Volume 16, Issue 3 September 2018
Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department |
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wFrom the Editor’s Desk He never promised that the cross would not get heavy And the hill would not be hard to climb. He never offered a victory without fighting. He said help would always come in time. Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision And the advisory says give in, Just hold on! Our Lord will show up And He will take you through the fire again! Through the Fire The Crabb Family Life can be difficult sometimes, as we face various issues from day to day. This edition of the Impact addresses some of these issues. You may feel like the world is on your shoulders at times, and there is no way out. My few words of encouragement to you are, “Hold on, our Lord will show up!” Blessings to you, family. Yours faithfully, Marcel Clarke
LMeet our Writers
M What’s Inside? n
p
New Chef in the Kitchen!
3
Vox Pop: Sperm Donors
4
Nurturing Your Mental Health
5
A Mighty Man of Valour
6
Surviving School: the Christian Way
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And As Always... b
Independently Dependent
4
h
Prescripture
4
3
Right Aligned
5
l
Take the Challenge
5
B
Matthew
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What’s in Your Spiritual Wallet?
7
c
Make a Note
8
A
Thy Kingdom Fun
8
@
I Worth 1000 Words...
Tamar Henry Barbican Baptist
Derry-Ann Gibson Grace (Oracabessa) Baptist
Joneil Powell Sharon Baptist
Lori-Ann Haye Moses Baker Baptist
Alicia Eccleston Grace (Oracabessa) Baptist
Andria Bryce Paradise Baptist
Delano Mighty Giblatore Baptist
Ricardo Palmer Calvary Baptist, Montego Bay
The songwriter says, “Your grace abounds in deepest waters; Your sovereign hand will be my guide. So I will call upon Your name and keep my eyes above the waves!” Everything God made is in His master plan: from the rocks to the water which ebbs and flows. All of creation bows to His holy name. He will carry us even when the waters sweep our feet from under us. His name is found in all things and all things exist for His glory. rejoice
Volume 16, Issue 3
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New Chef in the Kitchen! The small crowd that gathered for Rev Chef 2018 came hungry. The event, dubbed the “Yaadie Edition” and held at the UTCWI on May 5, did not disappoint. Patrons hovered over the chefs, savouring each moment, relishing every bite and ultimately commending the champion chef.
Last year’s holder of the Dutchie, Rev. Oneil Brown, came once more to demonstrate his skill for the sumptuous. The Ebony Vale Baptist pastor was the only returning chef. “I got into cooking to support my wife when she went off to study,” Rev. Brown told the Impact team. “I quickly realised I loved to experiment in the kitchen.” “I love the challenge, too. We didn’t know what to expect last year, but this year, I feel the
competition is much stiffer.” Stiffer it was indeed, as Rev Brown faced off against two newcomers: Rev. Trevor Edwards and Rev. Garry Knowles from the Barbican and Ebenezer Baptist Churches, respectively. “I like to cook, and I thought it would be fun,” Rev Edwards shared. “It’s tough going up against the reigning champ, though, and it was stressful to prepare for the event.” Rev Knowles had a unique challenge in the first of three rounds, making his competition that much harder. “Well, I’m allergic to crayfish, and so I couldn’t even go near it. It was the hardest dish to prepare. Thankfully, we are allowed a team to work with.” At each turn, the judges and the patrons stood salivating to receive the creations of the competitors. When the smoke cleared, the culinary competence of Rev. Knowles won out, and he was crowned Rev Chef 2018.
“I never really expected it, but it’s a good feeling to be crowned winner,” he said, beaming with pride while holding the Dutchie. “All in all it was a wonderful experience for me. I think I’ll use my success to encourage others to try their hand in the kitchen.” Andre Alleyne, Vice Chair for Young Adults, congratulated Rev Knowles at his victory, affirming that all chefs did an excellent job. He revealed to the Impact team that bigger things are coming. “We’re thinking of moving the competition to Mandeville and integrating pastors from other denominations,” he shared. “We know grander things are ahead for the annual event.” rejoice
Rev. Knowles holds the Dutchie at Rev Chef 2018
Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department |
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b Independently Dependent
In life, you will be thrown away by someone you thought loved you unconditionally. You will be alone, You will be broken. But! You will then discover the true meaning of Deuteronomy 31:8: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Eventually, someone will try to get you up again. They may very well throw you away too. But this time, you won't be lonely, Because you have God and yourself. You will be broken, yet you will have the strength to fix yourself, and stand back on your feet in the midst of prayer. This time you will be standing, Independently dependent on God
Derry-Ann Gibson Grace (Oracabessa) Circuit of Baptist Churches —rejoice
h Prescripture For an athlete, one of the things that is enforced by a coach, trainer, teacher or advisor is ensuring that all things are balanced. Still, this doesn’t relate only to athletes. All persons need to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle, ensuring that one’s spiritual, mental and emotional health are taken care of alongside the physical. In today’s society, being healthy has practically become a trend and we become so focused on the “green juice” and “deadlifts” that we forget that there is more to our earthly vessels.
Here are some key verses that’s remind us about complete health: Mental Health You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
Emotional Health A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones. Proverbs 14:30 (NKJV) Physical Health Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 (NKJV) Spiritual Health How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. Psalm 119:9 (NKJV) —renew
n Vox Pop: Sperm Donors Would you use a sperm donor to conceive? IMPACT took to the streets to ask the question for you. Specifically, the question was asked: “If you couldn’t get your wife pregnant or if your husband couldn’t get you pregnant, would you consider using a sperm donor and why?” Here’s what the street says.
available to us. [The baby] will be a part of me and because it will be a part of me, it will be a part of us.
Gevroy, 18: Nope. God still works miracles.
If you were in a position where you had to choose adoption, no children or using a sperm donor, which would you choose? Let us know! Give us your take at jbuyouth@gmail.com. reach
Shanive, 20: child and if I pregnant, I should use
Well, we want a am unable to get believe that we the opportunities
Marsha, 30: I would want to continue my family’s lineage. I would definitely consider a sperm donor. If that doesn’t work out then I would consider adopting a child, but at the end of it all I want to continue my family line.
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Nurturing Your Mental Health
3 Right Aligned
“Yuh mad?!”
strong ‘obeah’.
In the Jamaican context, this is generally the reaction given to someone who has produced what is considered a rather ridiculous response to a given situation. We may observe it in normal situations, but not so much when we see actual signs of mental health issues. Do we even know these signs? Many of us may even experience symptoms without even realizing. But let us not think about mental illness as just insanity. Mental health relates to a person’s psychological, social and emotional well-being.
The truth is there are many factors contributing to mental health problems. Key among these are biological factors such as genetic makeup, physical illness, injury, family history or chemical imbalances in the brain; and life experiences such as trauma, grief or abuse.
You can’t heal what you don’t reveal…
What is also disheartening is that persons feel youth are often exempt from issues with mental health. In truth, reports are that symptoms of mental illness can start even before age fourteen. It is therefore important to give special attention to our youth for prevention, early detection and treatment. Some of the most common forms of mental health issues are depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), anxiety and schizophrenia. Unfortunately, church members all too often ‘diagnose’ persons who experience symptoms of these issues as being either demon or ‘duppy’ possessed, or being under the influence of some
CONTRIBUTED | Andria Bryce
Changes in eating and sleeping habits, hygiene, mannerism, belief system or judgement may be indication that your relative or friend is experiencing mental illness. There are many ways to nurture one’s mental health. Some recommendations are to keep active, practice your faith, talk about your feelings, ask for help, keep in touch, rest, eat a well balanced diet, and seek professional help if and when you need it. Though mental health issues are very common, with help persons can live a normal life and some recover completely. Mental health issues are real, but you can’t heal what you don’t reveal If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or any other mental health issue, please contact the Ministry of Health Mental Health Crises Lines at the numbers below: Northeast Region (876) 972-2272; Western Region (876) 518-4108; Southern Region (876) 962-3370; Southeast Region (876) 930-1152 —reach
Scripture: John 3:30 As you anticipate life ahead, a good question to ask yourself is: "How will I approach the decisions and choices that I will make each day?" The simple answer is through submission to God’s will and grace. Jesus is the only one who can truly hold up the weight of our lives and bring people so diverse together in community. Jesus is truly at the centre of it all, and we need to allow space in our lives for Him to grow and take full control. When we are right aligned with Jesus, we can stand strong in the midst of any storm, any tension and discussion, any hardship or differences. He is a holy God, perfect in every way. He created people to be like Himself, with an expectation of holiness. He is a loving God, who loves each of us more than we can imagine. Christ is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. renew
lTake the Challenge! I know God has a sense of humour,
especially
after
an
encounter I had. I lost my temper in a meeting and lashed out. What’s even funnier is that my rebuke came from a Rastafarian
friend who quoted Proverbs 15:1. God wants us to learn to control the
tongue.
So
let’s
try
the
challenge of responding gently instead of harshly. renew
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Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department |
A Mighty Man of Valour 1. It's never too early to start planning. Really! 2. Never take anything for granted. If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail. 3. Rely on your team. It's what they're there for.
The Impact team sat down with the Youth Department Chairman, Delano Mighty, for a bit of one-onone. How important is prayer in your life? Prayer is extremely important to me. There is very little, if anything, that I do without prayer. I tend to have litanies, even very short ones, placed in specific areas where I need God's inspiration and guidance the most, like at work or in my car. For every major decision or every major event, I thank God and seek His guidance. Prayer (along with daily Biblical engagement) keeps me connected to Him. What are the 3 most important things you have learnt as the Youth Department Chairman?
How has your faith played a role in your decisions as a president? My faith has affected how I engage with youths of various backgrounds. I recall that at the 2017 Rally (the first day I became the YD chair, officially), I had to evangelise to a troubled young man. He really needed God's help, and I'm honoured that God allowed me to be that conduit. But I don't think that's something I would have done so effectively had it not been for the retooling of the faith that God has placed in me. Trusting that God will accomplish His purposes is indeed an enabling factor in planning our youth events and initiatives.
What advice would you give to young adults trying to find their purpose? I think many persons are looking at purpose through the lens of being uniquely called or ordained.
It doesn't have to be so. Mark you, if God calls you to be a pastor or a youth leader or even a Gospel DJ, then own it and embrace it. But the deepest mark of a Christian is living in love and grace to those around us. If you're doing that according to God's will and way, then you're already operating in your purpose. ...and what's your favourite bible verse? My baptismal verse: Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! It reminds me that in all things, we can have the joy of the Lord which greatly influences our decisions. rejoice
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B Matthew Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and records the life and ministry of Jesus. Read through the book with this 12week reading plan. renew
Week 1: Matthew 1-2
Week 2: Matthew 3-4
Week 3: Matthew 5-7
Week 4: Matthew 8:1-13
Week 5: Matthew 8:14-10:42
Week 6: Matthew 14-15:31
Week 7: Matthew 15:32-18:9
Week 8: Matthew 18:10-35
Week 9: Matthew 19-20
Week 10: Matthew 21-25
Week 11: Matthew 26:1-46
Week 12: Matthew 26:47-28
@ What’s in Your Spiritual Wallet?
Missed an episode? Catch up on YouTube
y
jbuyouth
Prayer should be seen as a lifestyle of making spiritual investments for future situations. We need to make daily deposits into our spiritual bank accounts for times when the enemy comes at us, and we must do this with a complete understanding of the faith our prayer requires. We are reminded of this in Matthew 17: 19-21. In prayer and faith, “nothing will be impossible for you.”
For your prayer focus this quarter, focus on depositing into your spiritual account.. reach
Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department |
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c Make a Note September 2018 15
JBUYD Family Fun Day
22
JBUYD Executive Meeting
October 2018 13
JBUYD Zone Eliminations
15
National Heroes’ Day
28
JBU Sunday School Exams
November 2018 22-24
National Youth Conference & Rally
December 2018 24
Christmas Eve
25
Christmas Day
26
Boxing Day
A Thy Kingdom Fun
p Surviving School: the Christian Way Being a Christian comes with its fair share of challenges. But being Christian and a student/ “schoolaz” at the same time— now that’s something to talk about. From choosing friends to which bus to take to school, all while achieving good grades and staying out of trouble, all sorts of challenges come flying through the window. We need to remind ourselves that as young Christians, Christ has filled our knapsacks with all the tools we need to pass with flying colours; both in school and in the school of life. For God equips the called and you were called by Him (Joshua 1: 5 – 9). Study Yes, study! As a child, Jesus not only studied the Scriptures but He was able to explain them. Make sure to study not just your notes but the word of God as well (2nd Timothy 2:15). Avoid conflicts and gangs Some things may be too hard to handle on your own, such as bullying. Get the help of trusted individuals (Psalm 1). Choose sexual purity Say no to sexual activities with
Save the date!
CBF Youth Festival Turks & Caicos Islands July 2019
Get in touch with us to learn more!
members of the opposite or even same sex. In addition to protecting yourself from diseases and pregnancy, your integrity is important. No “taste and buy” roun here (1 Cor. 6:18)! Choose the right crowd and the right conversations. Avoid time wasters. Say no to anything that has the potential to harm you. Peer pressure is a sure thing but remember Ephesians 6:11 is in your knapsack. Put on your armour! Be honest Walk in integrity and be an example (Matthew 5:16). As 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, there is absolutely no temptation that we can face that God hasn’t already prepared us for. All ‘schoolaz’ can cross it! Blessings. rejoice
Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department
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2B Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20, JM
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969-2223 / 969-6268
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924-6296
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jbuyouth@gmail.com
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