil: his cheerfulness, optimism, hopefulness, faith and disarming smile were all still there up to the very last.

Once again death forces us to reflect on life and the many lessons that God would have us embrace and reaffirm from the life and death of the Rev. Basil Anthony McLeod. As a Community of Faith, we acknowledge the abiding presence of Almighty God and we turn to that God asking Him to remind us often that Basil will not come back to us but we will go to meet him.

We remember his children, family members and close friends that they will ever find strength in the sustaining arms of God. The Lord our God will be with you and the God of Jacob and Basil’s God will be your refuge as you adjust to life without him.

The settled church, he proffered, must become the scattered church in the interest of advancing God’s mission.

18

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

News Dorrett R Campbell

S

unday, July 3 marked 175 years since the inauguration of Kitson Town as a free village. It was befitting that the church, which started at the top of the hill overlooking the community like God’s watchtower - now Kitson Town Baptist church - should take the lead in marshalling key stakeholders, including the Community Development Committee (CDC), to observe this important milestone; for Baptists have always been at the forefront of advocacy for freedom, equality and social justice – from the abolition of slavery to apprenticeship to emancipation to the establishment of free villages across the island.

Not only that, but the Kitson Town Baptist Circuit of churches, comprising Kitson Town, Dover and Shiloh, is also marking 25 years of practical ministry to this free village as well as adjoining communities, which in spite of dogged tragedies, have worked harmoniously to produce citizens of whom they are justly proud.

Free villages were usually large tracts of land purchased by missionaries and subdivided into smaller plots for sale to their members. Instrumental in the purchase of lands and the further establishment of free villages was the Baptist Missionary, and pioneer, James Phillippo, after whom the Spanish Town based Phillippo Baptist Church is named.

Kitson Town was among the first set of free villages established in St Catherine – the first being Sligoville - in July 1841, through the advocacy of James Phillippo, who with the support of George Kitson and family, bought just under 193 acres of land in St Johns Parrish at a cost of 577 pounds, and ensured that church and school were established as the fulcrum of the community to set the pace and direction of the community’s values and attitudes.

It was even more fitting that the Reverend Dr. Devon Dick, President of the Jamaica Baptist Union should be the guest preacher, himself a historian, who hails from the historic parish of St Thomas.

Amidst a rich and enriching liturgy, with a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary songs, extemporary and scripted prayers, the spoken and written words, choral performances, and the observance of the Holy Communion, the President delivered both a brilliant history lesson and a powerful sermon, pointing to national hero Paul Bogle and Missioner, James Phillippo as persons whose outworking of their faith was sacrificial living.

The JBU President used Romans 12: 1 to beckon congregants to a life of complete surrender to God as an outworking of their faith. He encouraged them to lead a transformed lifestyle and build positive relationships with people in their communities, workplaces and in government. The preacher also invited participants to live a life of solidarity and reciprocity in which they supported others, especially those who were less fortunate than they were. He said that as people living the sacrificial life, it was an imperative that we engage in a ministry

of presence; of practicality and of solidarity, giving “all or nothing to God.” President Dick further summoned us to immediacy in our response to social problems. He declared that in living the sacrificial life, there was neither room for fear nor procrastination but an opportunity to exercise faith in God and to engage in God’s ministry of sacrificial living “NOW.” Member of Parliament for the constituency and Minister of Health, Dr. the Honourable Christopher Tufton, in delivering remarks, noted that Kitson Town’s history and lessons validated the truism that ‘without vision the people perish.’

He lauded Baptists for their vision in community building that required collective and collaborative efforts, pointing to the inextricable link between church and community in promulgating positive values and attitudes. He commended the church for reinforcing those values; and urged the Kitson Town CDC to institutionalise the history of free village “lest others take it for granted or forget it.”

The principal of the Kitson Town All Age School, Mrs. Nerica Powell Haye, gave a brief history of the school, pointing to its rich cultural heritage and acknowledging the support of the Church over the years. She urged the community to use the occasion as an opportunity to build bridges.

And what a delight it was when students of the school, led by their teacher, Mrs. Millicent Singh regaled the congregation with a medley of Negro Spirituals, many of which were originals composed by the teacher.

Secretary Manager, St Thomas Parish Council, Mr Errol Greene, himself a past student of the school, beamed with pride, as he shared his remarks and supported the call for a story board for Kitson Town; reflected on his experience at the school and enumerated the contributions of Kitson Town to national development.

President of the Kitson Town CDC, Deacon Devon Thompson, presented a statement of purpose, while Chairman of the Anniversary Committee, Mr. Kennedy Reid gave a brief account of the inauguration of the Kitson Town Community.

Scripture readings were led by Naomi Gouldbourne- Rodney and Donna Daley.

In his closing remarks, worship leader and Pastor, the Reverend Norva Rodney, thanked the participants for attending. He reiterated the need for solidarity and consensus around shared values, crucial to community and national development.

He emphasised creativity in divergent views, noting that our uniqueness and diversity ought not to prevent us from rallying around common issues, which affected church, school and community.

The service ended with the lusty singing of Patrick Prescod’s and Noel Dexter’s The right hand of God. Indeed that hand is writing with power and love. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

THE JAMAICA BAPTIST REPORTER JUNE 2016

19

THE JAMAICA June 2016

Established 1874

P

resident of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Reverend Dr. Devon Dick has described his first 100 days in office as ‘interesting, exciting, busy and encouraging,’ as he marshals his team to helping local churches operationalize the subtheme that is guiding the Union’s work for the next two years: Living the sacrificial life.

Reverend Dick, who was installed at the February 2016 General Assembly had stated that his primary focus would be on realizing the Mission 2020 goal of attaining 20,000 members by 2020. He had urged all Baptists to use every opportunity to reach more people with the Gospel. In order to do so, he said, sacrifices must be made. He had further encouraged Baptists to engage in best practices in ministries that would give expression to the sacrificial life. True to his word, the JBU President and his team of executive members have been on the go; and trekking across the island, engaging Baptist pastors and lay leaders in consultative dialogue on strategies to up the ante in realising the mission goals. Consultations were conducted in Grange Hill, Westmoreland; Montego Bay, St James; Falmouth, Trelawny; May Pen, Clarendon; Spanish Town, St Catherine; Ocho Rios, St Ann and Kingston and St Andrew. The largest attendance was in St James, which saw more than 94 lay leaders attending.

Distilling the theme Another objective of the regional consultations, according to the JBU President, is to ensure that “all local churches are on the same page regarding the

sub-theme, defining it in tangible ways and working toward making it a reality in members’ lives and local congregations.”

To this end, the sub-theme has been distilled into four broad, yet measurable indicative headings of witnessing fervently to achieve the 2020 mission goals; serving faithfully; giving freely, cheerfully and sacrificially; and experiencing the full life. Clear indicators have also been developed and systems put in place to monitor and evaluate progress.

One of the two vice presidents of the Union, the Rev Karen Kirlew is leading the steering committee that has developed some tangible initiatives, giving expression to the sub-theme. These include, highlighting persons such as sanitation workers, who have made sacrifices to preserve and keep our environment clean; engaging in the practice of giving away 10% of our most treasured material resources to less fortunate persons; using our physical space, including church buildings, offices and church halls, as centres for conflict resolution and launching a national blood drive among Baptists under 60 years old, as a sacrificial contribution to the country’s blood bank.

President Dick explained that the latter is symbolic of Jesus’ sacrificial shedding of blood on the cross to redeem us.

“The response to and the enthusiasm around the sub-theme has been very good. People are open to new ideas and new thinking; it is interesting to note that some small actions can make a big difference to people,” Reverend Dick told the Baptist Reporter.

Baptists’ role as advocates In responding to immediate past President Michael Shim-Hue’s suggestion (See story on page 13) that Baptists needed to return to their historical role as social advocates, President Dick said Rev Shim-Hue was “spot on in his observation” and to this end, steps are being taken to explore all possible media to address several social issues in the country: First on the President’s slate is to lobby for the NHT to review its policy

to ensure that all contributors benefit. In his opinion, the NHT should operate like a ‘pardner’ in which you ‘throw your hand’ and you get your ‘draw.’

“It really isn’t fair for persons to be contributing and not benefiting,” Reverend Dick, noted reflectively.

It is also his intention to continue to use media available to him to keep Government - irrespective of which political administration is in power - responsive to the people, especially as it relates to delivering on election promises.

Busy schedule Since his installation, the President has also engaged several

in other

activities, including, preaching at church anniversaries and at the Mothers’ Day service at West Gate Hills Baptist, in St James; guest speaker at civic functions and tours of flood ravaged areas in Portland. The President had also visited the community in which two missionaries were murdered and gave words of comfort.