Adventist Youth in Jamaica Share Jesus Christ Impact Communities Despite Inclement Weather

Cloudy skies and rainy condition, which affected the island of Jamaica on March 18, 2017 could not stop the 15,000 passionate young people who came out of their local churches to “Be The Sermon.”

As early as 6 a.m., donned in their “Be the Sermon” Polo Shirts, the youth from approximately 740 Adventist congregations across Jamaica Union Conference took to the streets, demonstrating their love for Christ by offering: medical check-ups, blood donation, preaching the word, meal and tract distributions.

Pastor Everett Brown (left), president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica responds to a question from hosts Ruth Ann Carr and Daniel Passley during the Inter-American Division’s live broadcast of Global Youth Day in the studio of the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) (photo by Nigel Coke)

The youth from Central Jamaica Conference which comprises three parishes, Manchester, Clarendon and St. Catherine, not only made their impact on the streets but also at their local Infirmary (a home for the aged and mentally challenged); at a children’s home and they also donated blood.

Jon Saleem Oliphant, from Mandeville, Manchester, made his tenth blood donation without hesitation. His first experience was out of a need to help his mother who did surgery.

9 years-old Calyndra Campbell (second left) gives a needy person a cooked meal in the street of Mandeville on Saturday, March 18, 2017 during Global Youth Day activities in the town. Looking is Pastor Dane Fletcher, Youth Director of the Jamaica Union Conference. (photo by Nigel Coke)

“My testimony today through giving blood is that whoever it will help, it will go a far way because there are persons who are suffering and are in desperate need. Not many persons are open to giving blood because of certain restrictions, but I am not restricted to giving mine. It’s a blessing and this is my sermon today, so I give God thanks for this opportunity.”

Fifteen years-old Tamia Nathan, who participated in the food distribution in Mandeville, was happy for the experience. “I felt particularly good because the persons helped were very appreciative and happy to receive the meals. I believe this should be done at least once per month by every church.”

East Jamaica Conference (EJC) comprising Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Thomas, had youths gathered around the bedsides of shut-ins for prayer and sang their favorite songs before handing over to them gift baskets prepared with toiletries and food items.

Nurses Catherine Treasure (left) and Patricia Johnson of the Jamaica Blood Bank attend to Leonard Smith and Jon Salem Oliphant respectively as they donate blood during the GYD blood drive in the Gymnatorium at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville, Jamaica (photo by Nigel Coke)

In addition, the youth in zone 2 secured well needed blood for the national blood bank by donating blood at the Kiwanis Club of Kingston Blood Collection Centre. While the youth in Zone 3, visited a family consisting of seven adults and three children whose house was recently gutted by fire. The youth not only sang and prayed with the family but they also took for them food and clothing. The family was more than happy for the show of concern and care by the youth and church members.

In North Jamaica, more than 800 youths under their umbrellas engaged in a diversity of activities, including blood pressure checks, distribution of over 1,000 food and care packages, prayer contacts, respiratory checks, and the giving of medical assistance. Falmouth, Trelawny was the host site for the main Conference initiative. Youths from across the Duncans, Reid’s Friendship and Falmouth Churches, together with their pastors, were active from as early as 6:00 a.m. until in the late evening where a general practitioner, one pediatrician and a physiotherapist assisted hundreds of community persons who took advantage of the STI Testing, blood sugar and hypertension checks.

According to Pastor Vincent Rose, Youth Director of the West Jamaica Conference, which was also affected by rain, “We distributed food and toiletries; prayer was offered in homes and visits made to the infirmaries. Additionally, the Pathfinder marches drew hundreds of young people who participated in the event.”

Pastor Al Powell (center), Youth Director of the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists prays with a member of the community during outreach activities in the town of Mandeville, Jamaica during GYD on March 18, 2017, At left is Pastor Dane Fletcher, Youth Director of the Jamaica Union Conference, Everton Nathan (right) and another member of the GYD team (photo by Nigel Coke) 

Similar activities of kindness took place in the North East Jamaica Conference with the main activities being a blood drive and the adoption of the Annatto Bay Public hospital for the day. The Youth Director Gordon Lindsay said that a wide scale distribution of toiletries, Bibles and other books to the patients and medical staff was done. Songs of healing were also rendered.

Of significance, Jamaica was privileged to be the host site of the Inter-American Division’s GYD17 hour and a half live broadcast, which took place in the studio of the Northern Caribbean University Media Group in Mandeville. Through the hosts, Ruth-Ann Carr and Daniel Passley, the broadcast was seamless and included GYD videos from many of the Unions in Inter-America, along with live interviews and social media feedback. Pastor Al Powell, Youth Director of the IAD was in Jamaica and also participated in the community impact and studio activities.

Youth Director of the Jamaica Union Conference, Pastor Dane Fletcher who was with the youths in Mandeville, was inspired to keep the spirit of GYD alive.

A medical practitioner examines a child during the health clinic conducted in Falmouth, Trelawny on Global Youth Day. (photo by Omar oliphant)

“It was an awesome blessing to see the power of God through the youth on GYD. As one man observed their acts of kindness, he remarked, ‘I am SDA too, and it is time for me to return to church and support the youth’. As I watched, I was inspired to keep the spirit of GYD alive as we preach powerful sermons by loving others, and helping them to live better lives. I am happy that many youths were able to give blood. Let us never forget that many years ago one blood donor gave blood to save the World.”

Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica, who participated in the live broadcast, was an encouragement to young people.

“GYD 2017… full-filling, exciting, different. Right across Jamaica our young people have been involved in serving their God, serving humanity”, said Pastor Brown.  “I believe that our young people properly organized and mobilized, are willing and excited and want to be a part of the process of leading persons to Jesus Christ and so this GYD activity is a catalyst to motivate other young people to participate in the mission of the Adventist Church. We have seen the young people demonstrating that they are committed and ready and they want to be involved in mission, and as adult all that we need to do is encourage, organize and deploy them and they will participate in the mission of the Church.”

Global Youth Day, which is in its fifth year, is a global annual community outreach where thousands of Seventh-day Adventist young people participate in a special event that encourages church members under 35 to step out of the walls of the Church and go into their communities to perform acts of service and kindness and “Be the Sermon”