NCU Media Group Appoints Acting General Manager

Posted onJune 22, 20173 Comments

Mandeville, Jamaica …Nigel Coke

Arnold Kelly has been appointed acting general manager of the NCU Media Group effective June 1, 2017. His appointment became necessary due to the resignation of Mr. Everett Wiles who has migrated with his family to the USA.

Prior to joining the NCU team in 2006, Mr. Kelly worked at the National Religious Media Commission (LOVE 101) as a producer and presenter from 1994 to 2005 and as Production Manger 2000 to 2006. During that period, he hosted and Produced a number of programmes including “Morning Glory” and “Sunday Showcase” one of the station’s biggest earners through sponsorships generated through local and overseas outside broadcasts. He also managed and coordinated programming, including local and overseas outside broadcast activities for Love 101 FM and Love Television.

Arnold Kelly

While at Love FM, Mr. Kelly also hosted “Caribbean Breeze” a 4-hour afternoon show on The Caribbean Gospel (Satellite) Network (CGN). As an independent producer, he later developed “The Caribbean Hour” aired on 12 Caribbean radio stations, providing coverage of major events in the region. In 2006, “The Caribbean Hour” was nominated in the “Best Produced Programme” category (DBS Flamboyant Awards, Dominica) and he was the recipient of the coveted President’s Award at the 2010 Caribbean Gospel Music (Marlin) Awards in Nassau, Bahamas.

As Director NCU of Media Services, Mr. Kelly was integral in converting the former WIC Radio from a revolving playlist of gospel songs, to a 24-hour, 7-day radio format complete with news, full-length programmes, and features. He was appointed manager of NCU FM in 2010 when the station was granted a commercial broadcast license. Over this period, NCU has experienced continuous growth from a new, relatively unknown entity to #11 (2012), #8 (2014) and #7 (2016) in island-wide listenership in a highly competitive media landscape with just under 30 licensed radio stations. (MRSL All Media Survey)

“It is our prayer that, as he takes up the mantle filled with responsibilities for running the day-to-day operations of the Media Group, God’s blessings will be with him to get the job done. “We invite all to join with us in giving Mr. Kelly our full support,” said Dr. Meric Walker, chairman of the NCU Media Group.

Thanks to Everett Wiles

At a recent Board Meeting, members commended Mr. Wiles for his valuable service to the University and, in particular, the Media Group—his brainchild, for which he was instrumental in the formation and management of the station, ever since, and for his “stick-to-itiveness” in times of real difficulties when he possibly could have been elsewhere earning much more for his skills. Mention was also made of his spirit for Mission and the whole idea of sacrificing for God’s cause. He was encouraged to continue in this path and let his service benefit the Church. A function recognizing his contribution to NCU was held on May 25, 2017.

Everett Wiles

The Media Board has started the process for the recruitment of a new General Manager both internally and externally.

Adventist World Church Secretariat Visits Jamaica

Posted onJune 22, 2017June 23, 2017Leave a comment

Nigel Coke…Communication Director, Jamaica Union Conference

Seventh-day Adventists Secretaries from most of the Churches World Divisions led by Dr. G. T. Ng, Secretary of the General Conference, visited Jamaica from June 8 – 11, 2017.

In the first of a four-country visit of the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (IAD), the Jamaica Union Conference (JAMU) led by Pastor Everett Brown was more than happy to have hosted what he termed “the World Church in Jamaica.”

Dr. G.T. Ng (second from left) greets Dr. Meric Walker, Secretary of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (JAMU) on arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday June 8, 2017. From left are: Mrs. Ivy Ng, wife of Dr. Ng, Kimani Smith, Customer Service Agent at the NMIA, Pastor Everett Brown, President of JAMU and Pastor Bancroft Barwise, Treasurer of JAMU. (photos by Nigel Coke)

“We are indeed privileged to not only be the host, but the first in their four-nation tour by the World Church,” said Pastor Brown. “We are happy to be able to give them a glimpse of what God has done through His church here in Jamaica. The visit has once again reminded us of our call to participate in the global mission of the church.

During the time in Jamaica, the team visited the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) headquarters in Spanish Town, Northern Caribbean University (NCU) and the JAMU headquarters in Mandeville, and the Good Samaritan Inn and Andrews Memorial Hospital (AMH) in Kingston.

“We are very pleased with what is happening in Jamaica,” said Pastor Ng. “What we see happening at NCU is a perfect example of what it means that Seventh-day Adventists should be the head and not the tail through its Information Technology (IT) Department and in Business Model competitions.” Pastor Ng also described the work at the Good Samaritan Inn as one that should be emulated by other regions of the world.

On Sabbath June 10, all the Division and GC Secretaries were deployed in churches in Kingston and St. Catherine to preach the Word of God.

In the afternoon, the team of thirty-one was hosted to a Symposium where they were shown highlights of some of the activities that took place and are currently taking place in the five Conferences and two Institutions of the Union.

The team departed Jamaica early Sunday Morning, June 11 for Panama, the second country of the tour.

Pastor Ellie Henry, Secretary of the Church in Inter America addresses the delegation in the bus before their departure from the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Pastor Ellie Henry, Secretary of the Church in Inter America, addresses the delegation and staff at the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists during a stop at the Conference's headquarters in Spanish Town, St. Catherine

The delegation along with members of the administration of Northern Caribbean University (NCU). NCU's president, Dr. Lincoln Edwards is at (second from right front row)

The delegation visit to the Good Samaritan Inn in Kingston.

Dr. G. T. Ng, secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists delivers the Vesper message after the Symposium at the Hagley Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston.

Former L.A. Gangster Helps Run Adventist Hospital in Mexico

Posted onJune 21, 2017June 22, 2017Leave a comment

Robert Gonzalez Medina liked to tease his mother. Whenever gunshots were fired at their home, he would cry out, “Mom! Mom! They hit me!”

Mother was a good sport, and she played along with Robert’s game.

“Oh no!” she said every time. “What will we do?”

But the gang violence was no joking matter. Robert grew up in a violent Los Angeles neighborhood. When he was 5 years old, his older brothers joined a street gang. People from other gangs drove by their house and shot at it, trying to scare his brothers.

“For me, the shooting was normal,” Robert said. “I took it as a game.”

The constant violence, however, caused the boy’s heart to become hard. As he grew older, he stopped teasing his mother. His smile was replaced by an angry scowl. He began to play with real guns.

When Robert was 14, his parents were joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Robert sometimes went to church with them, and they talked about the sermon around the dinner table.

Even though he acted like a tough guy, Robert grew tired of the violence. He married a woman from Mexico and decided to go to Mexico to meet her family.

Robert liked the quieter life in Mexico, and he opened a store selling construction materials.

NCU urged to undertake more agriculture-based studies

Posted onJune 19, 2017Leave a comment

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is challenging researchers at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) to undertake more agriculture-based studies and innovations which would redound to the benefit of the country.

“If we manage to infuse technology and good management into our agricultural practises, we could increase our agricultural output tenfold and where you are in the centre of the island, I think you are well placed to lead that initiative,” he said.

The prime minister was speaking at the Northern Caribbean University’s (NCU) fundraising banquet held on Thursday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The banquet was to commemorate the inauguration of the NCU’s 24th President, Dr Lincoln P Edwards.

Ellen G. White’s Steps to Christ celebrates 125 years in publication

Posted onJune 17, 2017Leave a comment

Steps to Christ, written by co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is being honored this year by the Ellen G. White Estate. To highlight the longevity and popularity of this book, the White Estate is celebrating its 125th year in circulation. An initiative called The Global Reading of Steps to Christ was issued by the White Estate to encourage Seventh-day Adventists worldwide to read and study the short volume.

Image Alt — Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White | Credits: news.adventist.org

White was especially known for her prophetic gift. This gift was largely shared through many of her writings. Although White authored a multitude of books over the course of her life, Steps to Christ remains a favorite to this day.

Published in 1892, Steps to Christ is still considered one of the most distributed, religious books to date. Tim Poirier, in his article A Century of Steps, says, “The book has been in the public domain for many years, so no one knows how many tens of millions of copies of Steps to Christ have been circulated.”

The longevity of the book is due to a number of factors. Chantal Klingbeil, associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate, describes Steps to Christ as a book providing a host of answers to questions still asked today, such as how to deal with doubt, ways to know if you are converted, and understanding the difference between “grace” and “the law.” According to Klingbeil, the book has practical answers that everyone can identify with. “It’s intensely practical,” she says.

Sewing for Jesus, but Never on Sabbath

Posted onJune 12, 2017Leave a comment

Mavis Burrell Spencer wasn’t sure what to do with her family’s high-end tailoring business when her husband died a decade ago.

Her husband had established three, flourishing tailor shops in Jamaica, including a main outlet with 25 employees in a shopping center in the island’s capital, Kingston.

Mavis saw that she was at a crossroads, and she ultimately decided to run the business by herself.

Ten years later, and Mavis found herself at a crossroads again. She wanted to be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Saturday was her busiest day for business. She prayed earnestly about what to do.

Mavis, who had attended a Sunday church on and off, first heard about the seventh-day Sabbath from Adventist friends. But she didn’t know that the Fourth Commandment to “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” applied to all Christians today.

Things began to change after a family friend invited her to weekly Bible studies. The friend, an Adventist business owner, had prayed regularly with her husband before he died, and Mavis had turned down his invitations to attend church, saying she was too busy. But then he invited her to the small-group Bible studies and called her every week to remind her to come.

GSI benefits from Nova Southeastern University Medical Mission Trip

Posted onJune 10, 2017

One hundred and seventy five clients received free medical attention at the Good Samaritan Inn (GSI) from medical doctors and students from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) who were on their seventeenth mission trip to the island to provide free medical care to the less fortunate.

The team of fifty multi-disciplinary medical professionals which included Dentists, Opticians, Orthodontists, Occupation Therapists, General Practitioners, Physical Therapists, Pharmacists and Health Counsellors, stopped by the Inn on June 5, 2017 and were pleased to provide medical services to clients in the new GSI Health Facility which was recently opened to the public for general use.

Medical Doctor and leader for the mission trip to Jamaica, Dr. Paula Anderson said she and members of her team which includes health professionals and volunteers continue to return to Jamaica on mission trips because it helps them to fulfill their purpose of giving service to mankind.

“It starts with a heart of service and when God blesses you, you can bless others,” said Dr. Anderson Wort with a smile. “God has blessed us with gifts and talents and this gives us an opportunity to serve the less fortunate.”

Dr. Anderson Wort had high commendation for the leadership of the Good Samaritan Inn which continues to facilitate her team giving back to the community.

“The GSI has welcomed us for the past six years and we have been able to make a significant contribution to the community and this is what helps us to give back and fulfill our purpose of service to mankind,” she said. “They are very welcoming and inviting and accommodative in helping us to provide that type of service.”

Adventist High School takes Gold and Silver at the JCDC Children’s Gospel Final

Posted onJune 2, 2017

A grand celebration from Willowdene supporters followed the announcement of Willowdene’s first and second placement in the JCDC Children’s Gospel Final held on Sunday May 28, 2017 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Kingston.

Historic win

The Willowdene High School Choir emerged as first place winners for the choir category ages 11- 15. This is the first time in the school’s history that the Willowdene High School choir has won gold.

Meanwhile the Melody sister’s (Cavail Barrett, Ashleigh Cummings and Abbigayle Brown) received silver for the ensemble category, ages 11-15.

Mr. Peter Williams, Principal of the Willowdene Group of School’s commended the students for their hard work and dedication.

In Jamaica, Bus and Taxi Drivers Get Free Health Screenings

Posted onMay 31, 2017May 31, 2017

Scores of bus and taxi drivers were the beneficiaries of free health check-up last weekend, during a “Know Your Numbers” health drive organized by the Three Angels Pharmacy with support from members of some local Seventh-day Adventist Churches, health agencies and companies in Mandeville, Jamaica.

Rohan McNellie owner of Three Angels Pharmacy, speaks during the launch in March 2017. Image by Nigel Coke

Two hundred and forty of the approximately 400 persons registered were bus and taxi drivers who received the opportunity to be tested for Body Mass Index (BPI), blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, eye and HIV, on May 27-28, 2017. Healthy lifestyle and general counseling along with prayers for those who requested it were also done. A volunteer medical doctor was also available.

“In general, the concern is that most of the persons who came were hypertensive,” said retired Nurse Leonie Bailey. Many were also pre-diabetic based on their numbers, she added.

“They need to make lifestyle changes in order to correct the current trajectory,” explained Bailey. “They need more rest, exercise, a diet with more fruits and vegetables and also to trust in the God.”

Seventh-day Adventist entrepreneur and owner of Three Angels Pharmacy Rohan McNellie felt satisfied that he, along with the team of volunteers, did their best to share the love of Jesus through his recently launched mobile clinic.

In Mexico, Tragic Bus Accident Leaves 17 Dead and More Injured

Posted onMay 23, 2017May 23, 2017

Motozintla, Chiapas, Mexico | Libna Stevens/IAD

Map of the State of Chiapas, Mexico. Image by Google Maps.

Seventh-day Adventists in Chiapas, Mexico, are still in shock after a rented bus carrying 46 church members, mostly young people, fell into a 90-meter ravine yesterday killing 16 and sending 26 to nearby hospital. One 17-year-old girl died this morning because of her injuries, bringing the total to 17 deceased, church leaders said. The group was returning from a large youth spiritual retreat held on the beach in Costa del Sol, in the Pijijiapan district, on the pacific coast in southern Chiapas.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the accident in that mountainous region in Motozintla.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” said Pastor Ignacio Navarro, president of the church in Chiapas, Mexico, during a telephone interview today.

“Our hearts are heavy and broken with sadness right now,” said Navarro, who drove four hours to Motozintla with fellow administrators and union leaders minutes after hearing of the accident last night. “One young person lost his little sister, brother and mother, another lost his wife, daughter and mother so there’s really not much we can say other than hug them and let them know we are here to support, and that they will soon see their loved ones when the Lord returns.”

Throughout the evening, church leaders worked with the local authorities and relatives of the deceased on transportation arrangements and prayed for the surviving family members who traveled to Motozintla. Dozens of pastors from throughout the different conferences and missions in Chiapas stayed with families at hospitals and churches to pray and offer hope in the midst of the tragic news.