The Church speaks out in the media [Archive] - Caribbean Online Community ~ CaribYard.com

Xenocrates

September 11, 2006, 03:00 PM

BCK, What are you doing? Read this:

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

...like believing in Aliens, Gay Rights, Feminism, Agnosticism and all that junk. Never-the-less, in Thessolonians, we read:

...They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

...and as such:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient

My point? There's no need to point out where the church has spoken out.

When there is no crisis, nobody listens to the church. People only care about what the church has to say when the country is in a crisis. Didn't you notice that? The church has ALWAYS been speaking, it's just that the listeners choose to be deaf. You should never let anyone who accuses the church of being conveniently silent to get under your skin. You have NOTHING to prove to them. These people (not necessarily referring to anyone here) are HYPOCRITES.

They are the SAME people who will be flooding to church as soon as they hear of impending disaster. I can't forget that WatchNight service we had on the eve of the new year 2000 - the place was PACKED to capacity with people who we were seeing for the very first time. Apparently, they got wind of the media frenzy that the world would end in the year 2000.

Terror, my friend, has marvelous ways of putting the fear of God in people. However, where these same people see no need to seek God, you will here this sort of diatribe often:

"...the church not doing enough"
"...Jamaica has more churches per square mile than anywhere else, and yet we're the most violent..."
"...this one funny nuh rasta..."
"...why isn't the church speaking out?"
:snoring: :snoring: :snoring:
"...only the church is to blame for...[insert favourite scapegoat here]"
"...in Jamaica, for every church, there is a bar..."
...and all that nonsense. :rolleyes:

It's all HYPOCRISY Bck. Let anyone of these people become threatened for their lives, and see how fast they beat a path to the nearest chapel. It's at times like those, BCK, that the Bible teaches us that God says:

...since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you...

...and as we both know, master BCK, there are only 2 things that are certain in life:

Death
The Judgement

So let them jeer. Let them :snoring: It is only for a time. ;)

AngelsKiss

September 11, 2006, 05:14 PM

Its because we live in a blamed filled society and I don't mean Jamaica alone, it's the same where ever you go.

Too often in stead of taking responsibility for our actions we find some one or something to blame.

However, it doesn't mean we should stop educating ourselves and each other. Hopefully one day it will stick.

So I look at what BCK is doing as educating those that are always complaining that the church does nothing. Hopefully one day they will get the message.

BlackCryptoKnight

September 11, 2006, 07:26 PM

So I look at what BCK is doing as educating those that are always complaining that the church does nothing. Hopefully one day they will get the message.

:eusa_clap :icon_mrgr ;)

Xenocrates

September 11, 2006, 07:57 PM

Its because we live in a blamed filled society and I don't mean Jamaica alone, it's the same where ever you go. Too often in stead of taking responsibility for our actions we find some one or something to blame.
- True, but the problem is that people who are quick to cast blame are hypocrites. Anyone who is quick to blame someone is only seeking the fastest way to make themselves seem innocent. Proving their accusations wrong doesn't annul the response of blame casting. So long as they want to cast blame, they will continue to do so, no matter how often you prove them wrong.

Instead, prove to them that the only reason they want to blame someone else is because they're guilty of hypocrisy, with an irrational double standard. If a blamecaster is made to see the error of his intent instead of the error of his argument, it proves to be a far more effective campaigne. Prick the heart of the man, not his arguments.

However, it doesn't mean we should stop educating ourselves and each other. Hopefully one day it will stick.
- Did you know that people who CHOOSE to believe a thing CANNOT be persuaded otherwise? Can you be indoctrinated into some other religion? Exactly my point.

People have to WANT to hear. Everybody knows that the church is not silent. Proving that they aren't doesn't solve the problem. Look at the cynical responses! The problem is that people don't WANT to hear. How are you gonna tell a man who doesn't want to hear the truth that the truth is such and such? Once a man is set a certain way in his heart, such he shall be until death.

So I look at what BCK is doing as educating those that are always complaining that the church does nothing. Hopefully one day they will get the message.
- Those who complain that the church does nothing will continue to complain, not because the Church is doing or not doing anything, but because they already DESPISE the church and will seek ANY reason to detract from it. So it doesn't matter what good the church does, these people will continue to be DEAF and BLIND to what the church is doing. If a man started a thread and said that the church is silent, just ask that man when last he attended church... case closed. ;)

AngelsKiss

September 11, 2006, 10:06 PM

-

- Did you know that people who CHOOSE to believe a thing CANNOT be persuaded otherwise? Can you be indoctrinated into some other religion? Exactly my point.

Nothing is impossible when it comes to the Father. I wouldn't be seeking to doctrinate anyone. I would be trying to educate them by spreading God's message.

If we allow God to work thru us any thing is possible. If God wants someone to change then it will happen.

To say that ppl who complain about the church despise the church suggest that you know what is in a person's mind and heart. I think you should leave that judgement for God.

Sometimes ppl see a thing a particular way simply because they may not have thought it out carefully, they simply don't know or because of their own personal experience. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to enlighten them.

Justice

September 12, 2006, 09:59 AM

- - Those who complain that the church does nothing will continue to complain, not because the Church is doing or not doing anything, but because they already DESPISE the church and will seek ANY reason to detract from it. So it doesn't matter what good the church does, these people will continue to be DEAF and BLIND to what the church is doing. If a man started a thread and said that the church is silent, just ask that man when last he attended church... case closed. ;)

I don’t despise the church and I am certainly not seeking to detract from it, in fact I don’t think it is possible to detract from the church, you would only be hurting yourself in the long run. However, I personally think the church can do more and is not doing enough, an organization such a Red Cross is only as big as the church body world wide and yet still whenever there is a disaster the Red Cross get mobilize and help people. In Jamaica whenever there is a disaster people don’t turn to the church for assistance they turn to the Member of Parliament, the church have shirk there responsibility all in the name of hoarding money and building big church.

I long for a day when I can see a church that is active, mobilize and have the energy that they have challenging the “Charter of Rights”. The church should be the champion against state terrorism, state brutality, they should stand up and let criminals know that we are united and we will give you up if you refuse to turn over the guns (and don’t tell me these church people don’t know the criminals, most churches are found in ghettos or near ghettos and the mother and sisters are sometimes members) the church need to stop arguing about when is the Sabbath, who is going to hell, which church is better who have more members and who have the bigger church.

By the way I attend youth meeting last Friday, didn’t get to go to church on Sunday I was a bit tired. You know Xeno I have a Pastor and a Deacon with whom I have these discussion and they don’t come off as arrogant as you sound, people have real concern about the church in the public, their motive, their involvement and where they are going. It’s not for believers to shun them and call them hypocrites but to try and understand why they think so. The only people living in Jamaica that believe that the church is doing enough are those people who have the ‘shade of Christianity’ drawn over their eyes, they are so caught up in their belief that they forgot their cause. Jesus never came to save the saved, he came for the unsaved, it is not for the believers to shun none Christians but to convert them and if they have real belief that the church is not doing anything then maybe you should try and understand where they coming from, why they think that way and not just disregard it has hypocrisy. ;)

Justice

September 12, 2006, 10:00 AM

If God wants someone to change then it will happen.

God ‘can’t’ force any man to change if the man doesn’t wish to change. Christians need to stop sitting on their backside and wait on God to make change and go out and be the warrior, the champion of change. The church should lead from the front and start the revolution, the complete change that will see the upliftment of God’s people.

Justice

September 12, 2006, 10:01 AM

More and more in Jamaica you find that a lot of young men gravitate towards Rastafarianism, its not because they were given a choice, but more and more they believe that Rastafarian speak the language of their plight and the church is too caught up in the bible and what happened a thousand years ago. They believe that the church is concentrating on the past and not seeing that today I am hungry, today I am clothes less, today I need love. Don’t tell them about Jesus death without showing them how Jesus can help them get out of their squalor. I believe that when the church realizes this, then the revolution will begin and a new world will be born.

AngelsKiss

September 12, 2006, 10:38 AM

God ‘can’t’ force any man to change if the man doesn’t wish to change. Christians need to stop sitting on their backside and wait on God to make change and go out and be the warrior, the champion of change. The church should lead from the front and start the revolution, the complete change that will see the upliftment of God’s people.

No one is talking about forcing a change and even if God wanted to force a change he could.

What I am talking about is allowing God to be the driving force. Yes we need to make change happen, but mostly importantly we need to allow God to work thru us.

jamerican

September 12, 2006, 11:11 AM

This how i see it society tends to blame the church etc other then blaming them self. We the people have a part to play but we tend not to. for example people who are friends with gunman, drug lord or some illegal sh!.t they them self dont turn them in. Police and Politician inna too much rass mixup and corruption it not just the average joe or jack doing this. Another thing crime is not going to go down If there no Job, food on there table,education and can pay them bills but still you have some greedy b.!tches who want quick money. anyways i have another class to go too later.

Xenocrates

September 12, 2006, 11:12 AM

I don’t despise the church and I am certainly not seeking to detract from it...
- That's odd, I don't remember anyone quoting anything you said... :eusa_thin ...never-the-less;

However, I personally think the church can do more and is not doing enough, an organization such a Red Cross is only as big as the church body world wide and yet still whenever there is a disaster the Red Cross get mobilize and help people.
- My friend, before you make such remarks, you need to do a thorough investigation of what each church community in Jamaica is involved in. You will find that there are DOZENS of outreach activities not only catering to the spiritual but also the physiological needs of the sorrounding community. My congregation has so many of them that you need to get a handbook so that you can pick one to be apart of! Maybe your church community or the ones you are familiar with aren't doing enough in your opinion. But let me assure you, the church is VERY much out there. Just because you don't see it in your community, it doesn't mean that it isn't happening. Open your eyes my friend.

In Jamaica whenever there is a disaster people don’t turn to the church for assistance they turn to the Member of Parliament, the church have shirk there responsibility all in the name of hoarding money and building big church.
- People turn to a member of Parliament because they have access to financial resources that an average church congregation does not. If we lived in a theocratic government, you wouldn't be making this observation. But that is neither here nor there. Over 70% of the relief resources are owned by the Government. Furthermore, how can you forget the dozens of churches which fall in to become relief shelters during times of disaster? That is a terribly unfair observation my friend. It's not only Schools and Public Buildings that double as relief shelters. Open your eyes.

I long for a day when I can see a church that is active, mobilize and have the energy that they have challenging the “Charter of Rights”.
- If every humanitarian effort by the church in Jamaica was as publicised as the challenge to the Charter of Rights, you would not have made this observation. You shouldn't be blaming the church here. You should be blaming the media for:

Only sensationalizing when Deacons/Pastors rape girls
Ignoring the thousands of relief and humanitarian initiatives performed each year.

You rely too much on the media to paint a picture of the church for you my friend.

[More...]

Xenocrates

September 12, 2006, 11:15 AM

The church should be the champion against state terrorism, state brutality,
- Blame the media! I've seen churches RAID innercity communities and break up gangs. I've personally been apart of church initiatives to covert community dons and gunmen. I've seen gunmen come weeping to street meetings, handing over their weapons to police in the process. Have you? Ofcourse not. Stuff like that is not news worthy. It doesn't sell papers or increase prime time ratings for advertisement slots.

they should stand up and let criminals know that we are united and we will give you up if you refuse to turn over the guns (and don’t tell me these church people don’t know the criminals, most churches are found in ghettos or near ghettos and the mother and sisters are sometimes members)
- This sounds like a problem that is prevalent in the churches you frequent (I've seen you post about it often). If that be the case brother, maybe you guys need some help from other church communities. Have you ever thought about that? Why don't you suggest it to your pastor? Our congregation affiliates itself with DOZENS of churches islandwide to exact relief efforts and to organise outreach programmes! Does your church do that? Just because the few congregations you know aren't functioning as you think they should, it doesn't mean that ALL church congregations are non functional. Try to be just in your observation please. I strongly suggest that you ask your elders to think about alligning yourselves with other church communities to get such efforts accomplished. You'd be surprised at how much can be done when collaborations of this sort are effected!

the church need to stop arguing about when is the Sabbath, who is going to hell, which church is better who have more members and who have the bigger church.
- I AGREE 100% :eusa_clap Waste-of-time argument those. In fact, anyone who calls themself a christian who provokes such debate should go back and read 1 Corinthians 12 & 13. I agree with you brother.

You know Xeno I have a Pastor and a Deacon with whom I have these discussion and they don’t come off as arrogant as you sound
- We wouldn't state our opinion if we weren't arrogant enough to think that it is worth saying in the first place. ;) However, there's a big difference in being confident in one's opinion as opposed to being arrogant in the context for which you imply. Arrogant suggests that I'm not teachable. If you knew me in person, you would think very differently about that. I'll let this one slide. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/xenocrates/Smilies/coolio.gif

...people have real concern about the church in the public, their motive, their involvement and where they are going.
- People who are actively INVOLVED in the church don't share that opinion. That's my point. None of the critics of the church in Jamaica are anything more than Sunday/Saturday visitors at best. They have never been involved in any kind of outreach ministry of any kind. Have you?

It’s not for believers to shun them and call them hypocrites but to try and understand why they think so.
- Been there. Done that. I've yet to see a genuine counter positive. I would prefer this type of criticism to be leveled by someone who is intimately involved with what the church is doing in Jamaica. I agree that some congregations are woefully inactive in service of their community, but I STRONGLY disagree that "The Church", the collective body of Christ, is inactive, or insufficiently active in Jamaica. That's a grossly inaccurate accusation, and I won't stand for it sir. :eusa_snoo

[More...]

Xenocrates

September 12, 2006, 11:16 AM

The only people living in Jamaica that believe that the church is doing enough are those people who have the ‘shade of Christianity’ drawn over their eyes, they are so caught up in their belief that they forgot their cause.
- That's a presumptious statement. I agree that there are some pharisees in the church movement, but these people don't make up the collective body of the church. This kind of remark reminds me of the kind of opinion that some people hold, that just because a deacon raped a girl, they avoid churches altogether. It is an incredibly ridiculous remark, because no matter how many times people get stabbed, or fights break out, or bottles are thrown at Dancehall sessions, these people STILL show up to them religiously. In fact, I could be just as presumptious, and state that all dancehall artistes and their fans are animalistic hooligans, just because I've only seen a few of them. :rolleyes:

Now I'm not a dancehall fan, so I'm automatically unqualified to level any criticism at the dancehall scene. Likewise, if you're not actively involved in the church, or have never had inter-cogregational fellowship, you would be grossly unqualified to level any such criticism at the church.

I recommend:

Petition the media houses to highlight the positives that are going on in your country via the church. In the highly improbable event that they listen, you will get are far more accurate representation of the church community in Jamaica. Heck, at our congregation, we even have outreach ministries to poor countries like Honduras, Guyana and many others. We have missionaries coming in from the States, recruiting people to go on missionaries to some of the darkest communities in Jamaica. How could we be so wicked such as to say that the church is not doing enough?

We live in a world where people only notice evil - not goodness. Evil is always more sensational to report, because by nature, we are evil people and evil people delight in hearing about evil things. Instead of labelling the church as being inactive, accuse the MEDIA for ignoring the good that the church is doing! Think about that before you criticize the church again my brother. ;)

[Fin]

Justice

September 12, 2006, 12:37 PM

I can’t bother responding to all your points; I don’t have the time for it. But we have been down this road in other threads and until I see the changes I will hold my views, I guess I can say the same for you. Maybe you should direct me to your church so I can see the light and change my views?

By the way I found this very funny:

- If you knew me in person, you would think very differently about that. I'll let this one slide. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/xenocrates/Smilies/coolio.gif

BlackCryptoKnight

September 12, 2006, 03:41 PM

However, I personally think the church can do more and is not doing enough, an organization such a Red Cross is only as big as the church body world wide and yet still whenever there is a disaster the Red Cross get mobilize and help people.

I long for a day when I can see a church that is active, mobilize and have the energy that they have challenging the “Charter of Rights”.

West Indies Conference of Seventh Day Adventist provide assistance for 80 families
Over 80 families from southern St. Elizabeth, who were devastated by the passage of Hurricane Ivan, have received assistance from the staff of the West Indies Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.

The members operating under the banner of Adventists Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA), recently undertook the task of restoring temporary roofing to two houses, as well as, the distribution of packages of emergency food and supplies to needy individuals from the communities of Banton Town, Lover's Leap and Yardley Chase.

The Agency's assistance will be executed in a phased programme, the first of which will focus on the provision of items for physical comfort and temporary solutions such as tarpaulins for roofs, food and shelter. In the second phase, areas will be revisited and provided with seeds and other planting material so as to assist families and communities with the production of food.
Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/hurricaneivan/bulletins/31.html)

THE ROLLINGTON Town Seventh-day Adventist Church is hosting free health screening exercises, running from July 15-26 as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.

The Adventist administration has invited a team of 18 students from Walla, Walla College in Washington, U.S.A. to administer free medical services. Exercises will include blood pressure checks, eye, dental and other treatments, from their base at the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home off Dineary Road in Kingston.
Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060724/news/news5.html)

"I am very happy now," says Gloria Grant for whom Courtney is one of nine grandchildren. "Before, I was just very sad that we would not be able to afford it. Now that the surgery is completed, it is costing a little, but the same God that help us to reach this stage will help us to finish. Thanks to God, RBTT, GraceKennedy, Jamaica National, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a few other places, we have come this far. A whole lot of Jamaicans sent in what they had."
Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060910/out/out2.html)

From November 3 to 30, the Andrews Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church targeted Andrews Pen, St. Andrew, as the community to erect a tent over a four-week period. But before going into the community, the assembly organised themselves to meet the physical needs of the community.

Explaining that the methods of crusading have had to change with time, Elder Noel Jumpp, the preacher for the recently concluded SDA crusade in Andrews Pen, says that there are many persons working in the effort. "There are teams from the church that are organised into departments. There is a department for family life, health and temperance, and young people's team which is known as Adventist Youth (AY)," he said, adding that each department would spearhead the programme and would be ministering.

Having preached at a number of crusades since 1994, Elder Jumpp says that tent crusades have had a positive impact on communities. He says the church has to be able to work with members of the community and to "try to meet them where they are."

Prior to hosting the tent crusade, members of the Andrews Memorial SDA visited the community and held outreach programmes with two health clinics. The medical and dental clinics, he points out, were manned by health professionals and friends of the Andrews Memorial SDA Church. The objective, Elder Jumpp notes, is to "reach humanity for Jesus - not only in preaching the gospel but we went into the youth club to make it stronger by interfacing with the young men."
Read More... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20021208/relig/relig2.html)

Justice

September 12, 2006, 04:17 PM

Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/hurricaneivan/bulletins/31.html)

Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060724/news/news5.html)

Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060910/out/out2.html)

Read More... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20021208/relig/relig2.html)

Happy to see the media doing its work, no wonder I depend on them for my information and especially happy to see the church helping people. In any event, I never said the church wasn’t doing anything; all I said was that there is more the church could do and only a blind person would believe that the church is doing enough.

In any event BCK keep up the good work :eusa_clap , you may touch somebody’s heart one day.

BlackCryptoKnight

September 12, 2006, 04:21 PM

Church speaking out against crime and violence.

PRESIDENT OF the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventist Churches, Dr. Patrick Allen, has expressed deep concern over the state of crime and violence taking place in the island.

He was speaking at the official opening ceremony of the North Jamaica Mission Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Drax Hall, St. Ann recently.

Dr. Allen said that too much crime and blood-letting was taking place and called on church members and other persons of goodwill to use spiritual means as the way to put an end to these ungodly acts.
Read More ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050228/news/news2.html)

Twinkie

September 12, 2006, 05:15 PM

Hey I know what religion certain folks are...heh hehe

BlackCryptoKnight

September 12, 2006, 05:20 PM

Clergy calls for forgiveness to be a part of crime plan:

ON SUNDAY, the Honourable Dr. Peter Phillips, the Minister of National Security, in a national broadcast reviewed the Crime Plan while on Sunday coming the Mead-Haven Ministers' Fraternal will host a Forgiveness Service at the Boulevard Baptist Church. What does a review of the Crime Plan and a forgiveness service have in common? The answer is that the Crime Plan calls for and needs an integrated approach. There is a place for strong policing, special squads, better intelligence, better-trained staff, community policing and community relations. However, there is room for social engineering and the effort of the Fraternal with its forgiveness campaign falls into that category. This strategy could have an impact on the Crime Plan.

On Ash Wednesday of this year, this fraternal that ministers in the greater Meadowbrook and Havendale areas and whose ministry impacts and is also affected by trouble spots of Maverley, 100 Lane, Park Lane, Black Ants Lane etc designed a programme of forgiveness to impact the crime rate and aid national development. It was observed, based on an analysis of the 2002 murder figures, that the major motivation for murders according to the police was revenge followed by domestic murders. The Fraternal felt that part of the strategy for fighting crime must and ought to involve a call to citizens who are seeking revenge or who will seek revenge in the near future to forgive.
Read More ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030826/cleisure/cleisure3.html)

BlackCryptoKnight

September 12, 2006, 05:23 PM

Baptist Minister calls for spiritual revival in the nation.

"IF I were to die now and go to Heaven, I would greet Jesus and say thanks for saving me, but I can't come here without seeing a revival," so says the Rev. Everard Allen, pastor of the Brown's Town Circuit of Baptist churches.

"From what I have read in Scripture and what has happened through history, I have to see a revival in my country. And if I see that, I will be able to say like Simeon (Luke 2:29-31) 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation ...' the renowned clergyman said.

The Rev. Mr. Allen, 58, who is widely respected for his skills at expository preaching and his passionate oratory, has been the pastor of the four-church (Brown's Town, Mt. Olivet, Lime Tree Gardens, St. John's) Brown's Town Baptist Circuit since 1972.

He said "The dream of my life, from head to toe, is spiritual awakening * spiritual revival, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which revolutionises churches, individuals and which changes the whole moral fibre of nations."
Read More ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20031202/mind/mind2.html)

BlackCryptoKnight

September 12, 2006, 05:39 PM

Church sets off programme to assist deportees.

THE Jamaican deportee, often the subject of ridicule and scorn, will receive a helping hand from a new outreach programme. Land Of my Birth (LOB) is the name of the organisation which was launched last Friday.

Its main objective is to offer rehabilitative service to deportees, who arrive in Jamaica on the last Thursday of every month.

Reverend Garnett Roper, pastor at the Portmore Missionary Church, told The Gleaner on Monday that the LOB's first session takes place this Thursday when the latest batch of deportees is expected.

"There have been initiatives of all sorts over the years. This is just a combination of all those efforts," said Reverend Roper. "We do ourselves no good by further de-humanising these people."
Read More... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060823/news/news11.html)

Xenocrates

September 13, 2006, 09:08 AM

:icon_arro BCK

Yo BCK, go thru y'hear sa. Looks like it was a worthy effort after all. I take back what I said earlier. It looks like is more than one person that is unfortunately displaced about what the church is doing in the media - or is it that they didn't know? Hmm... :eusa_thin I guess from a personal perspective, I never saw the need to show these things, because I believe Christ is the church's defender and people are always conveniently ignorant. But I suspect that if there are more people out there like Justice (and this is no fault of his own - I can understand why he feels frustrated) - then we probably need to take this thread into overdrive.

:icon_arro Justice

If you want to visit my (or any one else's) congregation, just send myself, BCK, archie (or anyone else you know on here) a PM and we'll be more than happy to direct you. But since this is something worth mentioning, I might as well chip in and mention a few of the missionary efforts being conducted at my congregation:

Prison Ministry - A team of evangelists visit the local prisons on a regular basis (you pick the prisons). They provide food, clothing and spiritual guidance. Inmates are not only treated to the usual witnessing etc., but if you're a techie, there is a computer training course that we conduct to give these displaced young men some real skills they can use in the real world when they get out:

Office Automation - We teach them how to use software from the Microsoft Office Suite, among other similar titles to get simple everyday tasks done.

Multimedia - You can take your pick of anything from image manipulation (Photoshop) to sound production (Fruity Loops, Ableton Live). We do a little identification roster to see which inmates have interest in various fields and we cater to them accordingly. It keeps their minds busy and helps them from bouncing off the walls.

Displaced Children - You like kids? Well there are a plethora of ministry efforts into various children's homes. We set up sunday schools for innercity communities where kids are orphaned by community violence or are otherwise displaced by irresponsible parents. We even have our OWN PRIMARY SCHOOL for such children. We setup our own pre-school and primary schools for children of poor people who could not otherwise afford to get their kids to an early start in education. That means that these kids won't grow up to be educated by gunmen - or a similar lifestyle.

Education - There is a tie-in family education program for older folks in the innercity communities, which goes far beyond the call of duty as far as witnessing is concerned. We get these people educated (we pay for it!) and get them jobs through people in the church community who are bosses or managers in various private sector organisations.

Meals On Wheels (No, not the Jackie Chan movie) - There is a programme where the church buys food (using money from the offerings) and distributes it to several entities at a time. These may range anywhere from Golden Age homes to innercity communities. If you can cook - join the ranks! They have cook-outs at these places. The people are always happy to see us...

Street Meetings - I've personally been a apart of street meetings where the church conducts a worship service on the street inside of innercity communities. Why only 3 years ago when violence erupted in Tivoli Gardens, we went deep into the jungle (using an inside contact of course) and held a rather spirited meeting there. Of the 40 odd people who were converted, 18 of them were known gunmen. They not only surrendered their firearms - but gave themselves up to police custody (We had police escorts). Since then, all of the gunmen have been baptised. Those who have not yet finished serving their prison sentences are escorted to church in police buses. The others visit on their own accord. This is an ongoing program. Various communities are targetted for this ministry.

International Outreach Programmes - Our congregation is big enough to include people from all walks of life - you will notice an awful lot of people who are not from the default ethnicity of Jamaica. Many of these people are international missionaries, from all over the world. They are from places like Honduras, Mexico, the United States, Canada, India, Singapore, Thailand, England, Spain, Germany - ALL over the world. If you are interested in:

Witnessing overseas
Learning a new language while you're at it (talk about immersion!)

Then this is the ministry for you. It takes time to organise these ministries, and you will have to be dedicated to the task as these missions take you away from the country for months at a time! Just listen out for the announcements as they occur.

That's just a small fraction of the ministries I'm personally acquainted with, that I can remember off the top of my head. Like I said before, there is a handbook that details all of them. Our congregation has a library of resources about these things - you just go in there and pickup a book and read.

So you see my yute, the church is HARDLY inactive. If you feel that your church community needs some outside collaboration, please feel free to visit us (send me a pm if you're interested) because we do this sort of inter-congregational collaboration constantly. Every Sunday we are visited by a group of people from other denominations. We've even had Seventh Day people in our midsts. We don't care whether your are Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, New Testament, Church of God, [insert favourite denomination here] - we will work with you.

We were the congregation that Championed the Charter of Rights initiative. We didn't do that by ourselves. We organised ourselves with DOZENS of congregations islandwide. There were christian leaders at those meetings from every denomination in Jamaica. Like I said, we don't care about "denominations". You don't even have to be a member of our community to participate in these initiatives. Better yet, you don't have to be in our community to see what the church is doing. There are dozens of other congregations out there that are doing the same thing, and then some.

Just visit around and see for yourself. ;)

I'm thinking that the Church in Jamaica probably needs to hire its own media crew. Jamaica needs to know more about what the church is doing here. I've been hearing too many people saying that they don't see the church doing squat.

AngelsKiss

September 13, 2006, 10:35 AM

It's not just the church that does this kind of work. Many high schools high schools have some form of out reach ministries too.

BlackCryptoKnight

September 17, 2006, 08:36 PM

Reaching out to the youth ...

Since its inception in Jamaica in the 1940s, the youth arm of the Seventh-day Adventist church, the Pathfinder Club, says it has taken close to 35,000 youth off the streets, saving them from a life of crime and training them instead for service to God, to country and to man.

The statistics were revealed yesterday at the Braeton Seventh-day Adventist church during a service to mark World Pathfinder Day, which is celebrated within Adventist circles on the second Saturday of September each year.
Read more... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20060916T200000-0500_112978_OBS_ADVENTIST_YOUTH_GROUP_SAID_CHANGIN G_LIVES.asp)

Justice

September 21, 2006, 12:00 PM

:icon_arro Justice

Prison Ministry - A team of evangelists visit the local prisons on a regular basis (you pick the prisons). They provide food, clothing and spiritual guidance. Inmates are not only treated to the usual witnessing etc., but if you're a techie, there is a computer training course that we conduct to give these displaced young men some real skills they can use in the real world when they get out:

Office Automation - We teach them how to use software from the Microsoft Office Suite, among other similar titles to get simple everyday tasks done.

Multimedia - You can take your pick of anything from image manipulation (Photoshop) to sound production (Fruity Loops, Ableton Live). We do a little identification roster to see which inmates have interest in various fields and we cater to them accordingly. It keeps their minds busy and helps them from bouncing off the walls.

Displaced Children - You like kids? Well there are a plethora of ministry efforts into various children's homes. We set up sunday schools for innercity communities where kids are orphaned by community violence or are otherwise displaced by irresponsible parents. We even have our OWN PRIMARY SCHOOL for such children. We setup our own pre-school and primary schools for children of poor people who could not otherwise afford to get their kids to an early start in education. That means that these kids won't grow up to be educated by gunmen - or a similar lifestyle.

Education - There is a tie-in family education program for older folks in the innercity communities, which goes far beyond the call of duty as far as witnessing is concerned. We get these people educated (we pay for it!) and get them jobs through people in the church community who are bosses or managers in various private sector organisations.

Meals On Wheels (No, not the Jackie Chan movie) - There is a programme where the church buys food (using money from the offerings) and distributes it to several entities at a time. These may range anywhere from Golden Age homes to innercity communities. If you can cook - join the ranks! They have cook-outs at these places. The people are always happy to see us...

Street Meetings - I've personally been a apart of street meetings where the church conducts a worship service on the street inside of innercity communities. Why only 3 years ago when violence erupted in Tivoli Gardens, we went deep into the jungle (using an inside contact of course) and held a rather spirited meeting there. Of the 40 odd people who were converted, 18 of them were known gunmen. They not only surrendered their firearms - but gave themselves up to police custody (We had police escorts). Since then, all of the gunmen have been baptised. Those who have not yet finished serving their prison sentences are escorted to church in police buses. The others visit on their own accord. This is an ongoing program. Various communities are targetted for this ministry.

International Outreach Programmes - Our congregation is big enough to include people from all walks of life - you will notice an awful lot of people who are not from the default ethnicity of Jamaica. Many of these people are international missionaries, from all over the world. They are from places like Honduras, Mexico, the United States, Canada, India, Singapore, Thailand, England, Spain, Germany - ALL over the world. If you are interested in:

Witnessing overseas
Learning a new language while you're at it (talk about immersion!)

Then this is the ministry for you. It takes time to organise these ministries, and you will have to be dedicated to the task as these missions take you away from the country for months at a time! Just listen out for the announcements as they occur.

Excellent!!! That’s what I want to hear and see. Happy to know there are churches out there helping people like this.

nuhsenutten

September 21, 2006, 12:45 PM

Excellent!!! That’s what I want to hear and see. Happy to know there are churches out there helping people like this.

send the man a pm and go one of the outreach and tell us what its like for u ...what can b done better , what is wrong all ur views man. then u can honestly say u helped someone ....even for a day........those lil kids especially from the childrens homes happy to see everybody because so little of us remember them.

Justice

September 21, 2006, 02:37 PM

send the man a pm and go one of the outreach and tell us what its like for u ...what can b done better , what is wrong all ur views man. then u can honestly say u helped someone ....even for a day........those lil kids especially from the childrens homes happy to see everybody because so little of us remember them.

Is who you man? How the hell you got into this?
In any event I don’t need to PM anybody to get information as to the where about of their church as this is a public forum and churches are public forums which is and should be accessible to everybody, so persons can post their church’s where about here. I am sure the pastors would welcome the many visitors who read this thread and would visit the church.

There is nothing wrong with my view, I believe that there is more the church can do and as long as there are unsaved people and people with a view that the church is not doing enough then there is more for the church to do to convert those persons.

I have some youths in the community where I grew up that I try to help by steering them in the right direction and helping them to get jobs. A particular deacon at the church that I attend organizes visits to a children home in Spanish town once each month.

nuhsenutten

September 21, 2006, 04:48 PM

all i said was that u should go .....an u ready fi kill me ...calm down man

i never said their was anything wrong with ur view. y u so defensive man go for the experience ......mayb u learn something that can help u guide the youths u trying to help.

BlackCryptoKnight

January 6, 2007, 04:55 PM

Bishop Delford Davis, head pastor of the Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore and also the president of the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches, said that the church alone can't address the social needs of society and it's full time the relevant authorities take full responsibility.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20070106/news/news8.html)

.

Chris

January 6, 2007, 06:01 PM

so is he saying that the relevant authorities should ... gasp :icon_eek: ... do what they're PAID and/or ELECTED to do? :eusa_thin interesting concept :eusa_whis

ramesh

January 6, 2007, 06:13 PM

What I wouldn't mind seeing is the Churches shaming the Government by doing more to stamp out crime than they (the Government) can. Then perhaps we can stop paying taxes and give that money to the Churches instead! :)

BlackCryptoKnight

January 10, 2007, 05:07 AM

"This (the number of murders) is preposterous and it will take more than praying (to solve the crime problem)," said Pastor Carla Dunbar of the Buff Bay Church of God of Prophecy in St. Thomas. "It is time that, as a church, we seek and meet and have dialogue with men in garrison communities."

According to her, past experience has shown that when leaders of the Church meet face to face with persons at the ground level, they tend to listen more. She explained that the one-on-one interaction attacks their conscience.

...

Pastor Jones said the Church and the security forces cannot fight the problem of crime alone, and that a collective effort is needed. He urged all Jamaicans to awaken to the gravity of the situation and make a decision to assist with tackling the crime wave which is sweeping across the nation, even if it means putting themselves at risk.

...

Rev. Thompson added: "It is really alarming and it says something about the kind of value we put on life."

He noted that the solutions are multiple but suggested that the main one was for persons to get closer to God.

"If we can help people to reclaim their lives as children of God, then perhaps we may begin to see a softer, more compassionate society," said Rev. Thompson.

In a statement, the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has appealed to the conscience of those it said have lost regard for the sanctity of human life.

"And those who are involved in, and benefiting from illegal and corrupt practices, to consider how they are destroying themselves, and by extension, Jamaica," the JCC said.

Read more ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070110/lead/lead1.html)

Food for thought.

BlackCryptoKnight

January 23, 2007, 08:09 AM

Pastor calls for death penalty for career murderers

Pastor Glen Samuels, president of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Churches, remains resolute that career murderers must be prepared to have their lives forfeited as well.
Read More... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070123/news/news1.html)

Pastor speaks out against police corruption

Another member of the clergy has denounced corruption within the police force and its adverse effects on the nation.

The latest cry has come from the Rev. Ballentine Wallace of the Jericho Baptist Church in St. Catherine.

Speaking Sunday at the church's Badge Day service attended by members of the Correctional Service, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Rev. Wallace questioned why no senior member of the police force has ever been held accountable for corruption.

Read More... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070123/news/news2.html)

Manu

January 25, 2007, 08:21 AM

That's ironic of Glen....when he just the other testified how he changed the life of a gun man who held him at gun-point. I think he is speaking based on his emotions and the slate of killings going on now.

BlackCryptoKnight

February 8, 2007, 07:55 AM

TEN thousand Christians, some armed with machetes, brooms, shovels and gloves, will descend on Kingston later this month to rid the city of garbage ahead of the March 11 start of Cricket World Cup 2007, hopefully putting to rest concerns that the capital will not be ready to host the regional tournament.
Read More ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070207T220000-0500_118880_OBS_BIG_CITY_CLEAN_UP.asp)
:eusa_clap

acidblade

February 8, 2007, 08:52 AM

thank god for Cricket World Cup 2007 :rolleyes:

AngelsKiss

February 8, 2007, 09:26 AM

TEN thousand Christians, some armed with machetes, brooms, shovels and gloves,

LOL...for a minute there I was really worried when I read that :) I thought they were doing a GWB number and declaring war on crime...instead I see they are declaring war on garbage...thank goodness for small mercies :icon_mrgr

Manu

February 8, 2007, 11:31 AM

LOL...for a minute there I was really worried when I read that :) I thought they were doing a GWB number and declaring war on crime...instead I see they are declaring war on garbage...thank goodness for small mercies :icon_mrgr

Lol.... I thought I was the only one....lol. I thought somebody was gonna get chop up!

ramesh

February 8, 2007, 12:14 PM

Virus

February 8, 2007, 06:50 PM

My dad isnt a christian but he said he's willing to help as well.. "no talking.. action him deal wid" :icon_neut

Personally i dont know why all this happening now. Why the last minute rush?
I mean alot has happened over the past couple of years.. hurricanes etc.. but thats still not excuse. Fact is they didnt care/dont care..

Managing 10,000.. good luck

BlackCryptoKnight

February 8, 2007, 07:29 PM

Virus

February 8, 2007, 07:45 PM

The church doing their thing is fine, the govt doing their thing (the Pier and couple other places) :thumbsdown:

I thought portia said the $28, was an "islandwide cleanup" now its just a kingston cleanup? Im pretty sure she said the waterfront would be "transformed".. only thing i see happening on that front.. is the pier, everything else looks the same

Last time i went mobay (church street) i couldnt even wind down my window.. just hoping trelawny isnt like that

acidblade

February 9, 2007, 03:42 PM

christians love dem cricket man

root_gal

February 9, 2007, 04:59 PM

Wow, christian ppl cleaning, sounds like fun. What will those crazy kids do next?:rolleyes:

BlackCryptoKnight

February 14, 2007, 03:25 AM

"How can you take off the blinkers and realise that HIV/AIDS is a problem that is affecting everybody ... the Church needs to become more involved in the issue of HIV/AIDS, how to prevent it and how to provide support," she emphasised.

As such, the ministry has been training church leaders in some denominations with a hope to reinvigorate the message of abstinence. In September of last year, it started training leaders from the Catholic, Methodist and New Testament churches, as well as providing funding for the Baptist Pentecostal Churches for training.

One church that has taken up the mantle is the Bethel Baptist Church in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew. The church is currently training 60 persons with a $2 million fund it received from the Ministry of Health.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070214/news/news1.html)
.

BlackCryptoKnight

February 23, 2007, 11:07 AM

Bishop chides abusive parents

MONTEGO BAY, St James - Abusive parents and New Age ideologists, whose relationship with the Almighty lack the personal touch, were chief among those targeted in a stirring homily on the true concept of love delivered by Bishop Howard Gregory yesterday.

Church-going homosexuals and sloppy dressers were also chided and put before the Almighty by retired Seventh-Day Adventist pastor, Lester Thomas, who prayed for mercy and forgiveness.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070222T200000-0500_119505_OBS_BISHOP_CHIDES_ABUSIVE_PARENTS.asp)

Pastors, SDC launch job bank in Spanish Town

The Spanish Town Ministers' Fraternal, in association with the Social Development Commission, yesterday launched a job bank in Spanish Town in what they said was an effort to address the harsh social conditions in the old capital that has been plagued by intermittent episodes of violence.

"We have realised that a community wracked with crime and violence cannot be a prosperous community," said Spanish Town Ministers' Fraternal chairman, Bishop Rohan Edwards. "We want to make sure that we implement a sustainable programme that will ensure that things will remain peaceful and calm."
Read more ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070222T200000-0500_119495_OBS_PASTORS__SDC_LAUNCH_JOB_BANK_IN_SP ANISH_TOWN.asp)

rodalembs

February 23, 2007, 12:17 PM

Bwoy, the Church can't do anything right by some people eeh? If people don't hear or see the Church doing things or speaking out in the media, they think the Church isn't doing enough. When the Church is visible, they say "why now?" or "they never cared all along". :eusa_wall

Why can't people just take things as they are. There's an opportunity to do something positive and reach many people with a positive message. Is there really anything wrong with that? Never mind the fact that the Church has been doing positive things and reaching out to communities for a very very long time ... Don't believe me? Read this whole thread again.

I can never understand too my friend, Is it because we dont come out and do a spin job. I remeber in the last hurricane, down in portland cottage. How the church down there in the HURRICANE a evacuate person, and helping providing food and transport, days before PJ reach there, yet still person in Clarendon complain the chruch nuh help the person at all.

Notice something, Jesus, thought the disciples how to fish, he never put fish on their tables. I notice that in our country unless you putting fish on the table as a church, you dont have alot of friends.

BlackCryptoKnight

February 25, 2007, 05:23 AM

Educator Hyacinth Bennett yesterday chastised the group of Christians who have volunteered to clean up Kingston and sections of western Jamaica in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup, calling them hypocrites and Pharisees who have brought disgrace and dishonour to the name of Jesus Christ.

...

"I am ashamed of the church. To be cleaning up today when for years and for decades this country is filthy and dirty. Where were they? I call them hypocrites. I call them Pharisees," she said.

...

But yesterday, Bennett, who is herself a professed Christian, remained resolute that efforts to clean up the country could have been made long before now.

"Of course we want our country to be cleaned up, but what about the dirt that has been in the inner-city for months? What about the mess in Spanish Town? Where were they before World Cup was coming?" she asked.

...

According to Bennett, Christians have failed to be consistent in speaking out about immorality, to portray the true character of Jesus, to integrate into their daily lives what they declare to be their beliefs about God, to organise and lead a successful band of warriors against crime and violence.

Read More ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070224T230000-0500_119610_OBS_BENNETT_LABELS_CHRISTIAN_VOLUNTEER S_HYPOCRITES_AND_PHARISEES_.asp)

:eusa_thin

ramesh

February 25, 2007, 07:21 AM

That is unfair of Bennett. Like other persons, Christians need motivation to go out in the community and do things. They need a cause to get behind, like making our Country (Kingston) look good for the World Cup. Pre-made slogans like "Cleanliness is Godliness" will be useful in this regard.

Gillion

February 25, 2007, 07:33 AM

what happens when cricket done ?

acidblade

February 25, 2007, 09:03 AM

what happens when cricket done ?

good question :eusa_thin

BlackCryptoKnight

February 26, 2007, 04:16 AM

Hyacinth Bennett's caustic criticism of the group of Christians who have volunteered to clean up Kingston and other sections of the island in preparation for next month's Cricket World Cup was yesterday greeted with sympathy and forgiveness by the chairman of the group, Reverend Errol Rattray.

"She has my sympathy; she has my forgiveness," Rattray said in response to Bennett's tongue-lashing of the group at a youth forum on crime held at the Light House Assembly church in Spanish Town on Saturday and reported in yesterday's Sunday Observer.

...

He reiterated that the concept of HOPE 2007 was the church's attempt to seize a moment that was ripe with opportunities. "God has caused Cricket World Cup to come to Jamaica," he said. "We can either let the opportunity pass or we can seize the moment. The moment has arrived for the church. The moment has also arrived for evangelism."

Read more... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070225T190000-0500_119652_OBS_I_FORGIVE_YOU__SISTER_.asp)

:eusa_thin

rodalembs

March 11, 2007, 07:51 AM

:eusa_clap Well Done Reve Callam

Neville Callam, a Jamaican pastor, theologian, author, media manager and educator, has been nominated to succeed Denton Lotz as general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). Lotz retires in December 2007.

The vote for general secretary will take place during the BWA General Council meeting in Accra, Ghana, in July of this year. If elected, Callam would become the first church leader outside of Europe or North America to head the organisation of 36 million baptised members among a community of 110 million people

Read On (http://www.jamaicagleaner.com/gleaner/20070311/lead/lead7.html)

BlackCryptoKnight

May 8, 2007, 06:18 AM

LEADERS of some of the island's umbrella church groups have distanced themselves from statements by United States gay pastor Nancy Wilson that local church leaders were supportive of a recently established gay 'church' here.

"That which the scripture condemns, and condemns in the strongest words (calling it an abomination), one has to take a stand against," said Bishop Delford Davis, president of the Association of Full Gospel Churches, which represents 42 denominations, including the New
Testament, Church of God of Prophecy and Deliverance Centres.
"I don't see how a person can be a practising homosexual and claim to be a Christian. Those two lifestyles are totally diametrically opposed," added Davis.

Read more (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070507T230000-0500_122736_OBS_LOCAL_CHURCH_GROUPS_FROWN_ON_GAY__ CHURCH__.asp)

THE East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is a step closer to realising its dream of a "Good Samaritan" inn to help the indigent in the Corporate Area, following the recent purchase of a building in downtown Kingston. The building, which once housed Stanley Motta in Heroes Circle, was purchased at a cost of $30 million, and is also to house a skills training centre.

Read more (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070507T200000-0500_122717_OBS_ADVENTIST__GOOD_SAMARITAN__INN_FOR _DOWNTOWN_KINGSTON_.asp)

BlackCryptoKnight

June 8, 2007, 06:35 AM

While pointing out that the clean-up activities were not the primary responsibility of the church but the government, Mr. Rattray was quick to acknowledge that "we (the church) believe that we play a very important role in the transformation of our country".

Read the full article. (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070608/lead/lead7.html)

BlackCryptoKnight

July 2, 2007, 06:44 AM

For his part, president of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Glen Samuels called on the country's political representatives to lead by example.

"The church seeks to make this message clear: There sits on the throne of glory a God who expects you to lead by example, a peaceful, committed and dedicated life; a life that is committed to honesty and the respect of the value of all persons," he said.

He challenged the church to ensure that those who offered themselves for leadership demonstrated moral worth and integrity.

"Those who offer themselves to lead in the process must know that we expect them to lead by integrity, honour and respect," said Pastor Samuels.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070701T220000-0500_124906_OBS__NO_COMRADE__LABOURITE_MUST_DIE_.a sp)
.

BlackCryptoKnight

August 3, 2007, 07:07 AM

Political parties have been labelled as cults by a prominent clergyman, because of the slavish manner in which supporters adhere to party practices.

Bishop C.B. Peter Morgan, of City Life Ministries, said yesterday that as a nation there was a need to get away from this phenomenon.

"We don't talk about political tribalism anymore, that is outdated, but the political parties are cults and we have to break that kind of thing," Bishop Morgan said during a Gleaner Editors' Forum held at the newspaper's North Street, central Kingston, head offices.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070803/lead/lead1.html)

.

BlackCryptoKnight

November 22, 2007, 09:46 AM

She also took issue with persons who have accused the church of being silent.

According to Blaise, the church had been speaking relentlessly, but had "been tuned out in favour of degrading, immoral and violence-promoting lyrics or can't be heard above the screams of families mourning another victim".

"But what if the church was silent? Do we really need to be told not to molest our children? Does someone need to tell us it is inhumane to rape and murder our children?" she queried.

Blaise, however, noted that while many times it seemed that the hand of the law was "short, the hands of the almighty God are not".

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, you don't want to make the mistake of falling into the hands of God for what you have done to his children," she warned.

Read more (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20071122T000000-0500_129685_OBS_WEEP__WEEP_FOR_THE_CHILDREN__.asp)

Why would people want to hurt children? :(

BlackCryptoKnight

January 18, 2008, 06:09 AM

Rev Notice said that theft had become rampant in the country and urged political, business and church leaders to become 'whistle blowers', not for mileage, but for the good of the country.

He said persons who see evil and excuse themselves because they are not involved are only fooling themselves.

"If my colleague pastor, politician, customs broker or policeman are involved in evil, I have a responsibility to expose them," he said.

Jamaica, he added, has departed from a loving commitment to God and questioned whether it was because the leaders have become ashamed of God, who is now relegated to Sunday and Sabbath schools.

"Are we reluctant to place God at the centre because in doing so we can no longer be gods?" he questioned.

Read more (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20080117T160000-0500_131503_OBS__TOO_MUCH_EVIL__.asp)

He made some good points, and no doubt, he mashed many a corn.

BlackCryptoKnight

January 20, 2008, 07:47 AM

A CALL has been made for more parents to get their children involved in Sunday school and other church-related activities, as part of the ongoing effort to cut the nation's rising crime rate and juvenile delinquency.

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke said yesterday there was a need for the mindset of the Jamaican youth to be revolutionised in order to combat the deteriorating moral values affecting the country.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080117/lead/lead1.html)

More church for the youth. :sold:

BlackCryptoKnight

January 25, 2008, 06:53 AM

Others are fearful that Lyn-Sue's confession provided police detractors, human rights people and police haters with ammunition to attack their credibility and further destroy the image of the constabulary. This statement, in addition to the others expressing irritation at Lyn-Sue, have done more damage to the credibility and image of the constabulary than the confession.
Read more (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080125/letters/letters1.html)

.......

.

BlackCryptoKnight

January 30, 2008, 05:05 AM

LINSTEAD, St Catherine - Ministers of religion with tarnished reputations and who have miserably failed God, are being urged to confess their sins before a truth and reconciliation committee and immediately leave the ministry.

The call came on Sunday from the outspoken founder of the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministries, Pastor Neville Owens, as he delivered a message at the Bread of Life Ministries (BOLM) Church in Vanity Fair in Linstead, St Catherine, during an appreciation service to honour Reverend Sophia Azan, BOLM minister and Custos Rotulorum for St Catherine.

Pastor Owens on Sunday bundled some of his colleagues with politicians, describing them as being greedy, corrupt, covetous, envious and divisive.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20080129T030000-0500_131939_OBS_PASTOR_URGES_SINFUL_COLLEAGUES_TO_ CONFESS_AND_LEAVE_MINISTRY_.asp)

..

ramesh

February 13, 2008, 06:42 PM

Christians in Spanish Town protested against the violence in their community. I'm glad they came out in such significant numbers. Their show of strength should drive fear into the hearts of gunmen. :)

BlackCryptoKnight

June 8, 2008, 11:42 AM

"I call on all the gunmen to turn over your guns, to forgive and let God take control of your lives. Do it for the adults. Do it for the children. Do it for Jesus' sake and the reason He went to Gethsemane for all mankind," urged the child.
Read more ... (http://jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20080607T160000-0500_136503_OBS__AND_A_LITTLE_CHILD_SHALL_LEAD_THE M__.asp)

If only they would listen to the children. :(

BlackCryptoKnight

June 13, 2008, 05:47 PM

The Church in Kingston and Montego Bay, St James, is vigorously rallying against the violence occurring in the capitals.

Under siege from the bloodletting in the Second City, a number of placard-bearing women from the Mount Salem Open Bible Church protested peacefully yesterday along the Howard Cooke Boulevard and Fort Street intersection in Montego Bay.

Calling for a return to the days when the town held a reputation as 'The Friendly City', the women said Montego Bay had lost its renowned name, taking on the title 'Bloody City'.
Read more ... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080613/lead/lead7.html)

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rodalembs

July 7, 2008, 04:19 PM

Abortion Policy Review

The pertinent Joint Select Committee of Parliament meets for the second time this THURSDAY July 10 at 2:00 pm. The committee will first hear from the persons who made the recommendation for abortioned to be legalized (members of the now defunct Abortion Policy Review Advisory Committee).

The presence of the Church as represented by about 25 persons last week, had noticeable impact on the proceedings. We would like to see more persons EVERY WEEK. It means much as a witness by presence. Please attend if you can--pastors and members, especially young persons. Remember no jeans on sneakers; you will be denied entry as three persons were last week.

The next scheduled sittings are: Thursday July 17 at 10:00 am, and Thursday July 24 at 10:00 am. The Lord bless you!

BlackCryptoKnight

May 16, 2010, 06:30 AM

OUTSPOKEN Adventist pastor Lorenzo King yesterday demanded that Prime Minister Bruce Golding tell the nation the "full, stinking truth" about the unfolding Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair that has engulfed the governing party and triggered a chorus of cries for his resignation.

"We are saying to the nation, we are saying to the people of God, we want the truth; the stinking truth, because out of that will come the resurrection," King boomed, to overwhelming shouts of approval from the congregation.

"The truth is a weapon of evil when possessed by wicked people. We want the truth, we want all the truth that sets us free," King said, while expressing his distrust of official statements issued by governments in general.

Before delving into his sermon, King and the church choir held high placards that read, 'We want truth', which was also the theme of his sermon.

The pastor said he was willing to demonstrate along the roadway for the truth and asked for volunteers from the congregation. He also called for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission, similar to that formed in South Africa after the end of decades of apartheid, so governments' misdeeds can be ventilated to facilitate "healing and progress".
Read more ... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/No-nation-can-move-ahead-without-truth--says-pastor_7617413)

Preach it Pastor! Preach it! :eusa_pray